Gerald-Not-Practical

Pittman, Helena Clare

ISBN 10: 087614430X ISBN 13: 9780876144305

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, 1990

Despite his family's opinion that his love of drawing is impractical, Gerald insists that his art is important because it makes him feel good

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From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-2--Gerald spends his time drawing and dreaming. When his family sniffs that what he's doing isn't as "practi cal" as building a bookcase, baking brownies, or playing baseball, he ex plodes: "WHO CARES ABOUT PRACTICAL? DRAWING MAKES ME FEEL GOOD!" Attracted by his tantrum, the neighbors gather and ap plaud his latest picture. The next day his embarrassed parents give him spe cial paper and a new box of crayons, and his father points to a newspaper story about an artist selling a painting for $10,000--"That's practical!" Flow ers, butterflies, fish, and other animals swirl colorfully from Gerald's imagina tion, but can't compensate for the pe destrian writing, nor for the mercenary attitudes expressed in the text. Pitt man's watercolors are more accom plished than Gerald's crayon work, but still feature inexpert, distorted postures and facial features. The practice of art receives sensitive, deeply felt valida tion in Rylant's All I See (Orchard, 1988), Goffstein's An Artist (Harper, 1980) and other books; this brings no new insight to the theme.
-John Pe ters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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