Draw Me a Star

by Eric Carle

Draw me a star. And the artist drew a star. It was a good star. Draw me a sun, said the star. And the artist drew a sun.  And on the artist draws, bringing the world to life picture by beautiful picture until he is spirited across the night sky by a star that shines on all he has made. In Draw Me a Star , Eric Carle celebrates the imagination in all of us with a beguiling story about a young artist who creates a world of light and possibility.

"A remarkable, quintessentially simple book encompassing Creation, creativity, and the cycle of life within the eternal." — Kirkus Reviews , pointer review

"This book will appeal to readers of all ages. An inspired book in every sense of the word." — School Library Journal

" A fable about the passage through life and its fullness of possibilities, children will like the cumulative effects of the tale, the creation of the world through paints, and Carle's collages flaring with rainbow hues." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Banned Books, Art, Fiction, Space, Nature

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Eric Carle was an American author, designer and illustrator of children's books. His picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, first published in 1969, has been translated into more than 66 languages and sold more than 50 million copies. Carle's career as an illustrator and children's book author accelerated after he collaborated on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. Carle illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have been sold around the world.
In 2003, the American Library Association awarded Carle the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (now called the Children's Literature Legacy Award), a prize for writers or illustrators of children's books published in the U.S. who have made lasting contributions to the field. Carle was also a U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010.

Reviews

[Christian Schultheiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one seems to come off a bit polarize between person to person and I guess upon just first read I could see that, but truly once you give it a solid reread with the adventurous mindset of a child that it’ll be way more exciting and full of possibilities, I mean truly take its base conceptual point which is that everything matters and means something to somebody and when you follow the path it makes the beautiful circle of life, which I think is an incredible thing to share and pass onto our children. Sure the very vague Adam and Eve nude drawing were probably not necessary and I guess it could be means for a book ban (although not really), I just really have grown to love and enjoy reading Carle’s vast works with my son and really exploring what they all mean while still having that wonderful and simplistic charm they all seem to invoke. This isn’t my favorite of his by far, but I thinks it’s vastly misunderstood and I hope more people give it a true second chance sometime. 3.75/5

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a visually stunning book. The text was easy enough for my five-year-old son to read most of it, and, yet, as he read it a simply lovely story unfolded.

Yup, there is a nude couple in this book. Nope, it is not graphic. Yup, my son saw it. Nope, it didn't faze him in the slightest.

[Steve Holden · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a strange book in the collection of Eric Carle. It's one with some controversy, as it makes lists of "contested books for schools," and even some as a "banned book." It deals with some difficult concepts, ones that are shied away from in dealings in public schools. There are biblical themes, and a picture that has a naked man and woman on it. At the heart of this, is one that includes a message of creativity and creating art.

I rate this one today with regards to a personal connection. I recently gifted this one as sort of a "gag gift" to my friend, and former student teacher, as a means to a laugh in celebrating a new job at a district he has worked hard to get in with. As a student teacher, this book was on an early shelf, and one of the first days he was taking over teaching responsibilities, a boy brought it up to him very concerned about the said picture. It became a recurring theme of discussion and contention during his time as the lead in the room - all in good fun between us. He got a good laugh at seeing the copy as a gift his way. This isn't one I'd recommend keeping on the shelves of every public classroom!

[Leslie ☆︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

**This summer, my best friend and I are tackling the American Library Association’s list of the 100 Most Banned/Contested Books in the United States! This is book 2/41 for me.**

I hope all the administrators who banned this from their schools warmed up before that stretch, because that is the *least* pornographic depiction of nudity I’ve ever seen in my life. The letter from Eric Carle at the end Warner my heart.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creation story that Eric dreamt as a child.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite Eric Carle. There just didn't seem to be much of a plot or story to the book. Beautiful illustrations, as always, and interesting watching the artist grow from a young boy to an old man and how the star he draw as a child was different from the one he drew later. The man and woman without clothes didn't even cross my mind as something anyone would be concerned about until I read other reviews. The illustrations of the man and woman are very basic and not detailed, really nothing a child doesn't already know about his or her body and how it's different from the other gender. If you're trying to keep your child away from any images of what people look like unclothed, though, this would not be the book to get.

