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beth_books_123's review against another edition
4.0
05/09/18: Y4 (2018-2019) Update.
Whilst we're trying to find time for the Book World Cup, my class and my TA read this whilst I was on PPA. My TA reported back that they adored this and that my TA, especially, was inspired by the drawings in the book and we can't wait to make some cave drawings in a couple of weeks!
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That was honestly the cutest - 4.5*
I'm glad I bought this. I'm looking forward to doing cave drawings in our very own cave. (Don't ask yet. I haven't planned the logistical side of it yet.) THIS BOOK IS SO INSPIRING. I'm not the greatest artist in the world but this book brought me back to the time I drew a volcano and a dinosaur (because I was obsessed. Weird child I know). I had a folder filled with my drawings and stories. I loved it. (Secondary school killed that off.) And this book brought me back to that.
Wow. I can't wait to use this. I hope my Y4s will be just inspired to draw as I was from this book.
Thank you, Gerstein. What a gift!
Whilst we're trying to find time for the Book World Cup, my class and my TA read this whilst I was on PPA. My TA reported back that they adored this and that my TA, especially, was inspired by the drawings in the book and we can't wait to make some cave drawings in a couple of weeks!
______________________
That was honestly the cutest - 4.5*
I'm glad I bought this. I'm looking forward to doing cave drawings in our very own cave. (Don't ask yet. I haven't planned the logistical side of it yet.) THIS BOOK IS SO INSPIRING. I'm not the greatest artist in the world but this book brought me back to the time I drew a volcano and a dinosaur (because I was obsessed. Weird child I know). I had a folder filled with my drawings and stories. I loved it. (Secondary school killed that off.) And this book brought me back to that.
Wow. I can't wait to use this. I hope my Y4s will be just inspired to draw as I was from this book.
Thank you, Gerstein. What a gift!
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I loved how the author explained that the story came about after he saw the cave drawings and he wondered who made them. He believes it might have been a child since children are often drawing and if you look around, you don't find many adults drawing.
heisereads's review against another edition
4.0
This book is like a love letter to children's creativity and artists.
jeremiah042's review against another edition
4.0
Great fun story to get the family thinking about (and considering the idea of) a time before drawing.
jillcd's review against another edition
5.0
"Some of the oldest drawings ever found were made more than thirty thousand years ago in a cave in southern France."
Upon opening the book, that is what you read and beneath is a picture of a modern day boy with his dog looking a t sketch of a woolly mammoth. Gerstein invites us to imagine how those drawings appeared. He makes us think, "What if…." His boy character reminds me of imaginative kids I have had and the way the see the world. I LOVED the illustrations in this book; they are dynamic, colorful, and humorous. The story of the boy drawing on the cave wall is delightful and begs for a discussion. I can think of many activities I could do using this book as a starting place. I know I could even read this aloud to older students and highly recommend it.
Upon opening the book, that is what you read and beneath is a picture of a modern day boy with his dog looking a t sketch of a woolly mammoth. Gerstein invites us to imagine how those drawings appeared. He makes us think, "What if…." His boy character reminds me of imaginative kids I have had and the way the see the world. I LOVED the illustrations in this book; they are dynamic, colorful, and humorous. The story of the boy drawing on the cave wall is delightful and begs for a discussion. I can think of many activities I could do using this book as a starting place. I know I could even read this aloud to older students and highly recommend it.
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
3.0
Has something to say about the role of art in a society, the progression is interesting but the placement of modern ideas and phrases on an ancient art seem out of place to the adult reader.
tashrow's review
5.0
This picture book tells the story of how drawing first started. Inspired by the the 30,000 year old paintings in caves in southern France, the story focuses on one boy who sees the world differently from everyone else. When he looks at the clouds, he sees animals. Everyone else just sees clouds. When the firelight flickers on the walls of the cave as they go to sleep, he sees herds of beasts. No one else does. So he gets the name “Child Who Sees What Isn’t There.” He tries to explain what and how he is seeing things, but it isn’t until he picks up a charcoal stick from the fire and actually draws the lines he is seeing that others can see it too.
Beautifully told, Gerstein weaves the story of these caves into an exploration of how artists see the world in a unique and powerful way. By choosing very tangible examples of how artists see, children reading the book will quickly realize that they are artists as well. It is also helped by the use of second person narrative, so that children are identified as the child who invented art. The author’s note explains more about the caves as well as why Gerstein was inspired to tell the story of a child drawing.
Gerstein’s art is bright and large. He shows large swathes of sky filled with clouds, lands filled with animals, and makes sure that readers see the inspiration for the later art. This contrasts with the tight closeness of the fire-lit cave that is all dancing flames and stone walls.
A virtuoso picture book, this is a wonderful melding of history, possibility, and art. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Beautifully told, Gerstein weaves the story of these caves into an exploration of how artists see the world in a unique and powerful way. By choosing very tangible examples of how artists see, children reading the book will quickly realize that they are artists as well. It is also helped by the use of second person narrative, so that children are identified as the child who invented art. The author’s note explains more about the caves as well as why Gerstein was inspired to tell the story of a child drawing.
Gerstein’s art is bright and large. He shows large swathes of sky filled with clouds, lands filled with animals, and makes sure that readers see the inspiration for the later art. This contrasts with the tight closeness of the fire-lit cave that is all dancing flames and stone walls.
A virtuoso picture book, this is a wonderful melding of history, possibility, and art. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
How did it happen? Caldecott medalist Mordicai Gerstein hypothesizes a cave boy with stick and charcoal, who decides one day to share the things he sees that no one else does. Lovely illustrations, as you might expect, and a compelling little plot.
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