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Drawn Together
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2018)When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to confusion, frustration, and silence. But as they sit down to draw together, something magical happens-with a shared love of art and storytelling, the two form a bond that goes beyond words.
34 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2018
34 people are currently reading
3989 people want to read
About the author
Minh Lê
36 books230 followersMinh Lê is the author of Drawn Together illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat and Let Me Finish! (named an NPR Best Book of 2016) illustrated by Isabel Roxas (both published by Disney-Hyperion). He is also writing Green Lantern: Legacy, a graphic novel (illustrated by Andie Tong) for the new DC Comics middle grade imprint, DC Zoom. As a member of the kidlit consortium The Niblings, he writes about children's literature at Bottom Shelf Books and for a variety of publications, including the New York Times, The Horn Book, and HuffPost.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,333 reviews
December 2, 2018
Each year my family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books, and we have been doing this for years. Everyone rates each book and adds a comment and it may (or may not) affect my overall rating. This is book #5 of 2018. I read this in June 2018 but will bump up my rating from 3 stars to 4 stars because this is now a family rating.
Lyra (11): 4.5 stars. It shows what art is and what it means to the boy and his grandfather. Didn't need words, though.
Hank (12): 5 stars! I love how they get drawn together by drawing and not words.
Harry (13): 4.5 stars. I love how they were drawn together through their love of drawing.
Jenn (family friend): 2 stars. The story was superficial, but I like some of the artwork.
Tara: 5 stars. I like this one! Honestly, I don't think it needs words, the drawing speaks enough.
Dave: 3.5 stars. Grandpa and boy can't communicate--language barrier, but one day Grandpa sees the kid drawing, he brings out some of his drawings, they draw together, and in the process become more closely "drawn together," heh.
One curious thing is that Le tells this story but does not draw it, making this fiction, I suspect. Caldecott medalist Dan Santat does the illustration, which happens in two styles, the boy's contemporary style comics and Grandpa's classically historical Asian illustration, which in the drawing together blend somewhat, which I like.
Lyra (11): 4.5 stars. It shows what art is and what it means to the boy and his grandfather. Didn't need words, though.
Hank (12): 5 stars! I love how they get drawn together by drawing and not words.
Harry (13): 4.5 stars. I love how they were drawn together through their love of drawing.
Jenn (family friend): 2 stars. The story was superficial, but I like some of the artwork.
Tara: 5 stars. I like this one! Honestly, I don't think it needs words, the drawing speaks enough.
Dave: 3.5 stars. Grandpa and boy can't communicate--language barrier, but one day Grandpa sees the kid drawing, he brings out some of his drawings, they draw together, and in the process become more closely "drawn together," heh.
One curious thing is that Le tells this story but does not draw it, making this fiction, I suspect. Caldecott medalist Dan Santat does the illustration, which happens in two styles, the boy's contemporary style comics and Grandpa's classically historical Asian illustration, which in the drawing together blend somewhat, which I like.
March 12, 2019
I enjoy Dan Santat’s work. It is lovely. This is about the separation of the generations and culture. A Grandfather only speaks his native language and the young boy is American. They don’t like the same TV and they can’t communicate easily. They feel very separated and it’s not fun to be together.
The boy then goes to the kitchen to draw his little super person and the grandfather sees this and gets his own sketch book out. He also has his own super person that he drew of himself. Now they can communicate in their world of make-believe and they have a great time together. This art of theirs builds a bridge. It really is a beautiful story.
The nephew thought this story was pretty awesome. He gave it 4 stars. He liked the dragon the kid drew that they ended up defeating. The niece seemed touched by this story. She loved the stories the two told and she liked that they were able to do something together. She also gave this 4 stars.
My dad has health issues and he doesn’t get around like he used to. When he comes to visit he mostly sits and the kids tend to ignore him a little. He doesn’t draw, but I wish there were a way to bridge those two generations together. He will watch TV with them, but it’s not the same. I hope they can find something like this.
