children s book about drawing a tree in school

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· 94 ratings · 22 reviews

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Jul 15, 2008 Frances rated it it was amazing

A fantastic way to encourage children to be unafraid of visual art. Though maybe more about a boy that makes friends through his drawing of a tree, the kids collaborate to make it even better. Read this aloud and then give them paper...

This is a good book to read when teaching teamwork and introducing group projects. Reading this book, children will learn tat it's okay for others to have a different vision. I was impressed by David allowing his classmates to add their ideas to his pictures. He didn't get upset when they told him he was missing something. Instead he allowed them to have their way, and when he got home he created the tree that he liked, that he had seen. This is a good book to read when teaching teamwork and introducing group projects. Reading this book, children will learn tat it's okay for others to have a different vision. I was impressed by David allowing his classmates to add their ideas to his pictures. He didn't get upset when they told him he was missing something. Instead he allowed them to have their way, and when he got home he created the tree that he liked, that he had seen. ...more

Oh, this book is precious! A practically perfect book! The cast is beautifully diverse, and the main character is a gem. Sometimes, it's great to collaborate...but sometimes you can make your own vision come to life all on your own. Neither is better. Neither is worse. It's just...different. Highly recommended. Oh, this book is precious! A practically perfect book! The cast is beautifully diverse, and the main character is a gem. Sometimes, it's great to collaborate...but sometimes you can make your own vision come to life all on your own. Neither is better. Neither is worse. It's just...different. Highly recommended. ...more

Feb 13, 2020 April rated it really liked it

3.5 for this sweet, short book about a very generous little boy who lets other kids draw on his picture.

#brownkids
#kidsofcolor

Sep 25, 2021 Sarah rated it really liked it

David draws a tree he noticed on the way to school. His classmates add to it until they have a beautiful community picture. At home, David draws the tree again as his own masterpiece.

Dec 11, 2017 Beverly rated it liked it

Sometimes it's fun to collaborate, and sometimes it's fun to do it on your own. Sometimes it's fun to collaborate, and sometimes it's fun to do it on your own. ...more

1. Rating: 4
2. A book review from Publisher's Weekly says, "In her insightful narrative and handsome cut-paper-and-collage artwork, Falwell (Word Wizard; The Letter Jesters) subtly conveys the importance of both teamwork and independence. In the opening spreads, she shows David hanging back from the other kids on a snowy day. But when he begins to sketch a bare-limbed tree he'd spotted on the way to school, his classmates notice. "Nice tree," says Amanda, adding, "But it needs color." David obli 1. Rating: 4
2. A book review from Publisher's Weekly says, "In her insightful narrative and handsome cut-paper-and-collage artwork, Falwell (Word Wizard; The Letter Jesters) subtly conveys the importance of both teamwork and independence. In the opening spreads, she shows David hanging back from the other kids on a snowy day. But when he begins to sketch a bare-limbed tree he'd spotted on the way to school, his classmates notice. "Nice tree," says Amanda, adding, "But it needs color." David obliges with some brown crayon bark and, with his shy approval, Amanda herself scribbles in green grass. Jamal offers some "cool stickers" and Laurel draws in a ballerina modeled on herself. In all, nine children contribute to the drawing, with each addition cumulatively charted by Falwell in a boxed vignette off to the side. What was once a study of wintry solitude now looks downright springlike and the experience causes David to blossom as well. Amanda invites him to play at recess, and when he returns to the classroom, he labels the drawing "Our Class Picture." But what's noteworthy here is that Falwell takes her parable one step further: back at home, David recreates his original, elegantly austere tree, titles it "My Drawing" and proudly hangs it over his bed. Falwell makes it clear that David is better off for connecting to his peers, but also shows that his artistic integrity is equally important."
3. This is a great book to get kids thinking about working together as well as being artistic. When David first drew his tree, it was special to him because he saw it on his way to school, but after all of his classmates had added their ideas it became a "class drawing" that they all could look at and think about and everyone had fun working together to create it. It also helped the kids get to know each other a little better and one of his classmates invited him to play outside at recess. When David got home from school, he drew another picture of a tree he'd drawn and hung it above his bed and wrote "My drawing" showing that he likes his individual work as well! I think it'd be a great book to share with K-2 students as they begin to experiment with their artistic abilities! ...more

Mar 15, 2015 Jazzmyne rated it it was amazing

I love this book. It book is great for elementary age children to read. The illustrations are done very neatly it is apparent that Cathryn Falwell put a lot of thought and time into this book. The book shows students that when they come together they can all form a beautiful picture. It also shows that each student brings something different to any situation. In the book David the main character saw a tree and when he arrived at school, he decided to draw this tree. After he had drawn the tree t I love this book. It book is great for elementary age children to read. The illustrations are done very neatly it is apparent that Cathryn Falwell put a lot of thought and time into this book. The book shows students that when they come together they can all form a beautiful picture. It also shows that each student brings something different to any situation. In the book David the main character saw a tree and when he arrived at school, he decided to draw this tree. After he had drawn the tree the rest of his classmates started to come over one by one and add something to his tree. That part of the story can be a bit of problem, because not everyone likes when others just walk up and draw on their picture, but by explaining that that particular incident is not really acceptable to do with ask our classmate first. Genre: diversity, fiction, and multicultural. ...more

Apr 12, 2013 Weisser rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. David likes to draw. He likes to draw what he sees. On the way to school, David sees a tree and finds it beautiful. When he gets to school, he draws what he sees. His classmates decide the drawing needs more and David allows them to add their own touches. He titles the piece "Our Class Picture" and hangs it on the bulletin board. On the way home, he sees the tree again. At home he draws the tree and his sister says it needs 'something.'

