Regina’s Big Mistake

January 1990

When asked to draw a rain forest during art class, Regina is afraid of trying and failing, a feeling recognizable to all school-aged children.

1990 Notable Children’s Trade Book in Field of Social Studies, National Council of Teachers of Social Studies

1990 Reading Rainbow Featured Book

1990 Storytime Featured Book

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-2– Regina’s problem in art class is a common one. Given a blank paper and crayons, the class is instructed to create a jungle scene, but no ideas come to her. She sneaks peeks at her neighbors’ work (much to their indignation) and then makes a tentative start, borrowing from their ideas. Suddenly she is brainstorming easily and her drawing expands beautifully. Until . . . her crayon slips as she draws the sun, giving it a crescent shape. Her creativity is still working, however. She turns the sun into a moon, adds stars and a blue background , thus transforming her picture into a night scene. Moss’s crayon cartoons are exactly what is needed to depict the artistic endeavors of very young children. Simple lines and primary colors, all with the look of nothing more sophisticated than crayons straight from the box, mimic the styles of most six-year-olds. Illustrations and text combine for a pleisbng effect, giving the reassurance that borrowed ideas can lead to something truly original. –Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Allen, TX Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.