Monday, September 26, 2016

Banned Book Week: Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle



This was yet another book that I did not realize was on the Banned/Challenged Books list when I originally picked it up.  As I got it from Munchkin's old daycare, and it is a much loved copy, I know they used it in class. I have not seen it in his new preschool, and for their reaction to other things, I have a feeling it will not be used. It is an often challenged book due to the nudity of the man and women on one page.  As with all Eric Carle books the illustrations are in collage form and is a little free form, the nudity is not explicit by any means.  Upon reading it Munchkin didn't even think twice about it, just kept on looking at the pictures and reading the story.  If we as adults do not sexualize the image, then the kids will not even notice or react to it, especially for the target age group.
 
 
 
Synopsis: "Draw me a star. And the artist drew a star. It was a good star. Draw me a sun, said the star. And the artist drew a sun.? And on the artist draws, bringing the world to life picture by beautiful picture until he is spirited across the night sky by a star that shines on all he has made. In Draw Me a Star, Eric Carle celebrates the imagination in all of us with a beguiling story about a young artist who creates a world of light and possibility.?A remarkable, quintessentially simple book encompassing Creation, creativity, and the cycle of life within the eternal."

My Review: We really enjoy Eric Carle's books and I happened to come across this one at Munchkin's old daycare when they were closing and had to pick it up. The artwork is in Carle's collage style which I really enjoy and it always gives lots of interesting textures to the pictures. The story itself is interesting as it seems to tell the story of creation without actually saying it. Munchkin enjoyed the little lessons on how to draw a star (both 5 point and 8 point are included), he would follow his finger along with the artist crayon. This is another wonderful Eric Carle book!
 
My Rating: This is a beautiful book, as always with Eric Carle books. Munchkin enjoyed this book and liked following the artist's pencil/crayon to learn the movements to draw a star.  We give it a rating of Four Paws.


4 comments:

  1. Oh dear! Don't get me started. Really?! It's banned because of a non explicit naked drawing? You're totally right. If we don't sexulize it they won't. When we freak out about stuff like this it causes more harm than good. I'm glad you still read it to Munchkin and that he loves it. I'll have to check it out.

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    1. It is kind of crazy what people freak out about, and their children see this and react. Munchkin does know the difference between male and female bodies but again if you don't over react or make things seem bad, then the kids don't think twice about it!

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  2. How do you find out if books have been banned? Is it banned anywhere or just in the USA?

    I love Eric Carle's illustrations, and I can't imagine his images being explicit at all. I completely agree that if you don't make a big deal about stuff, kids don't pick up on it.

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    1. I don't know if it is currently banned anywhere, it is usually challenged or banned in individual schools. I am sure there is a way to find out if it has been banned in any schools near you but I haven't figured that out yet.

      Especially with Eric Carle's illustration style of tissue paper collages it is hard to imagine anything being too defined. It is just like when a kid trips and falls, if you don't make a big deal of it they don't get scared or cry unless really hurt.

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