Customer Reviews
One of my favorites to read 
2006-05-14
The paintings/illustrations in this book are classic Eric Carle and are actually on a bigger scale than many of his books. They are glorious and beatiful and in his completely unique style.
The story flows really well and can easily be seen as a religious tale. But, like the Chronicles of Narnia, it can be read just as a straightforward story, too.
Yes, the first time you read the story, if you aren't ready for it, the picture of the naked couple will catch you off guard. That isn't the usual fare for a children's book (although potty training books have no problem showing the same thing on children). The drawing is not highly detailed and almost impressionistic. So, if you are worried about that, be sure to preview it before you buy it and read it to your child. If you aren't aware of it, your reaction might only emphasize it more for your child and then they will focus on it, possibly in a way you don't want.
If you like Carle and his style, you'll probably like it, especially the drawings. The story is simple but can lead to discussion with older children about its meanings.
10 Stars for Eric Carle 2006-01-10
This book is well written and well illustrated. I feel sorry for the children who will be steered away from this story because of closemindedness. The adults seem to really be the ones who are uncomfortable with the illustrations.
Check the book out & judge for yourself. The illustrations are very tasteful and the 'anatomically correct' parts are really not that anatomically correct...at least I've never seen any nudes that look like the illustrations in the book!
A nice new spin on the religious creation stories 
2005-11-12
I'm not a huge fan of Eric Carle's work, nor of religiously-themed books written for small children... But this charming, colorful (and refreshingly nondenominational) 1992 picture book strikes a nice balance, and is one of Carle's simplest, most visually appealing children's books. In an interesting twist on the creation story, Carle casts the god-figure as an artist, first as an infant, asked to draw a star, then as a lad swiftly maturing into a teen, a young man, and finally into a wizened, flowing-beard style diety, who flies away into the heavens with the very stars he created, after having drawn man, woman, and the world they inhabit. One aspect of the book -- that someone was there to ask "The Artist" to draw all these things -- raises some interesting theological questions, but the central message of celebrating art and the world around is, is uncomplicated and welcome. Worth checking out, as long as you're not militantly agnostic or atheistic.
Draw Me a Star 
2005-09-30
Disappointed w/Eric Carle. This is a wonderful story, but the illustration of the man and the woman are not appropriate for our second grade classroom. This book goes well with a Marilyn Burns math lesson , but we were unhappy with the book's illustration.
some people are ignorant 2005-05-25
i heard people saying this book was borderline pornography. so i guess when you go to classic art museums and you see the body of a nude person it's porno. america is very ignorant for that stuff being so contraversial. if you go to european countries there are elementary children taking field trips to museums with completely exposed nude bodies and there is nothing wrong with it. it doesnt mean these kids are going to grow up with perverted minds. maybe if a a naked body wasnt made out to be such a dirty thing, children wouldnt care so much.
beautiful 2003-12-28
Draw me a star. And the artist drew a star. It was a good star. Draw me a sun, said the star. And the artist drew a sun. And on the artist draws, bringing the world to life picture by beautiful picture until he is spirited across the night sky by a star that shines on all he has made. In
Draw Me a Star, Eric Carle celebrates the imagination in all of us with a beguiling story about a young artist who creates a world of light and possibility. A remarkable, quintessentially simple book encompassing Creation, creativity, and the cycle of life within the eternal. --
Kirkus Reviews, pointer review This book will appeal to readers of all ages. An inspired book in every sense of the word. --
School Library Journal A fable about the passage through life and its fullness of possibilities, children will like the cumulative effects of the tale, the creation of the world through paints, and Carle's collages flaring with rainbow hues. --
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Good but somewhat inappropriate. 
2003-07-31
I trully love the works of Eric Carle. However, in this instance I do not believe this is a book that should be labeled for sale to ages 4-8. I am a preschool teacher and believe the graphics could have been more appropriately drawn to make this excellent story suitable for all ages. I love the storyline and the graphics in general. I was disappointed by the "graphic" nature of the book when it is supposed to be for children of the stated age range.
Excellence at many levels 2003-03-02
This one of Eric Carle's best works, and can be enjoyed by many ages and at many levels. First, there's the art, which is as bright and bold as his later works (Papa get me the Moon, and Slowly Slowly Slowly Said the Sloth). I think that the rainbow picture in this book would make an excellent print, as well as the flying Artist and star page.
Then there's the simple story of creatures asking for other creatures to be made with child-like associations (dog asks for a cat, cat asks for a bird, bird asks for a butterfly), and the neat cycle of starting and ending with a star.
Then there's the whole creation myth aspect. Not "The Creation Myth" which starts with darkness, but one that starts with the need to create the heavens; darkness comes much later in this story. The Artist ages as the world is being created. Could he be the embodiment of Time itself?
Or is the Artist Mr. Carle? I cannot read this without wondering if Mr. Carle is contemplating his life and work. If so, Mr. Carle, grab that star.
A Heads Up for Parents 2001-07-03
I am an enthusiastic fan of Eric Carle's work, and found this book to be unique, touching, and beautiful in its craft. However, when I read it through for the fist time with my two-year-old, I was surprised and a little uncomfortable when we turned a page and found a man and woman introduced to the story completely in the nude and basically anatomically correct! The pictures were tastefully drawn, inoffensive, and certainly appropriate in a creation story, but I wasn't expecting a variance from the usual tunic or fig leaf covering in that is usually present in such stories when the book is directed toward a young audience. Personally, I could have used a forewarning to prepare myself with positive and fitting responses to my child's natural curiosity. Whatever your comfort level is with nudity in art for children, it might be helpful to you to know it is there.
A Heads Up for Parents 2001-07-03
I am an enthusiastic fan of Eric Carle's work, and found this book to be unique, touching, and beautiful in its craft. However, when I read it through for the fist time with my two-year-old, I was surprised and a little uncomfortable when we turned a page and found a man and woman introduced to the story completely in the nude and basically anatomically correct! The pictures were tastefully drawn, inoffensive, and certainly appropriate in a creation story, but I wasn't expecting a variance from the usual tunic or fig leaf covering in that is usually present in such stories when the book is directed toward a young audience. Personally, I could have used a forewarning to prepare myself with positive and fitting responses to my child's natural curiosity. Whatever your comfort level is with nudity in art for children, it might be helpful to you to know it is there.
