The Art Lesson

by Tomie dePaola

Book Overview

This modern classic celebrates the individuality in all of us and the joy of artistic expression.

Tommy knows he wants to be an artist when he grows up. He can't wait to get to school and have real art lessons. When Tommy gets to school and finds out that the art lessons are full of "rules", he is surprised and dismayed. How the wise art teacher finds a way to give Tommy the freedom to create and stay within the "rules" makes a wonderfully...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039921688X
• ISBN13: 9780399216886
• Release Date: March 1989
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 2 to 5 years

Customer Reviews

A book for all ages -- let creativity flourish!

Shh ... wanna hear a secret? Well, here it is: This is NOT just a children's book. Enthralled by the book and eager to share the joys of reading aloud with an older group, I shared this book with my ninth-graders back in 1991. To this day, it is one of the most cherished memories some of them have. At least one student went on to write children's books of her own. What more can an English teacher ask? Tomie DePaola's charming story has realistic language -- he talks the way kids think -- and emotions to which anyone can relate. He tells the story of Tommy, who more than anything looked forward to first grade, when he would finally get REAL ART LESSONS and start on the road to becoming an artist like his beloved cousins. Things get off to a rocky start, but the solution is as satisfying as any you'll read. The book offers a great lesson on how to be yourself and dream big. P.S. One more secret: If you like this book, you'll love _Emma's Rug_ by Allen Say. Artists of all kinds, unite!

Good Book by a Favorite Author

This is an encouraging autobiographical tale. Tommy was sure he would grow up to be an artist. He is discouraged by people in his life at times but fortunately Tommy prevails. Thank goodness; we now have an excellent children's author/illustrator to enjoy!

Terrific Read!

Do you want to read a terrific book with fantastic illustrations? If you said yes, then The Art Lesson is the book for you. We enjoyed reading a book where the child really grows up doing what he has always wanted to do. This is a story about a child who loves to draw. His teacher only gives him one piece of paper and won't let him use his birthday crayons. But still this can't stop him from drawing. Read The Art Lesson to find out how he solves his problem.

A Wonderful Book

I thought that young tommie in the story was very artistic. I thought it was funny when he took his flashlight and drew with a pencil all over his sheets. He had creativity and expressed it in so many ways. I didn't think Tommie (in the story) and his crayons were going to go down in a few years when he started to like different things beside art but I thought that him and is crayons would go far and bring sucess!

The Art Lesson

The Art Lesson A review by Lindsey and Brent It was an interesting book. I liked the part where his relatives displayed his artwork everywhere. It made me laugh when Tomie tooked a flashlight and a pencil under the covers and drew pitchurs on his sheets. That's how much he liked to draw.