Begin at the Beginning

by Amy Schwartz

Sara gets stuck when she must paint a picture for the second grade art show, until she discovers the best place to begin.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Amy Schwartz is the author and illustrator of many picture books for children, including Begin at the Beginning; Things I Learned in Second Grade; Bea and Mr. Jones, a Reading Rainbow feature; What James Likes Best, recipient of the 2004 Charlotte Zolotow Award; and a glorious day. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband Leonard S. Marcus, and their son, Jacob.

Reviews

[Peyton Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book with a nice message. This is all about not looking at an overwhelming task as a whole but starting at the beginning and working from there. This is a great lesson that even I need to be reminded of sometimes. I would love the incorporate this with a read-aloud followed by a painting activity in my classroom!

[Presley Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Begin at the Beginning by Amy Schwartz is a charming story about creativity, self-doubt, and finding confidence. The book follows a young girl named Sara who is worried she doesn’t have any good ideas for her class’s art show. As she reflects on her day and the world around her, Sara discovers that inspiration can come from the simplest moments.

[Sarah Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming story about overcoming self-doubt and finding confidence in creativity. Through its gentle message and delightful illustrations, it reminds children that every idea has value and that it’s okay to start small.

[Michael Barnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Not the best childrens book, but not the worst.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure why but this just didn't hold the attention of my boys (ages 4 and 8).