The boy then goes to the kitchen to draw his little super person and the grandfather sees this and gets his own sketch book out. He also has his own super person that he drew of himself. Now they can communicate in their world of make-believe and they have a great time together. This art of theirs builds a bridge. It really is a beautiful story.
The nephew thought this story was pretty awesome. He gave it 4 stars. He liked the dragon the kid drew that they ended up defeating. The niece seemed touched by this story. She loved the stories the two told and she liked that they were able to do something together. She also gave this 4 stars.
My dad has health issues and he doesn’t get around like he used to. When he comes to visit he mostly sits and the kids tend to ignore him a little. He doesn’t draw, but I wish there were a way to bridge those two generations together. He will watch TV with them, but it’s not the same. I hope they can find something like this.
August 3, 2019
While I absolutely love and appreciate the presented message of Minh Lê's Drawn Together that one can also communicate with other methods than using words and speech (and how the little boy and his grandfather soon realise that their shared love of art and drawing can indeed bridge their communication issues and result in both understanding and having fun, having a good time together), the language oriented part of myself does kind of question and wonder why for one the little boy has not been taught even some of his grandfather's language (which I believe is Vietnamese) and why for two the grandfather has equally not learned even a few words of rudimentary English. For honestly, I do find it personally rather problematic that there is such a total and complete verbal communication block and lack shown by Minh Lê in Drawn Together, that obviously neither the grandfather nor his grandson have been taught, have learned how to communicate in both Vietnamese and English in even a very simple and basic manner, as that to and for me should be the respectful and the right way to proceed, to show that both languages, that both Vietnamese and English are equally deserving of being taught and learned and that in particular, the little boy's parents should in my opinion and definitely have made him learn both a bit of Vietnamese and to also have taught him to appreciate Vietnamese cuisine as being part of his culture.
Thus, while as mentioned above, I do appreciate how with art, the little boy and his grandfather find understanding, appreciation of one another and good companionship even though they cannot verbally communicate in the same language (and while I have and for me surprisingly at that absolutely loved Dan Santat's accompanying illustrations, which are imaginative and visually awe-inspiring without feeling and looking aesthetically artificial and contrived), I do have to admit that indeed, I would enjoy Drawn Together considerably more if there had been at least some vestiges of successful verbal communication between grandson and grandfather depicted by Minh Lê, if the author had shown the grandfather speaking a few words of English to the little boy and the grandson speaking a few words of Vietnamese to the grandfather (and indeed, a few simple phrases of greeting and other such common expressions would suffice).
Thus, while as mentioned above, I do appreciate how with art, the little boy and his grandfather find understanding, appreciation of one another and good companionship even though they cannot verbally communicate in the same language (and while I have and for me surprisingly at that absolutely loved Dan Santat's accompanying illustrations, which are imaginative and visually awe-inspiring without feeling and looking aesthetically artificial and contrived), I do have to admit that indeed, I would enjoy Drawn Together considerably more if there had been at least some vestiges of successful verbal communication between grandson and grandfather depicted by Minh Lê, if the author had shown the grandfather speaking a few words of English to the little boy and the grandson speaking a few words of Vietnamese to the grandfather (and indeed, a few simple phrases of greeting and other such common expressions would suffice).
November 18, 2022
There are always those authors and illustrators that I feel can do no wrong and both Minh Le and Dan Santat fall into that category. Drawn Together is a book with few words, but contains such a robust story. It follows a young boy who spends time with his grandfather. The two have trouble communicating (there doesn't appear to be any shared language). I have seen reviewers question the likelihood that the young boy wouldn't know some of his grandfather's language and the grandfather wouldn't know some of his; however, I think that this book goes deeper than illustrating language barriers. It also illustrates the invisible barriers that can sometime exists between generations. Young and old people can feel as though they don't have much in common, that they don't share many lived experiences. In the context of this book, readers learn that that notion isn't always true. There are so many things that can be shared on an intergenerational level. As always, the artwork was astonishing. I expect nothing less from Santat. The contrasting styles between the artwork done by the grandfather and the artwork done by the grandson was AMAZING. There were some panels that made me second guess whether the artwork was being doing by one person. It was absolutely beautiful. Honestly, if you haven't had the chance to pick this one up I highly recommend that you get to it as quickly as possible.
