Review - Drawn Together

Drawn Together
by Minh Lê
illustrated by Dan Santat
Date: 2018
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

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. With spare, direct text by Minh Lê and luminous illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, this stirring picturebook about reaching across barriers will be cherished for years to come.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

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:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.67 out of 5