I loved this book because of its simple messages. It appear

David likes to draw. He likes to draw what he sees. On the way to school, David sees a tree and finds it beautiful. When he gets to school, he draws what he sees. His classmates decide the drawing needs more and David allows them to add their own touches. He titles the piece "Our Class Picture" and hangs it on the bulletin board. On the way home, he sees the tree again. At home he draws the tree and his sister says it needs 'something.'

I loved this book because of its simple messages. It appears David is quiet and reflective about his drawing but open to others' interpretation. At home, his interpretation is perfect.

...more

Oct 31, 2014 Aria rated it it was amazing

This is a great story about creativity and friendship. David begins to draw, and this attracts other children in the classroom. He invites them to participate and together they share their imaginations to create a class drawing and new friendships as well. Later at home, David makes a drawing of his own. There is no judgement here: the message is that sometimes art can be a group activity and sometimes it can be a personal experience. The collaboration of a diverse, multicultural classroom of ch This is a great story about creativity and friendship. David begins to draw, and this attracts other children in the classroom. He invites them to participate and together they share their imaginations to create a class drawing and new friendships as well. Later at home, David makes a drawing of his own. There is no judgement here: the message is that sometimes art can be a group activity and sometimes it can be a personal experience. The collaboration of a diverse, multicultural classroom of children celebrates cooperation and friendship, thus relates to my chosen topic.
The characters represent a variety of different cultures. It is interesting to children and is age appropriate.
...more

Nov 17, 2013 Eric Summers rated it really liked it

David's Drawings is about a boy who sees a bare tree on a hill in the early winter time. He goes to school and begins to draw the tree, but then soon all of his friends what to add their little details on as well. At the end of the day, he winds up with a picture that looks great, but does not reflect what he actually saw. That night he goes home and draws the actual tree and his mom hangs it on the wall.

A good book about adding details to both drawings and to writing and how many voices can cre

A good book about adding details to both drawings and to writing and how many voices can create beauty but that does not mean we should stop expressing our individuality.

...more

Mar 16, 2011 Sheniece rated it it was amazing

The best thing a teacher can do for her class is build a community among them. It also behooves a teacher to nurture student's creative interest. The little boy, David, was inspired by a bare tree he saw on the way to school. When he got to school he drew the tree that he had seen. His classmates came up to him and helped give him ideas about what to add to his tree. You can use this book to have a discussion about working together as a class. This book would also be a great opener to a communit The best thing a teacher can do for her class is build a community among them. It also behooves a teacher to nurture student's creative interest. The little boy, David, was inspired by a bare tree he saw on the way to school. When he got to school he drew the tree that he had seen. His classmates came up to him and helped give him ideas about what to add to his tree. You can use this book to have a discussion about working together as a class. This book would also be a great opener to a community /group project. ...more

This story is great for showing young children that it can be fun and productive to collaborate on a project, that other people's contributions can change and add to the original idea without "ruining" it. The story also shows that it is okay to do something by one's self and be proud of one's own idea and work without anyone else's influence. Both are true, and David has these experiences with the same project. The characters in the story are racially diverse. This story is great for showing young children that it can be fun and productive to collaborate on a project, that other people's contributions can change and add to the original idea without "ruining" it. The story also shows that it is okay to do something by one's self and be proud of one's own idea and work without anyone else's influence. Both are true, and David has these experiences with the same project. The characters in the story are racially diverse. ...more

Apr 07, 2011 Sharonneika rated it really liked it

A story of a shy African-American boy who is attending a new school. As he sets into the classroom, he begins to draw a picture of a tree. Soon after he gained friends due to his drawing and they help him to expand his piece of art.

Great book for building friendships and community within your kindergarten and 1st grade classes.

Feb 09, 2013 Amanda rated it it was amazing

This is a wonderful book on teaching children about helping each other. David starts drawing a picture and each of his classmates add to the picture making it look beautiful. By doing this David starts to make new friends and isn't so shy anymore. A very good book. This is a wonderful book on teaching children about helping each other. David starts drawing a picture and each of his classmates add to the picture making it look beautiful. By doing this David starts to make new friends and isn't so shy anymore. A very good book. ...more

Mar 15, 2012 Taylor Johnson rated it really liked it

Great book about making new friends and working together to come up with a class drawing. I really liked how they put the drawing in the corner so that you could follow the progress. Great illustrations.

Oct 17, 2012 Katrina Kim rated it really liked it

* Read when there is a new student

*Read to inspire students...
-get their creativity juices flowing

* Build community in my classroom

* Build self confidence in students

* Helps students feel proud to be unique

Jun 18, 2011 Tricia rated it liked it

David enjoys drawing. As a result, those who share this interest are quick friends and contribute to his drawing of a tree.

Apr 05, 2008 sarafem rated it really liked it

A WONDERFUL story about a boy who makes friends by sharing and working with others, then learns to be proud of himself as an individual too.

Abby loved this book. She wants to keep it forever.

Feb 01, 2012 Kixie rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The paper-cut art was beautiful, and David's drawings (one with his class and the other by himself) are both lovely. A sweet story about sharing and working together. The paper-cut art was beautiful, and David's drawings (one with his class and the other by himself) are both lovely. A sweet story about sharing and working together. ...more