Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw

Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw

Written and illustrated by Kaethe Zemach

Arthur A. Levine Books, 2008

32 pages

Picture Book-Fiction

                I chose this book because I want to encourage drawing in my classroom. This book is about a boy who struggles in his academics. This boy’s teacher, Ms. McCaw, was his favorite teacher. She would help him when he struggled, and she would protect him from criticism from the other students. Ms. McCaw found a way to help this boy excel in front of his peers. She pretended that she could not draw, and she let the young boy come and draw for her on the board. The boy was very talented and drew all over the board. The students praised him, so the teacher was able to encourage creativity and boost his confidence.

                 The illustrations in this book were drawn using a pen and a brush with ink and watercolor. The pages are filled with bright colors. There is much detail in the pages to make it look like a real school setting. The text goes along neatly with the pictures.

                This book is recommended for students ranging from kindergarten to second grade. This book can be utilized several ways in an elementary classroom. The book teaches students how to draw a face. The book also teaches students to persevere because everyone has weaknesses and strengths. This will help students look for the good in others. Also, this book could be used in a faculty meeting. The students may not pick up on how Ms. McCaw pretended she couldn’t draw. Teachers can see that the teacher did this so the boy could gain confidence from his peers. Teachers could always use the reminder that it is our job to help these students.