Elise Gravel invites the reader in to the world of her little black notebook. In it are creatures and places familiar and imaginary, in a style that embodies quirkiness, whimsy, and humor ... an open-hearted drawing prompt for kids, or adults, who want to draw more.
Youth Services Book Review
$19.95 CAD/$17.95 USD
Welcome to the charming world of cartoonist Elise Gravel's notebook, where her imagination runs wild with creatures of all shapes and sizes
In the outrageously amusing If Found..., Elise Gravel offers readers a sneak peek into her sketchbook, where colorful monsters, imaginary friends, a grumpy things reign supreme. Meet Donald, who sings off-key; Francine, who likes to eat stones; and Marvin, the man with lots of stuff in his beard. Mixing the real with the fantastical, Elise’s drawings exude curiosity, as microbes and mushrooms share the page with speckled pepperpops, gloppers, and floofs.
Filled to the brim with vibrant felt marker illustrations, If Found… is not just an exhibition of Gravel’s work, but a challenge to young artists to keep a daily sketchbook. She reveals her top tips to becoming a successful illustrator–practice! practice! practice!–while empowering young artists to face their fears of making “ugly drawings.” Stop worrying about what makes a drawing good or bad—Elise draws anything and everything and you can too!
Praise for If Found...Please Return to Elise Gravel
If Found… Please Return to Elise Gravel... feels like accidentally uncovering the greatest (and silliest) sketchbook of all.
The Hollywood Reporter
What, exactly, does it take to be a great artist? ... as Gravel gracefully demonstrates, it actually can (and should be!) a lot of fun.
School Library Journal
If Found... is a wonderful, wonderful thing. Part sketch book, part inspiration manual, part how-to-draw book, it is like nothing I’ve come across before.
Rhino Reads
An uber creative read with oodles of doodles and a wealth of inspiration for young minds ... Mixed with super hilarious characters and utterly ridiculous stories, we’d expect nothing less from cartoonist and super illustrator Elise Gravel.
Picture Books Blogger
[If Found] offers a kind of evangelism for the joy of drawing, as expressed through tons of Gravel’s silly, colorful critters... Make ugly drawings. Make stupid drawings. Make a lot of drawings, and make them for yourself.
Paste
...a bright, colorful and quirky paean to drawing, imagination, and creativity.
NPR
This fascinating, quirky and liberating glimpse into the creative process will inspire budding artists and daydreaming doodlers alike.
National Reading Campaign
... an organic entity, which aims to explore, humour—– to experiment without risk of judgement, ridicule or failure.
Minerva Reads
A rare mix of wackiness and savvy counsel—just right for getting the creative juices flowing.
Kirkus Reviews
If Found... lets readers see inside the marvelously creative, colorful sketchbook of this wildly imaginative and funny artist.
Books4YourKids.com
If Found shows, the product of creativity is wild.
Blogcritics
...a valuable message for adult artists that want to achieve a more liberated state of mind...
The AV Club
