Somewhere in the forest, Little Pea is a great artist working on his specialty: drawing stamp collections. His insect friends are so impressed that they convince him to open a drawing school. He puts up a homemade sign over an opening in a tree trunk and welcomes budding artists of every size, colour, and number of legs. 

Most of Little Pea’s students show much promise, but Tarantula brings chaos to the canvas with an ever-growing collection of pieces made only of dots, blots, and spots. Even a trip to the local museum to see great works by famous painters doesn’t seem to deter the budding pointillist, and as the drawing school’s year-end exhibition approaches, no one’s quite sure what to expect from the eight-legged artist. 

Davide Cali has crafted a truly delightful story about the importance of stepping back to see the big picture. Using humour, friendship, and acceptance, he draws a gentle lesson that kids can easily relate to. Richly illustrated by Sébastien Mourrain, Little Pea’s Drawing School teaches us that everyone – no matter our differences – has a special talent to share with the world. It’s just a matter of seeing it through the right eyes. mRb