MS. MCCAW LEARNS TO DRAW

Tentative student Dudley gets a chance to build his confidence. School isn’t easy for Dudley Ellington, who often drifts into daydreams about rocket ships and race cars when he should be attending to lessons. But patient teacher Ms. McCaw—blue spectacles, untamed blonde hair and pencils sticking out of a pocket of her sleeveless sweater—always takes the time to explain things over and over until he gets it. The tables are turned when Ms. McCaw is unable to draw a person’s face on the blackboard. Numerous failed tries only make her more embarrassed. Dudley leaps to the rescue and the two switch places; he fills the board with a tapestry of face drawings and, in the process, fills himself with confidence. Zemach’s illustrations, combining ink and watercolor applied with pen and brush, are full of telling details. Dudley and his classmates seem to be about nine years old, and the text is appropriately pitched in this gently effective art lesson about learning disabilities. (Picture book. 5-9)