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Scribble
Emma likes to draw princesses. Her little sister Lucie prefers kitties. Emma and Lucie might not always get along, but can their drawings? Deborah Freedman proves once and for all whether kitties and princesses can live happily ever after in her charmingly original picture book debut.
From the Hardcover edition.
From the Hardcover edition.
40 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Freedman
14 books209 followersOnce upon a time, I was an architect. But now I'd much rather build worlds in books. :)
I am the author and illustrator of 12 of them, featuring protagonists that include an earthworm searching for its purpose in life, a house that dreams of its origins, and a character that is almost too shy to appear in its own book.
My stories have been translated into ten different languages, adopted in classrooms across the country, and honored with many starred reviews and awards. I live in a colorful house in Connecticut, where I'm always busy at work on my next books.
I love reading books and telling you about them; I hate rating them! Let's just say that if I didn't like a book, it isn't here at all.
Website: www.deborahfreedman.net
—with tons of free resources for readers, and a sign-up for my eNewsletter
Bluesky: @DeborahFreedman.net
Facebook: Deborah Freedman, Author & Illustrator
Instagram, Threads: @FreedmanIllustrates
—stop by and say hi!
I am the author and illustrator of 12 of them, featuring protagonists that include an earthworm searching for its purpose in life, a house that dreams of its origins, and a character that is almost too shy to appear in its own book.
My stories have been translated into ten different languages, adopted in classrooms across the country, and honored with many starred reviews and awards. I live in a colorful house in Connecticut, where I'm always busy at work on my next books.
I love reading books and telling you about them; I hate rating them! Let's just say that if I didn't like a book, it isn't here at all.
Website: www.deborahfreedman.net
—with tons of free resources for readers, and a sign-up for my eNewsletter
Bluesky: @DeborahFreedman.net
Facebook: Deborah Freedman, Author & Illustrator
Instagram, Threads: @FreedmanIllustrates
—stop by and say hi!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 22, 2007
I like "Scribble". No, I don't think you understand. I reeeeeeally like "Scribble". I like its art and its style and its "message" (or whatever the equivalent term might be) and pretty much everything about it. The only problem with "Scribble" is that it's not a flashy book. It's sweet and subtle and as a result it's probably not going to draw too much attention to itself. With that in mind, I charge each and every one of you to seek it out since no one's gonna go out and do it for you. The picture book that shatters the reality between what you create and what you are is difficult to pull off. All the more so when it's as fun, readable, and kid-friendly as "Scribble".
Oh, Emma. Thinking she knows everything. Emma's one of those girls who goes around drawing princesses all the time. Lucie, on the other hand, prefers to draw kitties. When Emma, in her oh-so-superior way, informs Lucie that her cat looks more like a scribble than a feline, the younger sister retaliates by scribbling all over Emma's newest princess picture. However, Scribble (the cat Lucie has drawn) grows curious about the sleeping princess, now trapped behind what appears to be a Giant Thicket. With a reluctant Lucie tagging behind, he attempts to free the beauty and save the day. Yet it's only when the little girl agrees to help and undo the damage she's done to the princess's picture that everyone is allowed to live happily ever after.
Visually, the book really does pop. It starts with a kind of cartoony style. Individual panels and speech bubble break up the action with characters occasionally leaping off the page towards the reader. Eventually, as Emma leaves and Lucie's imagination has a chance to expand, the piece of paper containing Scribble grows to immense proportions, completely obliterating the entire paneled scheme. Emma's real cat, a small white one who takes to Scribble as recognizable kin, is always easy to spot against the yellow and pink background. Ditto Emma's white shirt beneath her overalls. The color scheme of the book bounces back and forth between pink and yellow. Emma wears all pink and Lucie all yellow. Yet when Lucie crosses over from her yellow paper to Emma's pink world, suddenly her overalls take on an unfamiliar rosy hue. On a related note, it's interesting to watch the dynamic between the two sisters. They're always shown across the table from one another, one on her pink side and one on her yellow. It's fun to see how Lucie's literal leap into her sister's world helps change her own perspective.
The obvious equivalent to this book right off the top of my head would have to be something like The Three Pigs by David Wiesner. Other similarities include books like Bad Day at Riverbend by Chris Van Allsburg. I wouldn't say that it was common for a character in a book to be aware of their status on a page, but at the very least it's not viewed as too complex for children to understand. The real lure of "Scribble" is that even as the realistic main character starts interacting with her drawn cat scribble, we totally believe in her journey. It's easy to interpret this story as the way in which Lucie deals with her guilt over scribbling over her sister's picture and concocts this complex narrative of rescue and marriage as a kind of therapeutic release. Either that or it just a fun book for fun kids. No reason why it can't be both, to my mind. It's a remarkable package hiding within the most deceptively simple premise I've run across this year. It's a book that's smart enough for adults and kid-centric enough for its intended audience. A sleeper hit that I seriously hope you will not miss.
