LittleTommywantstobeanartistwhenhegrowsup,soheisthrilledtolearnthathe'llhaveartlessonseachweekinfirstgrade.Butwhenartclassisn'twhatTommyexpected,heandtheteacherworkoutacompromisethatallowshimtocontinueworkingtowardhisdream.
--"DePaola'swell-honed,colordrenchedartwork...iswarmlyappealing;adeceptivelysimpleapproachunderscoredbypurecraft".--Booklist,starredreview
"TheperennialconflictbetweenIndividualandAuthority,orbetweenArtistandSociety,liesbeneaththisanecdote,andit'sgratifyingtoseethesmallnon-conformistaccommodated.EveryonecanenjoydePaola'sgentleautobiographicalevocationofalovingfamilyandahappyobsession".--SchoolLibraryJournal