Review Detail

What worked: Great insight into the inspiration behind children's illustrator/author Raina Telgemeier. This non-fiction book offers fans of GHOST, SMILE, and THE BABYSITTER'S CLUB a glimpse into Telgemeier's creative process.

As a retired first-grade teacher, what I loved about this book was how the illustrator shows her early years, such as her journaling in first grade (something I also did with my former students), and also shows personal photographs of her before and after getting braces. Telgemeier shares what comics inspired her at not only an early age, but also later in college.

What's perfect is how she shows her interpretation of such emotions as happiness, sadness, and anger. She goes over how personal the graphic novel 'Guts' was with her anxiety and shows how it's okay to go to therapy to help with issues.

At the beginning is an interview of Telgemeier that gives not only a backdrop on this illustrator, but her inspirations and much!

Totally recommend for fans of GUTS, SMILE, GHOST, DRAMA, but also for classrooms with bubbling illustrators. This book provides insight into the illustrator's process, which is definitely a plus!