Oh, Emma. Thinking she knows everything. Emma's one of those girls who goes around drawing princesses all the time. Lucie, on the other hand, prefers to draw kitties. When Emma, in her oh-so-superior way, informs Lucie that her cat looks more like a scribble than a feline, the younger sister retaliates by scribbling all over Emma's newest princess picture. However, Scribble (the cat Lucie has drawn) grows curious about the sleeping princess, now trapped behind what appears to be a Giant Thicket. With a reluctant Lucie tagging behind, he attempts to free the beauty and save the day. Yet it's only when the little girl agrees to help and undo the damage she's done to the princess's picture that everyone is allowed to live happily ever after.
Visually, the book really does pop. It starts with a kind of cartoony style. Individual panels and speech bubble break up the action with characters occasionally leaping off the page towards the reader. Eventually, as Emma leaves and Lucie's imagination has a chance to expand, the piece of paper containing Scribble grows to immense proportions, completely obliterating the entire paneled scheme. Emma's real cat, a small white one who takes to Scribble as recognizable kin, is always easy to spot against the yellow and pink background. Ditto Emma's white shirt beneath her overalls. The color scheme of the book bounces back and forth between pink and yellow. Emma wears all pink and Lucie all yellow. Yet when Lucie crosses over from her yellow paper to Emma's pink world, suddenly her overalls take on an unfamiliar rosy hue. On a related note, it's interesting to watch the dynamic between the two sisters. They're always shown across the table from one another, one on her pink side and one on her yellow. It's fun to see how Lucie's literal leap into her sister's world helps change her own perspective.
The obvious equivalent to this book right off the top of my head would have to be something like The Three Pigs by David Wiesner. Other similarities include books like Bad Day at Riverbend by Chris Van Allsburg. I wouldn't say that it was common for a character in a book to be aware of their status on a page, but at the very least it's not viewed as too complex for children to understand. The real lure of "Scribble" is that even as the realistic main character starts interacting with her drawn cat scribble, we totally believe in her journey. It's easy to interpret this story as the way in which Lucie deals with her guilt over scribbling over her sister's picture and concocts this complex narrative of rescue and marriage as a kind of therapeutic release. Either that or it just a fun book for fun kids. No reason why it can't be both, to my mind. It's a remarkable package hiding within the most deceptively simple premise I've run across this year. It's a book that's smart enough for adults and kid-centric enough for its intended audience. A sleeper hit that I seriously hope you will not miss.
Read
February 5, 2018 Scribble is a book about two girls ,Emma and Lucy, prefer different drawings and they always get in fights, but the drawings that they draw come alive and get along. Emma and Lucy grow farther apart while the drawings grow closer together. The drawing then attempt to bring the sisters back together.
Although, I did enjoy the creativity and thought put into this book, The book was very slow and very long which made it kind of boring at the end. The ending was very happy but it was expected so it wasn't as happy as it should be. I did enjoy watching the drawing getting along and trying to make the sisters come together again because they tried so many things and were about to give up when a miracle happened.
Overall, The story was not that interesting because of how long it was. I did not enjoy the two sisters because they were selfish and mean to each other. But, i did like the adventures and places they went to in the story. I would not recommend this to a friend because it would bore them to death, but i might recommend to a person that likes story's or narratives.
Although, I did enjoy the creativity and thought put into this book, The book was very slow and very long which made it kind of boring at the end. The ending was very happy but it was expected so it wasn't as happy as it should be. I did enjoy watching the drawing getting along and trying to make the sisters come together again because they tried so many things and were about to give up when a miracle happened.
Overall, The story was not that interesting because of how long it was. I did not enjoy the two sisters because they were selfish and mean to each other. But, i did like the adventures and places they went to in the story. I would not recommend this to a friend because it would bore them to death, but i might recommend to a person that likes story's or narratives.
June 21, 2013
I may have loved this book a bit more than my 5 year old, but the reason is simple - it teaches a great lesson. Scribble is about two sisters who are doodling together, how they get in a "fight" and how they make up. The lesson is about being nice to your little sister and having fun with someone who may not be as astute as you think you are. It's all very sweet and can translate very well to a child who is having issues getting along with others.
---- - - - -SPOILERS BELOW THIS LINE- - - - -------
The big sister tells her little sister that her drawing is just a scribble and not as pretty as hers. Exasperated the little sister scribbles on the big sister's drawing and effectively ruins it. The big sister runs out (presumably to tattle) and leaves the little sister alone to figure out how to fix the situation. The little sister magically finds away to get the scribble off the paper and shows her sister. The sisters realize they were both wrong in some way - the older for being mean, and the younger for lashing out.
