N'importe quoi! : le petit cahier noir

by Elise Gravel

N'importe quoi! c'est l'occasion rêvée de plonger dans le carnet de dessins et de croquis d'Élise Gravel. La chance de découvrir ce à quoi l'auteure-illustratrice pense ou rêve lorsqu'elle ne travaille pas sur un livre. On y retrouve toutes sortes de personnages ou de courtes histoires amusantes. Dans ce cahier de dessins, tout peut arriver, les idées s'y bousculent, qu'elles soient ridicules, folles ou simplement bizarres.

Genres: Art, Graphic Novels, Humor, Comics, Picture Books, Childrens, Middle Grade

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free flowing and creative - this is the perfect book to encourage you young artist to try new things! It is so important to constantly challenge yourself; most of the people I know who are truly happy always find new ways to see things that they have a perspective on. I think that books that challenge your thinking are underated.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just wonderfully charming. I started reading this when I was in a grumpy, sleepy mood at work and it only took a few pages before my heart grew two sizes and there was a smile on my face. Lovely to just pick up whenever there's a free moment. I also think these creatures would make adorable tattoos.

[Sara-Juliette Hins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drôle, ludique, illustré souvent de façon souvent très rigolote, ça se lit en un clin d’œil! J’adore Élise Gravel!

[Sakina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tellement cute et original. Rejoindra les petits et les grands.

[Daniel Moquin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce petit carnet m'a fait sourire! Ça donne le goût de commencer son propre petit cahier noir!

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book would be great for a kid that really wants to be an illustrator or author someday. It encourages kids to fill a notebook with all of their thoughts and doodles...even the goofy ones. I also feel like it is meant for younger students...3rd grade-ish. The potty humor will appeal to them too.

[K.W. Colyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often a book comes along that is so full of wholesome, all-ages fun that you feel refreshed and inspired just by reading it, but If Found...Please Return to Elise Gravel is that book. Reproduced from the author's grid-paper notebook doodles, this 2016 graphic novel from Québécoise illustrator Elise Gravel — The Cranky Ballerina, I Want a Monster! — received an English-language edition from Drawn + Quarterly this summer.

If Found...Please Return to Elise Gravel brings absolute joy with its narrative-less "story." Some spreads reveal huge images of novel crossbreeds — fox-rabbit-guinea pig, anyone? — Gravel has found in her garden. Other pages feature collections of tiny illustrations, including jellyfish who speak Italian, or a variety of grumpy items and animals. Even staring at those crotchety critters, it's difficult to maintain a crabby, or even apathetic, mood while reading Gravel's graphic notebook.

Younger readers and pre-readers will get as much out of this graphic novel as older children and adults. If Found...Please Return to Elise Gravel is full of vibrant, but simple, illustrations that call to mind folktales and hipster stationery. Gravel's is the kind of book that fond childhood memories are made of: a bright, cozy read that anyone will enjoy.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute journal with many illustrations and making me want more Elise Gravel. Shows kids they can become their own artists!

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elise Gravel invites the reader in to the world of her little black notebook. In it are creatures and places familiar and imaginary, in a style that embodies quirkiness, whimsy, and humor. She shows the reader that there is no limit to what a sketchbook can contain: monsters, mushrooms, Marvin the man with lots of stuff in his beard (I see The Great Antonio, a recent graphic biography here!), wiener dogs, a fart festival and a page of ugly drawings. This really is an open-hearted drawing prompt for kids, or adults, who want to draw more. There is advice ("Draw all the time!"), technique (an "ultra secret" method of drawing a hedgehog), and lots of ideas and encouragement. Her colorful cartoons are so appealing and accessible, yet unique, and her materials, felt -tip markers and crayons, are completely in reach of anyone. A translation of N'importe quoi!

This is for budding artists, or for anyone who needs a push to put marker to paper. Reminds me of Lynda Barry's Syllabus (for adults). And for fans of Elise Gravel's picture books and graphic work.

