Young boy knows he wants to be an artist. His teacher limits him to 8 crayons and a single sheet of paper, and then asks him to copy (something he was told to never do). The art teacher is a little more sympathetic and works within the rules to allow him room to grow. ( )

This is an auto biography written by Tomie DePaola. Its focus is one when he was very young and first becoming an artist. It is a cute story about how much he loves to draw and how important it is to let children have the freedom to discover some things on their own. ( )

The Art Lesson is a realistic fiction book. This could happen anywhere and anytime, the characters are believable and the reader connects well with the main character. I would use this in the classroom to show that teachers aren't always right and that it is important to follow your dreams and talents. I think Tommy the main character is a dynamic character but not round. He doesn't change much, but he learns that he has a skill and that for school he needs to make an effort to be taught to enhance his skill. I think Tommy is so passionate about art that he makes it happen in school the way he wants it. Things in the end didn't turn out perfectly but it was a good compromise between Tommy and his teachers. ( )

Critique:
This is a good example of realistic fiction because the plot and setting of Tommy wanting to be an artist is present day and believable. Tommy is a realistic character and his problem of not getting to be creative in the classroom is one that many kids feel.
Genre: Realistic Fiction. ( )