---- - - - -SPOILERS BELOW THIS LINE- - - - -------
The big sister tells her little sister that her drawing is just a scribble and not as pretty as hers. Exasperated the little sister scribbles on the big sister's drawing and effectively ruins it. The big sister runs out (presumably to tattle) and leaves the little sister alone to figure out how to fix the situation. The little sister magically finds away to get the scribble off the paper and shows her sister. The sisters realize they were both wrong in some way - the older for being mean, and the younger for lashing out.
October 23, 2007
Imagine if Harold and the Purple Crayon met David Weisner's The Three Pigs and the two books got married and had a baby. Scribble would be the baby. The themes of sibling rivalry and freedom of expression are present without being too didactic and the illustrations are fantastic. Highly Recommended!
September 3, 2014
My kids super loved this book. Wow!
September 18, 2024
Although this book starts off like a classic fairytale, with a sleeping princess who needs to be rescued from a deep sleep, it gets entangled in a scribble who is in fact a cat, and one of the human characters goes off on an adventure with the scribbly cat through the pages of the book. Very fun book - with a twist ending!
November 26, 2017
Sibling relationships. Creativity, Imagination, drawing. Clever and fun.
November 3, 2015
Originally rated G- by Shelly Kraus
Scribble is Deborah Freedman’s first picture book. The book is a unique display of a simple story that involves two sisters and their perspective drawings. Emma draws a picture of a Sleeping Beauty type princess that is waiting for her prince to come and awaken her. Lucie draws a picture of a cat that Emma says looks more like a “scribble.” Lucie gets mad and scribbles on Emma’s paper and the adventure begins. Lucie’s scribble cat hears the words “beautiful” and “princess” and takes off into Emma’s picture to find out what the words mean. Lucie follows the cat through the picture and reluctantly ends up helping the cat rescue the princess. The cat and the princess live happily ever after. Lucie and Emma end their quarrel and are friends again.
The format of the book changes from detailed comic book like panels to child-like scribble drawings. The scribble –like illustrations may not appear to have much detail at first glance but as one spends time examining them they can see the concern, surprise and excitement of the cat and the princess as the journey along.
This book received Connecticut’s Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Literature. The story concept is simple but it will appeal to young girls and boys of all ages.
Scribble is Deborah Freedman’s first picture book. The book is a unique display of a simple story that involves two sisters and their perspective drawings. Emma draws a picture of a Sleeping Beauty type princess that is waiting for her prince to come and awaken her. Lucie draws a picture of a cat that Emma says looks more like a “scribble.” Lucie gets mad and scribbles on Emma’s paper and the adventure begins. Lucie’s scribble cat hears the words “beautiful” and “princess” and takes off into Emma’s picture to find out what the words mean. Lucie follows the cat through the picture and reluctantly ends up helping the cat rescue the princess. The cat and the princess live happily ever after. Lucie and Emma end their quarrel and are friends again.
The format of the book changes from detailed comic book like panels to child-like scribble drawings. The scribble –like illustrations may not appear to have much detail at first glance but as one spends time examining them they can see the concern, surprise and excitement of the cat and the princess as the journey along.
This book received Connecticut’s Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Literature. The story concept is simple but it will appeal to young girls and boys of all ages.
June 22, 2016
This adorable story was Deborah Freedman's picture book debut and it's an awesome way to spark creativity and imagination in young readers. Emma draws a very detailed picture of Princess Aurora sleeping and waiting for true love's kiss. Her younger sister, Lucie draws a big picture of a cat, which Emma says doesn't look anything like a cat and that she should make triangle ears for it. Lucie gets angry and scribbles all over Emma's princess drawing. While Emma is off to tell on her, some magical happens that will captivate all readers. According to the title page, the illustrations were created using pencil with watercolors, Magic Markers, and digital coloring. This would be a great book to have in my classroom library!
September 27, 2007
Lucie gets so upset when her sister Emma insults her drawing of a kittie that she scribbles all over Emma’s drawing of Princess Aurora sleeping in a thicket. When Lucie’s kittie bounds off the page in search of the princess, Lucie follows and finds herself inside the girls’ drawings. Illustrations picture two dimensions at once: Lucie and Emma’s world, depicted in realistic watercolors, and the world of Scribble kittie and the princess--black-line drawings and backgrounds of solid color. Clever, colorful, and wonderfully imaginative, Freedman’s debut picture book is a first-purchase for elementaries.
July 25, 2011
Two sisters, Emma and Lucie, create their own drawings. Emma creates a very detailed picture of a princess put under a spell by an evil fairy. Lucie, on the other hand, draws a stick-figured cat. Because Emma makes fun of Lucie's drawing, Lucie scribbles all over Emma's princess picture. While Emma and Lucie are fighting, Lucie's cat hears their bickering and gets curious about the princess Emma drew and leaves his picture to search for the princess.
