Perfect Picture Book Friday: BENFORD DRAWS A BLANK Plus Critique Giveaway

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I totally needed this book when I was a kid. I loved to draw…I had a big round cookie tin that was filled with broken crayons. I remember the day I got a new box of Crayola crayons…the big 64 color box with the SHARPENER…it was 1958 (that was the first year Crayola released the 64-crayon box with the sharpener) and I was 11 years old – and I felt like I had just gotten the best gift ever! But I didn’t have much confidence in my art – and most of the time, I colored in coloring books…allowing my creativity to be confined within the boundaries of the lines on the page. Danielle Dufayet’s newest book, BENFORD DRAWS A BLANK, is all about creativity and imagination and believing in oneself…and something many of us writers experience – not knowing where to begin! And before you begin reading this post, I want to let you know that the lovely Danielle is offering a fabulous giveaway: winner’s choice of either a signed copy of the book OR a Picture Book Critique! WOW!

BENFORD DRAWS A BLANK

Written by Danielle Dufayet

Illustrated by Katia Klein

Published by Capstone

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Imagination, be yourself, art

Synopsis: From Amazon:
Benford loves art, and his very first canvas is ready and waiting! But he can’t think of a single thing to paint. Not one! Nothing! His mind is completely BLANK! How will Benford break free from his painter’s block? Author Danielle Dufayet highlights the importance of silencing the inner critic by letting go of perfectionism and letting loose. See Benford’s final masterpiece where he adds the missing piece to get his painting “just right”.

Why I Love This Book:
1. We all get stuck – children and adults, writers and artists…I love that every child reader will be able to relate to Benford!
2. Wonderful text that takes the reader on Benford’s journey of discovery!
3. Fabulous illustrations that engage the reader and keep you turning the pages!

And guess what!!! Author Danielle Dufayet stopped by to chat and she’s sharing a little bit about the path to publication for this book…I always love to get an inside peek at the story behind the story.

DANIELLE: I was so torn as to what to paint after a long dry spell, but somehow, I started seeing blank canvases everywhere I went: once in Target just passing through the art supplies, once in my grandson’s school where they were getting ready to paint small canvases and a third time my friend called me to tell me she picked up a canvas for me at a garage sale for a really great price. All in the same day! I took it as a sign, but it did feel like blank canvases were stalking me! I definitely wanted to add that funny element to my story. I love how the illustrator gave it beady eyes!

ME: I love that, Danielle. It just goes to show how in tune we need to be with the Universe…which is always sending us ideas for stories!

RELATED ACTIVITIES:

Photo courtesy: https://artfulparent.com/how-to-encourage-drawing-skills-confidence-creativity-in-young-children/

Please visit this fabulous website and read this important post about how parents can encourage the artist that lives inside of every child. One of the most important tips is: DON’T DENIGRATE YOUR OWN ARTISTIC ABILITY! (I am definitely guilty of this…even when I do a school visit…I can hear myself saying…oh, the art in my book dummy is so bad. What I think I’m doing is letting the kids know that even though I don’t draw like a professional artist, I do it anyway…but perhaps there is a better way I can say it. It’s kind of like if a parent makes a face when spinach is served…kids clue into not only what we say, but they watch what we do…and then the kid doesn’t want to eat spinach either.

Before I sign off I want to remind you all to leave a comment for a chance to win the FABULOUS giveaway of a Picture Book Critique with author Danielle Dufayet OR a signed copy of BENFORD DRAWS A BLANK. And if you share on social media (which I hope you will), you get extra tickets in the giveaway hat.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!


112 thoughts on “Perfect Picture Book Friday: BENFORD DRAWS A BLANK Plus Critique Giveaway”

  1. I love this book already. I think it will be read side-by-side with ISH to encourage kids who too early label themselves as bad at drawing. Thank you and congratulations!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you, Maria. We adults are truly role models. I was so lucky to have a great artist-mother role model. She showed me what creativity required -a lot of determination and self-discipline, for sure. She taught me that a “blank” was just an invitation.

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you, Leslie. It’s easy to overthink whether it’s starting a new painting or book. We all want that amazing, finished product, but we can never get there if we are paralyzed with perfectionism. I hope my book reminds everyone to create without self-imposed limitations.

      Liked by 1 person

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  13. Staring at BLANK anything is intimidating! Sounds like a great book and I love how the illustrator made it funny with eyes! We often forget when we say something to children like the spinach they take it as golden! Lesson learned and thank you! Thank you for the opportunity

    Liked by 2 people

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  14. Fate does knock on my door once in a while, gently whispering. But today, with your email sent to my inbox, fate was breaking down the door. This is what I received before I clicked to go onto the actual site:
    Site logo image VIVIAN KIRKFIELD – Writer for Children
    Perfect Picture Book Friday: BENSON DRAWS A BLANK Plus Critique Giveaway.
    After reading the blog with the title, BENFORD DRAWS A BLANK, and about Danielle’s book, I discovered the answer to my new years writing resolution; the question of including, as a novice, illustrations into my toolbox. The original email misprint title says it all and Danielle’s book gave me permission to start. By the way, my name is really BENSON. (place Twilight Zone intro music here.)

    Liked by 2 people

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  16. Thank you Vivian. I can’t wait to read Danielle’s book to see what Benford creates. I had a big box of broken crayons, too, as a kid! And those boxes of 64 with the sharpener!!

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Thank you, Elise. I, too, love the cover and am so happy I got paired with the wonderful illustrator, Katia Klein. She did an amazing job…and the title, well, it was my wonderful critique partners that helped me come up with that one!

      Liked by 1 person

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