Drawn Together (Hardcover)
$17.99
Recently On Our Shelves
Staff Reviews
This book is so lovely and soft-spoken, but packs a powerful and beautiful message. A young boy visits his grandfather, and while the two do not speak the same language, they find communication through things even more powerful than words: art, family, and love. This book is so magical, taking us through this journey of discovery with stunning artwork.
(Picture Book) — From Staff Picks by Isabel
An amazing picture book that shows the power of art. Minh Le and Dan Santat (local author!) team up to create a powerful story about family, love, and strength. All with just a few words and a lot of action on the page. I loved the way the two drawing styles came together.
— From Staff Picks by Jessica
Summer 2018 Kids Indie Next List
“A grandson and his grandfather - unable to converse - sit in front of a television until the boy loses interest and turns to his drawing utensils. Grandfather then brings out his sketchbook and together they begin to 'talk' without words but with worlds of color, action and excitement. Once again Santat's (After the Fall) illustrations create a powerful book, one of communication between the generations. Sure to be a hit with all ages and perhaps another Caldecott winner.”
— Karen Briggs, The Booknook, East Talwas, MI
Description
The recipient of six starred reviews and the APALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature! Named a Best Book of 2018 by the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Smithsonian, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Booklist, the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, BookRiot, the New York Public Library, the Chicago Public Library—and many more! 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 picture book about reaching across barriers will be cherished for years to come. A Junior Library Guild selection!
About the Author
Minh Lê is a writer but, like his grandfather, is a man of few words. He is a national early childhood policy expert, author of Let Me Finish! (illustrated by Isabel Roxas), and has written for the New York Times, the Horn Book, and the Huffington Post. A first-generation Vietnamese-American, he went to Dartmouth College and has a master’s in education from Harvard University. Outside of spending time with his beautiful wife and sons in their home near Washington, DC, Minh’s favorite place to be is in the middle of a good book. Visit Minh online at minhlebooks.com or on Twitter @bottomshelfbks.
Dan Santat is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Award-winning The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, as well as The Cookie Fiasco, After the Fall, and others. He is also the creator of Disney's animated hit, The Replacements. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and a menagerie of pets. Visit him at dantat.com.
Praise For…
“A beautifully told and illustrated story about a grandson and grandfather struggling to communicate across divides of language, age, and culture.”—Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize winner for
* "The power of art takes center stage."—, starred review
* "Phantasmagoric."—, starred review
* "[P]erfectly paced to express universal emotions that connect generations separated by time, experience, and even language."—, starred review
* "Drawn Together is a testament to the strength of a shared love to overcome barriers of age, language and culture, and will leave readers, like Grandpa and his grandson, 'happily . . . SPEECHLESS.'"—, starred review
* "Focus on an underrepresented culture; highly accessible emotions; concise, strong storytelling; and artistic magnificence make this a must have."—, starred review
* "[A] visual language that speaks profoundly to readers."—, starred review
PRAISE FOR LET ME FINISH!
NPR Best Books of 2016
APALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Winner
"Dynamic."
PRAISE FOR THE COOKIE FIASCO
"[B]e prepared for this one to fly off the shelves."
PRAISE FOR LET ME FINISH!
"[S]ure to generate reader anticipation."
PRAISE FOR LET ME FINISH!
"A fun storytime selection for audiences with a good sense of humor."
PRAISE FOR BECAUSE I'M YOUR DAD
"Warm moments abound. . . . [I]t overflows with genuine fatherly affection."
PRAISE FOR BECAUSE I'M YOUR DAD
"[E]xuberant illustrations."
PRAISE FOR BECAUSE I'M YOUR DAD
"[A]n entertaining balance between sweet and goofy, protective and raucous."
Coverage from NPR
Staff Picks
Nothing can make one feel happier to be forced to shelter in place than contemplating being in Thomas Cromwell’s shoes. The blacksmith’s son who rose to be the most trusted and honored adviser to an increasingly erratic and dangerous Henry VIII was in a situation in which it was impossible to win. In this third volume in the Booker Prize-winning series Henry goes through the last 4 of his 6 wives, while Cromwell tries to help him fend off Scotland, France, Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, while also avoiding the plague, the “sweating sickness,” and scheming noblemen determined to destroy him. Mantel’s writing is lively and modern with frequent sword-thrusts of wit, and she sees into the hearts of the major players who, in history, have often been portrayed as villains. A great read—you’ll be pulled into another world, but one that has parallels to our own. - reviewed by Nikki
