Shelf Awareness--Drawing Outdoors

PB Review: Drawing Outdoors

Drawing Outdoors by Jairo Buitrago, trans. by Elisa Amado, illus. by Rafael Yockteng (Greystone Kids, 36p., ages 5-9, 9781771648479, May 3, 2022)

The narrator of the inspiring Drawing Outdoors attends a school that's "between two mountains, near a river, in the middle of nowhere," and has "almost nothing" in the way of supplies. But what this school does have is an extraordinary teacher who makes learning a not-to-be-missed adventure.

The teacher waits in the doorway for her pupils every morning. They may not have much more than a blackboard and some chairs, but they're about to become explorers with paper, crayons and plenty of imagination. "Look!"--the teacher points out a Brontosaurus near the river, a Triceratops on a big rock, a Stegosaurus hidden between stones. Pupils, even those who don't want to come to school in the first place, are fascinated; one and all "stop talking and start to draw." Pterodactyls darken the sky and when the "mountain booms and the birds stop singing," it's because a Tyrannosaurus is "roaring among the trees!" Then it's time for a snack on the back of a Diplodocus and when the students go home, they all do so with a stack of drawings and a real sense of accomplishment.

The creative trio of author Jairo Buitrago, translator Elisa Amado and illustrator Rafael Yockteng (Lion and Mouse) describe in this picture book the very best kind of education. Buitrago's graceful text tells an entertaining story through the whimsical imaginations of childhood, and the wonderful teacher who brings learning to life recalls the unorthodox, magical Ms. Frizzle. Yockteng's digital illustrations add a touch of humor by blending the fantastical elements into the landscapes. His palette is a delightful blend of greens, blues and purples that belong to mountains, valleys, forests--and dinosaurs--matched with bright, colorful tones for humans and smaller animals that allow them to stand out on every page.

All children, everywhere, deserve access to a decent education. As the publisher asserts, while many schools "have playgrounds, gyms, computers, lots of teachers, school libraries, and all sorts of other equipment," others struggle to make do with much less. What is central to this story is the idea that no matter what school a child attends, no matter how many or few the supplies, one dedicated professional can make all the difference. Because with the right teacher, even a school that has "almost nothing" can surely have "a Brontosaurus that's as big as a mountain." --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Talker: A school that has very little besides an exceptional teacher encourages kids to thrive in this inspiring picture-book adventure.