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Niko Draws a Feeling
Niko loves to draw his world: the ring-a-ling of the ice cream truck, the warmth of sun on his face. But no one appreciates his art. Until one day, Niko meets Iris . . .
This imaginative and tender story explores the creative process, abstract art, friendship, and the universal desire to feel understood.
| Interest Level | Kindergarten - Grade 3 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 2 |
| Genre | Fiction, Picture Books |
| Copyright | 2017 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Carolrhoda Books |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Publication Date | 2017-04-01 |
| Reading Counts! Level | 2.1 |
Awards
- NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts
- Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices
- Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
- Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book
- MIBA Midwest Connections Pick
- New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
- Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books
Reviews
Shelf Awareness
“Raczka provides possibly the best description of artistic inspiration ever. . . . Shin’s mixed-media, digital and acrylic artwork wonderfully captures the passion and poignance of a misunderstood artist.”—Shelf Awareness
Booklist
“[An] insightful and supportive celebration of creativity and imagination.”—Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
“Conceptual and thoughtful, like Niko’s own pieces.”—Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
“[A] picture book ode to the creative spirit. . . . Niko’s journey will resonate with budding artists and inspire young audiences of all abilities to create something meaningful.”—starred, School Library Journal
Publishers Weekly
“Niko’s sadness and sense of being misunderstood lifts when he meets his new neighbor, Iris: her thoughtful, elated expressions as she takes in his creations make for some of Shin’s . . . loveliest scenes in this touching story. . . . What more could an artist ask for?”—Publishers Weekly
Author: Bob Raczka
Bob Raczka and his wife Amy are the co-creators of three masterpieces: Robert, Carl and Emma. They live in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with their dog Rufus, who is also a piece of work. As a boy, Bob loved to draw—especially dinosaurs, cars, and airplanes. He also enjoyed making paper airplanes and model rockets. He's a lifelong Cubs fan. Thanks to good grades (and some help from his high school art teachers) he went to college at the University of Illinois, where he majored in art. On a whim, Bob took an advertising copywriting class and loved it. When he graduated, he became an advertising writer. But when his first child, Robert, was born, he rediscovered children's books and thought, "I want to do this." So Bob began sending out manuscripts and collecting rejection letters. Five years later, he sold his first manuscript, a book about art called No One Saw. Little did he know, it would become the first book in his ongoing series, Bob Raczka's Art Adventures.
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Simone Shin is an award-winning editorial and children's book illustrator based in California's Bay Area. She has illustrated numerous children's books since 2011, and her work can also be seen in magazines and newspapers.