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Title: Disheartening plot, would not read it to children
Review: I agree with other reviewers that this book made me sad when I read it. The teachers are portrayed like military sargeants ("Everyone must use SCHOOL CRAYONS") who are insenstive to the talents of a child. The messages are that school is a place where you must do exactly as you are told, that art supplies are stingy in terms of supply (you may only have one piece of paper and don't use up the tip of a crayon), that you are required to do MORE - not different - if you are talented in an area, and finally, that you can only express your talent/creativity if there is time leftover after you have met the base requirements. I was appalled when my daughter brought this book home as an assigned reading in first grade. I don't like the themes, I don't like the characters, I don't like the story.
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