June 20, 2019
Another fantastic illustrated children's book that I would never have looked at if not for Read Harder. It is a book of very few words which is of course the point. This adorable grandfather-grandson story is mostly conveyed in these lush and beautiful drawings by Caldecott medalist Dan Santat.
For such a short and apparently simple book I found it very moving.
For such a short and apparently simple book I found it very moving.
October 18, 2022
یک کتاب عالی با موضوع تفاوت نسلها و راهکاری که شخصیتها برای کمکردن اون پیدا میکنن.
August 13, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! I wish I was an artist so I could draw a picture to show how I feel! An important book, it transcends the grandparent-grandchild relationship and reminds us that, at heart, we may have something in common with everyone we meet, regardless of perceived barriers. The art it outstanding and was deserving of a Caldecott nod, IMO.
January 29, 2019
A grandson and his grandfather, initially not finding much to say or do with each other, end up connecting though their love of drawing and painting.
The images are bold with brilliant colours, and this book left me smiling.
The images are bold with brilliant colours, and this book left me smiling.
January 13, 2019
Bridging the generation gap is difficult in the best of times, but when you don't speak the same language as your grandparents there is an added complexity to the situation. So many immigrant families face this challenge and I loved that this picture book tackled this topic head on.
This is the story of a young boy and his Grandpa. There is a lot of silence between them, and they are unknowable to each other. When they discover a shared passion for art, a bridge starts to build across the gap. I love that their connection is still wordless, that art bridges language barriers. The art is lovely and the I especially liked that the two have such different styles - new world and old merging together. A lovely tale about the magic and power of art and connection.
This is the story of a young boy and his Grandpa. There is a lot of silence between them, and they are unknowable to each other. When they discover a shared passion for art, a bridge starts to build across the gap. I love that their connection is still wordless, that art bridges language barriers. The art is lovely and the I especially liked that the two have such different styles - new world and old merging together. A lovely tale about the magic and power of art and connection.
October 26, 2018
A boy and his grandfather don't speak the same language, but find a way to connect through drawing. Magnificent illustrations.
January 15, 2019
A young boy and his grandfather, not speaking the same language, have difficulty communicating with one another in this second picture-book from author Minh Lê, who made his debut with
Let Me Finish!
. When the boy begins to draw himself as a modern superhero, while visiting with his grandfather, the older man becomes excited and grabs his own sketchbook, in which he is depicted as a traditional Thai fighter. Through their artwork, boy and man make a connection, and manage to cross the divide between them...
A lovely book, one which pairs a minimal but evocative text with gorgeous artwork, Drawn Together addresses a number of key themes, from the relationship between the generations, and across cultures, to the power of art to cross barriers of all kinds. I was a little surprised at first, given the fact that Minh Lê was Vietnamese-American, that Dan Santat's artwork was inspired by Thai culture, and featured some Thai text, but then, there's something universal about the story, so I suppose he could have used any number of cultural background to adequately explore the themes. I did appreciate that the Thai text is translated on the colophon, and think that a knowledge of what the grandfather is saying adds to the story, especially in the scene in which he and his grandson are essentially saying the same thing. This is definitely one I would add to my short-list for this year's Caldecott. We'll see... Recommended to anyone looking for beautifully-illustrated picture-books, and children's stories addressing intergenerational and cross-cultural relationships and the power of art to aid in communication.
