Chalk Boy

by Margaret Wild

Barnaby is a pavement artist. This morning he started drawing me. I have a head that can think, eyes that can see, ears that can hear and legs that can run. Best of all, I have a heart that can feel. Thank you, Barnaby. Award-winning writer Margaret Wild compresses epic themes into a poetic, poignant story, vividly brought to life by Mandy Ord's distinctive, dynamic art.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Childrens, Friendship

Hardcover

First published June 27, 2018

About the author

Margaret Wild is one of Australia's most highly respected picture-book creators whose award-winning children's books are loved by children all over the world. Margaret has published over seventy picture books for young children and she has been the recipient of the Nan Chauncy Award and the Lady Cutler Award for her contributions to Australian children's literature.

Reviews

[Figgy]

Review to come.

I loved this one!

It's a super sweet story with a chalk drawing at it's heart, but it also tells the tale of anyone who feels like they don't belong or are different from others. It's a story of friendship and creativity and... was that Flinders Street Station I saw in the background?

[Rhyllis Bignell]

Chalk boy is brought to life by the pavement artist, he begins to think and feel surrounded by the busyness of city life. As night descends and rain begins to fall, the artist protects Chalk Boy from disappearing. Mandy Ord's stylistic cartoon illustrations capture the crowds passing by, connected to their phones, grey, brown and black tones set the mood. Chalk Boy comes to life with simple painted blue outlines showing his emotions.

[Fatima Seraj Alam]

This is not your typical children’s book. The tone and illustrations are dark and moody and Barnaby, a pavement artist creates Chalk Boy on the pavement who is afraid to disappear. I was pleasantly surprised to see Flinders Street Station in the background of one of the pages.

[Fromwordstoworlds]

Chalk Boy by Margaret Wild and Mandy Ord is one of those picture books that make you spend some time thinking on the message, due to the multiple themes it covers. My daughter said it's a book on loneliness and friendship while I though it's a book on the relationship between the artist and his work, a demonstration on how difficult it is for a painter to let his work go.

Barnaby is a pavement artist.One morning he started drawing a boy on the asphalt. As he used chalk, he warned his creation:
"Chalk Boy, when the rains come you will wash away and be no more. Do you understand?
I do.
But right now I don't care. I am here and life is wonderful."

So when the rain came, the blue contour of the boy started to smudge. "I don't want to wash away on my own", he said visibly distressed. Hearing his cries, Barnaby returned and covered the boy with a sheet of plastic to protect him until the rain stopped and he could redo his work.

[Jess]

Chalk Boy by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Mandy Ord is about a street artist and his relationship with his work.  Dealing with themes of friendship, loneliness, connectivity and serving as a commentary about today's social climate/community, there is a lot to unpack in this short, but bittersweet picture book. 

I absolutely adored Mandy Ord's illustrations in this book. Right from the cover, her images caught my attention and trapped me in the book. Everyone but chalk boy exists in muted blacks, varying shades of grey and dark browns/reds; chalk boy is a vibrant blue that leaps off the page thanks to his juxtaposition in colour. Although a simple cartoon outline, Ord has packed so much emotion into Chalk Boy's character that it's hard not to be happy with him and scared for him when the rain comes. Chalk Boy might be the so-called cartoon character in the narrative, but he is the only one with any visible sign of emotion.

Margaret Wild has created yet another memorable picture book with Chalk Boy.  I've read this book a couple of times now, and every time I try to pinpoint the single take away point from the story, I find so much more inside. Her writing is short and simple, pared back to allow a conversation between artists and his chalk creation. It's full of hope, despair and it's just really moving in the most unexpected way.

We've all seen the chalk street artists out-and-about. I know I've stopped to watch them for a while at festivals and have donated to street artists where possible, but I've never given any thought to the art once I've moved on (apart from asking others did they see the incredible drawing). Chalk Boy appears to highlight this temporary art and his significance to society, and the artist themselves. In a world so obsessed and controlled by fast-moving technology, it's a reminder to stop and appreciate the small, quiet moments in life, because you never know what you might miss. Chalk Boy speaks about the need to really live life, to find your place with those like you and the power of friendship.

Chalk Boy was shortlisted for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2019.

This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 15th August 2019 and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-1Oj

[Sean Benson]

This simultaneously makes me happy and makes me sad.

A man (possibly homeless) draws a boy outside Flinders Street Station, using only blue chalk.
It describes the boy in young children friendly language and he comes to life.
The man explains to the boy that he will get washed away when the rain comes, and he understands, but then he gets scared when it actually starts raining, so the man must come to his rescue.

[Renee Wade]

Stunning artwork, and beautiful story. It's so simple yet such a pleasure to read. It's not too wordy and easy for the young ones to understand. My 5 r old son son loved it, and so did I. When I picked it up in the book store and read it for the first time, it made me tear up a wee bit.

[Jennie]

Simple line drawing effectively capture the chalk drawings of the pavement artist who endeavours to keep is creation, Chalk Boy, safe from the elements and to keep him company.
Shortlisted 2019 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award

[Nicole]

A beautiful book about a boy drawn in chalk on the pavement and his relationship with the artist who drew him. There are so many lovely themes that you could explore. It is a shortlisted book for The Children's Book of the Year Award.

[Munchy]

Read as part of the Around the Year in 52 books challenge. Week 48: A book that was a finalist or winner for the National Book Award for any year

Shortlisted for the 2019 Children's Book Council Awards

[Kate]

Really beautiful book with stunning illustrations

[AD]

A simple story about a chalk-drawing boy who comes to life. I wasn’t particularly attached to chalk boy so I felt like this story fell a little flat.

[Linda]

What the heck. Did not expect to feel so many feels because of this book. It was cute.

[Shane]

I guess this is a story that speaks to the connection artists feel to their art. Interesting enough, but I didn't feel a significant impact.

[Freddie D]

Superb visuals explore a range of issues deeper than what may appear on the surface (pun intended). Specifically, the importance of connectedness and belonging is one that really spoke to me.

[Guilherme Semionato]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvRaM...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7rWR...

I'm not a pavement artist but I feel the same about protecting my creations at all cost.

[SBC]

I didn't find the artwork appealing and I didn't really like the story either. A chalk boy drawn on the pavement doesn't want to die, but the rain will wash him away.

[MJ .]

https://youtube.com/shorts/_R62w0NArU...

[Taryn]

Also, read this with my lunch group. Equally loved this! Easy 56 pages 😭😭😭