Author: Sis, Peter
Published by: Francis Foster Books, 2007
Genre: Autobiography, Multi-cultural
Age Range: grades 4 and up
Caldecott Honor Book 2008
This book is an autobiography about Peter Sis, his love for drawing, and his life behind the Iron Curtain. Throughout the book Sis weaves together his own feelings and history with facts about the Communist Party and the events that touched his life during the Cold War. He goes from being able to draw what he wanted as a child to drawing what he was told to in school. This mimicks the growing cencorship and suppression of the ruling Communist government that he lived under. In school he was being taught to remain loyal to the Communist party and report those who acted against it, even family members. As he grew older he realized something was wrong with that kind of life. He and his peers began to come into contact with the music and other popular culture of the west and desire this freedom in their own lives. Throughout his life he expresses himself through drawing, but the regime he lived under was all about cencorship and he had to be careful of where and what he was drawing. In the end the Communist party is defeated, the wall is torn down, and he is finally free to express himself without fear.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the importance of art and expression are promoted. I enjoyed how the facts are listed beside the illustrations on both sides of the page, but Sis' personal story is told in a few words at the bottom. I love how his life is symbolized by his drawing. At first he is young and free and can draw anything he wants, then he becomes indoctrinated and his drawings take on the political themes he is learning. Then, as he begins to understand that something is wrong and begins to think on his own again, he begins to draw what he wants to again.
Right away I enjoyed how all of the pictures were black and white except for the colors in his own drawings, symbolizing his creativity, and the red, representing the Communist party, both of which play major rolls in his life. I also liked how he repeted and bolded the word COMPULSORY. This promotes the importance of the word, and, I think, makes it seem more official and intimidating.
I was amazed at what Sis and his peers did just so they could express themselves. The trouble they went through to make guitars and instruments so they could make their own music showed me how fortunate we are to be able to just go down the street and buy an electric guitar or drums, etc. I've never had to worry about being arrested for my art or the way I think. There is always that worry that people won't understand your art, or appreciate it, but I can't imagine having the added burden of politcal punishment to worry about as well.
I think this story is an excellent way to teach about history, and also a great way to teach about how we should take advantage of the freedom that we have to create. Part of the art curriculum for K-12 is to build understanding of people and cultures in different times throughout history using visual art. Following this story, I could have my class illustrate their own autobiographies or just a simple story from their lives. This kind of activity can incorporate many of the competentcy goals outlined in the NC Standard Course of Study, such as learning how to "depict sequence of events in artwork," or creating "extended visual narratives based on one's own life and experiences,".
The forbidden parts of Western Culture, "Western decadence", that influenced Sis:
Music:
-Louis Armstrong
-The Beatles
-The Who
-The Rolling Stones
-Fats Domino
-Chuck Berry
Fashions:
-blue jeans
-long hair
-high heeled boots
-shades
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