A lovely book, one which pairs a minimal but evocative text with gorgeous artwork, Drawn Together addresses a number of key themes, from the relationship between the generations, and across cultures, to the power of art to cross barriers of all kinds. I was a little surprised at first, given the fact that Minh Lê was Vietnamese-American, that Dan Santat's artwork was inspired by Thai culture, and featured some Thai text, but then, there's something universal about the story, so I suppose he could have used any number of cultural background to adequately explore the themes. I did appreciate that the Thai text is translated on the colophon, and think that a knowledge of what the grandfather is saying adds to the story, especially in the scene in which he and his grandson are essentially saying the same thing. This is definitely one I would add to my short-list for this year's Caldecott. We'll see... Recommended to anyone looking for beautifully-illustrated picture-books, and children's stories addressing intergenerational and cross-cultural relationships and the power of art to aid in communication.
January 5, 2019
This is a strong picture book about a boy and his grandfather. Though they don't speak the same language with their mouths, they manage to find a way to communicate with each other and have an adventure through their shared love of art.
Good portions of the book don't have any text at all, which is just fine; the pictures tell the story very well. I like how the boy and his grandfather each have a different style of drawing. But they're eventually able to bridge the gap between them and even learn from each other a little bit. Their drawings take them on a grand adventure that's colourful and exciting, and the book ends with a nice resolution and a promise of more fun times ahead for the intergenerational friends.
The lovely artwork and timeless message make this a book that would be great to read again and again. I highly recommend giving this one a try.
Quotable moment:
Good portions of the book don't have any text at all, which is just fine; the pictures tell the story very well. I like how the boy and his grandfather each have a different style of drawing. But they're eventually able to bridge the gap between them and even learn from each other a little bit. Their drawings take them on a grand adventure that's colourful and exciting, and the book ends with a nice resolution and a promise of more fun times ahead for the intergenerational friends.
The lovely artwork and timeless message make this a book that would be great to read again and again. I highly recommend giving this one a try.
Quotable moment:
November 20, 2018
I absolutely love how this grandfather and grandchild come together when they have no words to communicate. The artwork makes me want to fall into the story within the story, and the complete understanding that comes between these two individuals left me somewhat choked up. This is just beautiful, and engages the child to using a wealth of culture, imagination, ideas, family, and finding ways to communicate without words.
Read
July 14, 2018So wonderful, this book about a grandparent, from the child's point of view*. Lovely concept from Minh Le, and Dan Santat has truly outdone himself with these illustrations.
*Pair with Nana in the City, by Lauren Castillo.
*Pair with Nana in the City, by Lauren Castillo.
November 18, 2018
A gorgeous picture book about a grandfather and grandson who speak different languages but learn to communicate through their art. A poignant celebration of what can bring us together rather than divide us. An uplifting story that can be appreciated by readers of all ages.
June 8, 2018
Touching story about bridging a gap between ages, languages, and cultures.
August 22, 2018
A powerful book about finding common ground despite age and culture barriers. Definitely a 2019 Caldecott contender.
July 7, 2019
One of the most tender stories about grandparent-grandchild relationships, generational differences, and cultural differences I have ever read - and it is only 34 pages. A must-read.
August 25, 2019
I loved this story about a boy and his grandpa who find common ground through their drawings. It's my pick for the 2019 Caldecott!
April 14, 2021
My mind is blown from the beautiful artwork and story.
September 6, 2020
Art can work wonders for communication. I liked this a lot.
June 23, 2018
Drawn Together is a new children's picture book from author Minh Lê and illustrator Dan Santat.
Before Little Guy and Gramma turned the first page we talked about the images on the cover - what would we find inside. As well as the dual meaning of 'drawn'.
Who do you think the two people on the cover could be? What about the 'elf' with the wand be? And the 'scary' black and white character? The flyleaf has some crayon scribble illustrations that are so real, Little Guy thought someone had colored inside!
There is very little text in Drawn Together, asking the reader to tell much of the story through observing, imagining and wondering about the illustrations. What a great idea! The Grandpa and grandson have differences - food, language, interests etc. Little Guy is quite intuitive when it comes to facial expressions and really focused on these. We kept turning pages asking each other - what do you think?