[Spoiler Alert]
I thought the idea of this book was cute, but the idea of a cat and princess falling in love and getting married was a little too much.
[Spoiler Alert]
I thought the idea of this book was cute, but the idea of a cat and princess falling in love and getting married was a little too much.
March 21, 2016
This book incorporates two different styles of animation: one a more realistic version that deals with the sister Emma and Lucie and their cat, and the other a childlike scribble version of the princess and the kitty. In a nutshell, the sister fight over their drawings, with Lucie throwing a temper tantrum and scribbling on Emma's drawing of Sleeping Beauty. At this point, their drawings come to like, and Lucie's drawing of the kitty braves its way through the briar of Lucie's scribble to rescue Sleeping Beauty, eventually falling in love with her and marrying her (even though Emma says kitties and princesses can't get married). It's freaking adorable.
October 9, 2013
Deborah Freedman has such imagination! What an interesting concept for a picture book. Emma and her little sister Lucie are passing the time drawing, then showing the other their masterpieces. Emma is overly critical of young Lucie’s drawing of a cat. Lucie doesn’t take criticism well and scribbles all over her sister’s work. Emma’s cat drawing is curious to see what all the excitement is about and ventures off of his page to check out the princess that Emma had drawn. The lovely mixed media that Freedman uses makes the illustrations very humorous and intriguing.
January 2, 2015
I gave this one five stars because of the extraordinary outside of the box thinking it displays as well as the positive reinforcement that is quite okay to stand up for yourself -- and it works out best if you can manage to do it with humility and grace. There's a subset of pictures drawn by the characters in the story done entirely as line drawings, and they are juxtaposed with pink and yellow to provide startling contrast. It's a brilliant little book, not to be passed over. Don't judge this one by the cover!
December 30, 2012
Emma likes to draw princesses. Her little sister Lucie prefers kitties. Emma and Lucie might not always get along, but can their drawings? Deborah Freedman proves once and for all whether kitties and princesses can live happily ever after in her charmingly original picture book debut. From the Hardcover edition.
Drawing -- Juvenile fiction.
Imagination -- Juvenile fiction
Sisters -- Juvenile fiction
Drawing -- Juvenile fiction.
Imagination -- Juvenile fiction
Sisters -- Juvenile fiction
January 29, 2013
Two sisters argue while drawing pictures and the pictures take over and solve the problem in a creative way. I was surprised by how much I liked it. It was a little awkward as a read aloud tonight, but with some practice, could definitely be fluid and engaging. It is postmodern and intertextual and my kids (4 and 6) really liked it. They each identified with one of the siblings and the respective drawings. We are going to order it for our library, too.
August 2, 2007
Squabbling siblings, ingenuity and the irresistable innocence of preschool art combine to make this slick spin on the sleeping beauty standby a welcome trip outside the box.
Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/0...
Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/0...
July 30, 2013
Much like Harold and the Purple Crayon, Deborah Freedman has created a story where the illustrations are alive and are integral to telling the story. This picture book isn't as colorful and enticing as her later books Blue Chicken and The Story of Fish and Snail, but it is a cute story of sibling rivalry and true love.
August 10, 2016
Cute, interesting use of different types of illustration for what the girls draw compared to telling the story of them. Reminds me of Wiesner's True Story of Three Pigs, when a character comes out of the story. Definitely a quiet book, to ponder and view at your own pace, probably not one I would read aloud. Great message on sibling rivalry, though.
June 3, 2008
I just didn't like this book. I am sure others will rave about it, but it just wasn't for me. I liked the illustrations of the cat and princess, but didn't like the contrasting illustrations of the two children. I also did not care for the story.
April 20, 2011
This story takes place first in a realistic setting with two girls who are coloring, then in the imaginary world of their drawings. It shows realistic insight into children's behavior, and a high amount of imaginative freedom. Fun and cute story.
February 24, 2008
Very cute. Zach and Megan adored this story.
February 6, 2008
cartoon comes to life and takes over book. cool but not a read a loud.
Read
March 8, 2008Inventive, inviting, encouraging, inspiring, fresh, and beautifully written and illustrated to boot!
April 15, 2008
Story within a story. Sisters argue over their drawings. One drawing comes alive and becomes unscribbled.
May 27, 2009
Props for originality, fetching cover & art.
August 15, 2009
I loved this book. It reminds me so much of my 4-year old daughter and her fiesty imagination and creative genius! Incidentally, she also loved the book! Very, very fun book!
December 6, 2009
A simply beautiful book.
November 9, 2011
Not a favorite, but I liked the premise, the story itself I enjoyed, just not the way it was written. The illustrations are cute though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews