Review: Draw! By Raúl Colón
Draw! By Raúl Colón
Although Draw! Is entirely wordless, Raúl Colón brings his story to life through extraordinary illustrations. The pages of Draw! are tinted yellow, which evokes a sense of nostalgia in the reader. When the young boy in the story begins to sketch pictures of the world he read about in his book, he is transported into an African safari. The illustrations in the story change from simple line drawings to a textured and vibrant scene to demonstrate the shift from reality to the boy’s imagination. Through drawing, the boy inserts himself into his book. His art allows him to experience things that would otherwise be impossible, such as making friends with an elephant, or facing a charging rhino. The title of the book Draw! describes the action, but is also a call to readers to pick up a pencil and transport themselves into their own worlds.
- “This is a wonderful, inspired work on the power of the imagination and art to engage us and transport us.” -Carol Hurst
- “Colón’s signature scratched-watercolor technique adds richness and emotion to this warm story, but it’s the framing scenes at beginning and end that really sparkle here.” Kirkus Reviews
- “One go-around on this safari, and you’ll want to immediately return.” - Julie Danielson, Bookpage Review
-Give students time to free draw illustrations inspired by Raúl Colón, and allow them to share their artwork with others
-Have students write the words for this story
-Give students the opportunity to write captions or thought bubbles for certain pages, such as when the baboons are drawing the boy, or when the boy is running from the charging rhinoceros
SHSU LSSL 5360
- Bibliographic Data: Colón, Raúl . (2014). Draw!. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4424-9492-3
- Plot Summary: Using only illustrations, Raúl Colón tells the story of a young boy who transports himself from his room to an African safari through his drawings.
- Critical Analysis:
Although Draw! Is entirely wordless, Raúl Colón brings his story to life through extraordinary illustrations. The pages of Draw! are tinted yellow, which evokes a sense of nostalgia in the reader. When the young boy in the story begins to sketch pictures of the world he read about in his book, he is transported into an African safari. The illustrations in the story change from simple line drawings to a textured and vibrant scene to demonstrate the shift from reality to the boy’s imagination. Through drawing, the boy inserts himself into his book. His art allows him to experience things that would otherwise be impossible, such as making friends with an elephant, or facing a charging rhino. The title of the book Draw! describes the action, but is also a call to readers to pick up a pencil and transport themselves into their own worlds.
- Review Excerpts:
- “This is a wonderful, inspired work on the power of the imagination and art to engage us and transport us.” -Carol Hurst
- “Colón’s signature scratched-watercolor technique adds richness and emotion to this warm story, but it’s the framing scenes at beginning and end that really sparkle here.” Kirkus Reviews
- “One go-around on this safari, and you’ll want to immediately return.” - Julie Danielson, Bookpage Review
- Connections:
-Give students time to free draw illustrations inspired by Raúl Colón, and allow them to share their artwork with others
-Have students write the words for this story
-Give students the opportunity to write captions or thought bubbles for certain pages, such as when the baboons are drawing the boy, or when the boy is running from the charging rhinoceros
SHSU LSSL 5360
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