For more book reviews, visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a book about an artist and his drawings plus a showing of how to draw your first star. This makes for a superb first art book. Loved it.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't remember being a fan of Eric Carle books when I was a kid. In fact, I'm not sure if I even read any of them! I certainly wouldn't have read this one, which was published when I was a teenager.

To be honest, I'm not sure if I would've liked this book as a child. I'm not really a fan of the art style. The story itself is fine, although it does seem to veer into Biblical territory a bit. And I think this is the first time I've ever seen nudity in a picture book aimed at children. I do like how the artist ages as the story goes along, and the author's note at the end is interesting.

Fans of Carle might enjoy this. But I'm not sure if I picked the best representative of his work to start with. I'll have to see what other Eric Carle books our library has.

[Rod Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Banned Book Week 2017. This year I'm reading a few picture books that have been challenged for their content, this one due to its depiction of nude Adam and Eve stand-ins.

I'd never heard of this particular Eric Carle, and having read it, I wish I were still ignorant of its existence. This tedious combination of bible creation story and reflection on creativity makes me curious about only one thing: Is this where Darren Aronofsky got the idea for his mother! movie?

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah I don’t get why this is banned. I know the reason but it’s stupid.

[Sarah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an Eric Carle book, so has a limited storyline but the most amazing illustrations and a way of catching a child (and an adult!). Whether or not he intended it, the book does loosely tell the story of creation but from a very interesting angle. The book tells the story of the artist who draws a star. The star asks him to draw the sun (and lo there was light). The new characters ask the artist to draw various new characters leading to a man and a woman. Yes they're naked. Yes they have appropriate body parts to show which is which. However they are not detailed anatomical drawings, just cleverly Carle done drawings with just enough to hint at which one is male and which is female without really making it too out there. Anyway the people ask for a house, a dog, a cat, a bird, a butterfly, flowers and so forth until we get back to the star who takes the artist across the sky.

This is not much of a story but is more than some of the other books. For those who complain about suddenly discovering naked people during bedtime reading - perhaps in future they should glance through the books before reading them with their impressionable young children! Also the young children who are starting to ask about the differences between boys and girls and who are discovering their own bodies and how they work.

As a storybook, it's fun, it's entertaining. My daughter didn't even blink at the naked people - they're not wearing clothes - they need to ask the artist for clothes! And lo they did! She just wants to go and paint a star following the instructions provided!

[Beverly Hendricks]

Text-to-World Connection

Draw me a star by Eric Carl is fascinating. Mr. Carl appears to introduce young readers to his faith in a creative way. The artist in the book draws what looks like the Star of David along with other biblical pictures. This book is listed on the children's banned list due to pictures of a naked man and woman. Religion is topic which is always debated. Controversy continues to surround its accuracy. The book does not subject lewd or immoral behavior. It only tells his interpretation of the beginning.

[WF · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my children's favourites. It was chosen almost every day to go into Dad's bag for reading on the bus on the way to day care. Nope, they were not traumatised by the depiction of the "handsome" naked couple. They had seen themselves naked and had not learnt that nakedness was shameful. And nope, the "creation story" aspect was not an issue either. They were read all sorts of stories all the time, including creation stories from different cultures. The best and most memorable part of this book, for them, was learning how to draw a star. They were absolutely right.

[Mark Hoffberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and beautiful. Not too much of a story per se for children, but my son has asked for it five times within a day of borrowing from the library.
Reading some of the reviews, I could see how some would pick up a creation story overtone, but that would be pronounced for someone with a Christian/Jewish background. I wouldn't assume this was international though.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow! I had never read this before and thought that I would use it for storytime...then I came to the page with the couple. Nope! Cannot go there! Caregivers would flip out!

Overall, liked the premise but found it to be a bit bossy in tone.

[Cai · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artist is to draw a star, the sun and other beautiful things. Filled with interesting and unique illustrations by Eric Carle, this book is great for bedtime and great for little budding artists.

V @ 6 months old.

[Catherine Sotir]

I liked this book for young children and for students who struggle with reading. It had simple sentences to start and then they became more complex. I would use this book and books like this to support my struggling readers to help develop fluency. I love Eric Carle's books too!

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not appreciate turning a page to find a nude couple while reading this to my young child.

