Parents' Guide to

I Gotta Draw

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Triumphant tale of artistic misfit and creative teacher.

Book Bruce Degen Picture Book 2012
I Gotta Draw Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

Charlie Muttnik loves to draw, and that's all he cares about doing. He draws on his spelling papers, doodles on his math problems, and draws pictures for homework assignments instead of writing words. After he gets a bad report card, his understanding teacher finds a way to help him learn as he draws.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
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Kids say (1 ):

Without being heavy-handed, I GOTTA DRAW conveys a great message about learning differences. It also celebrates a teacher who can think outside the box and bring out the best in her students. Bruce Degen, illustrator of the Magic School Bus series, shows what it feels like to be an artistic kid who's saved from academic failure by an insightful, creative teacher who figures out how to help him learn while using his skill as an artist.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what special passions or talents they have. What do you like doing more than anything else? What special talents do you have?

  • Does having the characters be dogs and cats make the story more fun than if they were human?

  • Does Charlie's teacher seem like any teachers you've had?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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