Recommended for elementary school and public libraries, art classrooms

[Rhettleigh Milnor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, which is presented as a journal, will inspire you to doodle, create imaginative creatures, and see the world a little differently. This book is officially a graphic novel but that doesn’t accurately describe it. This journal like book is full of cute doodle of such things as a vampire muffin, Anatole the crazy creature who lives in the principal’s desk at Nicole’s school, and two pages of personified mushrooms. The book is full of one page little stories of the cartoon creations as well as trips into Gravel’s worlds of imagination. This book isn’t only random bits of whimsy, Gravel also shares tips on how to draw creatures of your own.

In the classroom, this book would be a great read for the young aspiring artist. It is full of creativity and encourages the reader to create worlds of their own. This book could be used to teach imagery and some of the stories and drawing could be used for as examples for teaching writing about setting.As an adult this book inspires me to doodle without the boring judgement of being a grownup.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set up to look just like Elise Gravel's sketchbook, fun pages that she claims to draw at night and then amuse her children in the am, it's a budding artist's delight with page after page of funny things to copy or to inspire to create one's own monsters, foxes, weiner dogs, mushrooms, and floofs! Yes, there are floofs and other little-known creatures, all the more entertaining. There's a cute story about a girl who feeds crows and gets to know them so much they bring gifts! And there's an advice page. I would have loved to have had this to show students the wonderful ways they can enjoy drawing anything! It's a terrific book.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is this, anyway? Is it even a graphic novel? Not sure I care. The cartoons are whimsical and funny and weird and I love the advice to just start drawing, and that ugly drawings are inevitable. The author is a mom and the humor really expands what we think of as being "appropriate" for a mother of daughters.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know many kids who will read this and be inspired to live an artist/illustrator/writer's life. The message is to just give it a go, if that's what you like. Play around and have fun, make mistakes and move on.

[Darcy Roar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and silly, It's got a 'destroy this book' vibe though its not a coloring book or anything. Bright and funny illustrations with lots of encouragement for aspiring artists of all ages. Definitely recommended for kids.

[Aidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book, the french edition, for my "Late French Immersion" 11 year old looking for something engaging and fun - she couldn't put it down and ended up spending her whole day drawing.

[Brian Rosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and fun book. This book presents itself as copy of working notebook of thoughts and ideas. Throughout the book Elise encourages her readers to not critique drawings and not be afraid to fail and mess up. "Create ugly drawings".

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming look inside the cartoonist's notebook and wonderfully whimsical imagination. This is also serves as a superb invitation to young readers to imagine and create in a notebook of their own.

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I just found a favourite of 2017/2018! This book!!!!

[Michelle Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cool book that might provide some inspiration to young artists!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love looking at people's sketchbooks/art journals and this one is so fun and fabulous. Great inspiration for kids, teens, or even adults who may want to start one themselves!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely charming. Also, very inspiring. A perfect companion for a child who loves to doodle. (inspiring for adults who aspire to be illustrators as well)

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and quick read with lots of fun illustrations. Gravel has a lot of fun with this one.

[Rikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book for kids to use to practice drawing. Great positive influence!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

the kids loved this book and it was so inspiring for them. It really got faris drawing his own pictures of monsters and animals.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cool look at a picture book illustrator's doodle book.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonsensical, made up, totally fun book for kids.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

AH! Adorable! Our little artists at school will love this sneak peek into Elise Gravel's sketchbook! Such a fun idea! =)

[TofurkyVectrex64 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. I'm learning french and this was a perfect entry level read with lots of pictures to explain the basic french words. Took about 1 hour to read.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elise Gravel - artist and author - shares some of her goofy drawings from her "black notebook," where she experiments with art and laughs at the consequences. The illustrations are quirky and cute and many have tiny fangs, or cilia. She's fond of monsters. And making up creatures no one has ever heard of before. Budding artists will appreciate her drawings and her honesty - she's showing us the best drawings here, but she also draws lots of bad things. She encourages readers to get their own notebook and start drawing!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite quirky, cute and fun. This book is packed with imaginative creatures who all have names and personalities. I hadn't heard of Elise Gravel before, so this was a nice introduction to her. My only disappointment is that, although it is made to be shelved in the comics and graphic novels section, it has no plot or progression -- not exactly a comic strip or novel -- and therefore starts to feel a bit repetitive. However, it inspires me to create some crazy creatures of my own!