They discover they can communicate through drawing. "All the things we could never say come pouring out....and we build a new world that words can't describe." Heroes and mythical creatures illustrate the connection and divide between the two. Little Guy is quite literal and was a bit frightened by the dragon. But subsequent pages have the dragon defeated and the distance between the two conquered.
Gramma thought the concept of Drawn Together was excellent - one that can be used in so many life situations. Caldecott Medalist Santat's illustrations are detailed and very beautiful - a perfect accompaniment.
Before Little Guy and Gramma turned the first page we talked about the images on the cover - what would we find inside. As well as the dual meaning of 'drawn'.
Who do you think the two people on the cover could be? What about the 'elf' with the wand be? And the 'scary' black and white character? The flyleaf has some crayon scribble illustrations that are so real, Little Guy thought someone had colored inside!
There is very little text in Drawn Together, asking the reader to tell much of the story through observing, imagining and wondering about the illustrations. What a great idea! The Grandpa and grandson have differences - food, language, interests etc. Little Guy is quite intuitive when it comes to facial expressions and really focused on these. We kept turning pages asking each other - what do you think?
They discover they can communicate through drawing. "All the things we could never say come pouring out....and we build a new world that words can't describe." Heroes and mythical creatures illustrate the connection and divide between the two. Little Guy is quite literal and was a bit frightened by the dragon. But subsequent pages have the dragon defeated and the distance between the two conquered.
Gramma thought the concept of Drawn Together was excellent - one that can be used in so many life situations. Caldecott Medalist Santat's illustrations are detailed and very beautiful - a perfect accompaniment.
December 10, 2018
This is a wonderful and heartwarming story, told using few words and lots of pictures, that shows how art can help to bridge the divide in communication between generations and cultures.
Dan Santat's illustrations are marvelous and mezmerizing, "created in traditional mixed media and composited on the computer."
It is obvious that the author, Minh Lê, communicated his vision for the story in depth with Mr. Santat, because the message really comes through very well. Overall, it's a visual feast for the eyes and a sweet story to share with children.
Dan Santat's illustrations are marvelous and mezmerizing, "created in traditional mixed media and composited on the computer."
It is obvious that the author, Minh Lê, communicated his vision for the story in depth with Mr. Santat, because the message really comes through very well. Overall, it's a visual feast for the eyes and a sweet story to share with children.
February 11, 2019
Valuable lesson in communicating beyond words - through art, imagination, and storytelling, as a grandfather and grandson who have a frustrating language barrier explore what they have in common by creating a vivid, colorful, fantastical story together. Beautiful illustrations and fantasy world-building in this near-wordless picture book. I love that the heroes of the story they create are an old man and a young boy like themselves.
August 13, 2021
I loved it ,
all children’s book are so kind !
all children’s book are so kind !
August 18, 2019
I did like this but I didn't love it. One reason is the inability of the two to use *any* words, as Gundula points out. The other is that the blurb, title, and cover art tell the whole story... I, personally, found no reward inside and am glad it didn't take me too long to find a copy to read. But I do think that the target audiences (youth, immigrants, artists, etc.) will like it more than I did.
June 18, 2018
This book was remarkable. A young boy visits his aging grandfather who seems to have lost the ability to make conversation, but the boy soon discovers a new way of communication. My dad has vascular dementia and I find myself often in this same situation. I loved how the author was so delicate and respectful to this issue.
September 27, 2019
Holy wow...Stunning...in both story & illustrations. This is a must-read/must-share picture book about family, communication, bravery, and love. Preorder it now - I'll already call it as one of the best picture books of 2018. I can't wait to share it with kids.
September 15, 2018
I don't know if I've ever read another picture book where I felt the text utterly unneeded. I know this is Minh Le story but I found his narrative intrusive and unnecessary.
Santat showed the complete arc and emotion of the story in his mesmerizing drawings.
Santat showed the complete arc and emotion of the story in his mesmerizing drawings.
January 12, 2019
When I read this book, I am totally engrossed. The sparse words and the vivid illustrations capture me. Thanks for this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,333 reviews