[Aylin Altinbasak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pictures are great! It has been inspiring for Aylin's art stuff!

[Moira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at the library, while perusing the banned books display. This is the first time I've heard of and read this beautiful story; I loved it!

[Philippa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book to introduce drawing. Can create a similar structure in the classroom with one children asking the next child what to draw. Show basic skills can look very effective

[Daniel Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, 5/5 stars… But this book finds itself on lists of challenged and banned books far too often.

This book is often challenged for two reasons. The first reason is that it contains what some may feel to be a biblical based creation story. “Draw me a star. And the artist drew a star. It was a good star,” Carle writes. The Biblical account of creation has it somewhat the same way, “And God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light… and He called the light ‘good.’” When the artist creates a new thing, that thing asks for something else to be created. In this political climate, this book becomes a hot button with the creationist undertow. But in reality, I highly doubt a young child would even pick up on it. It’s a fantastic story with great illustrations, and even a how to step by step draw a star. “Down, over, left, and right, draw a star oh so bright.”

However, it is the illustrations, or rather one illustration that causes even more uproar.

“Draw me a tree said the sun. And the artist drew a tree. It was a lovely tree. Draw me a woman and a man. And the artist drew a handsome couple.”

On this page in the book lies those lines. A big tree is on the left side, while the text and two people are on the right. A woman and a man. The couple is done in the nude. You can clearly see the woman’s breasts and the man’s penis. As is Eric’s style, the illustrations are done as paint and tissue paper. The body parts do not look like they do in real life, but they do look realistic enough to label them as man and woman, which is another hot button topic in this day and age.

This is a book that I may or may not use in the classroom. It depends on the politics of a district and the area surrounding. Also, probably won’t use until I get the advice of fellow teachers. But this is a book I would have no problem reading to my kids someday.

[Rebecca Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Draw Me a Sta by Eric Carle follows the work of an artist. This artist first draws a star, then the star request another object. By the time the artist knows it the last object is a star again. The sun, people and moon are all things featured in this bright and colorful book.

According to ALA.org this book is on the frequently challenged book list mainly because it shows some topics that may be controversial. The main topic this book has is nudity. In the text Children's Literature Briefly 7th edition, it states that some books are challenged because people especially parents fear that their child is not ready for the topic. However, it also states that children should experience controversial topics in literature to get a better understanding of the world around them. I personally don't think this book shows enough skin to be considered nudity- there is so much beautiful artwork but I can see why some may feel the opposite.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read other Eric Carle books, you'd recognize this from a single cloud drawing. He is truly that distinct. Very colorful. Sweet book for kids drawing a star. It is banned because there is a naked man and woman (barely can tell the difference) drawn in Carle's style. It also has an order of events in the book that have a Genesis connotation in their order of appearance.

I'm enjoying finding these banned/challenged books!

[Susan Twiehaus]

To my dearest Kindergarten teacher, thank you. Before the holidays, you gave me this book to me as a gift. You called me an artist and taught me how to reach for (and draw) the stars. Thank you for making so many feel valued in the classroom and making each of us excited to learn. Thinking of you today... :)

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations here are worth the admission price in one of those books where the artist or the author becomes a part of the story.
Well told, and again beautifully illustrated.
Eric Carle #31/80

[Madeline Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed how this book came full circle. It is on the banned book list for slight nudity, however I think it is something I would still read out loud to a class.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Reason for Ban/Challenge: Draw Me a Star has been banned and challenged primarily due to one of the illustrations, which shows a naked man and woman."


I personally think he should have put a little clothes on the naked people. I wouldn’t put this on the banned or challenged list, though.

[Karmen Smallcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about an artist who draws about life, he draws about a tree, a star, and flowers. However he also draws a naked couple standing by a tree. This book is banned because of the illustration of the "handsome couple." This story could also be considered controversial because of the underlying story of how the Earth was created by God. I would probably not use this book in my future classroom just because of the illustration of the nude couple, other illustrators have painted adam and eve in picture books but use things like bushes and trees to cover body parts. I think it is a great story and I love Eric Carle's books, I just wouldn't have it in my classroom to avoid issues.

[Oz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgic, dreamlike, amazing that people care quite so much about non-graphic naked drawings