"The joy of artistic creation and the value of teachers who are willing to look outside the box come through clearly in the first-person narrative and Polacco’s fluid illustrations." — Publishers Weekly
"Full of color and movement. . . . [Polacco’s] first-person narration tells her tragedy and triumph in a very down-to-earth way, using the tone of the 11-year-old she was." — Kirkus Reviews
"The moving memoir will resonate with any student who has struggled with reading and should also spark empathy among their classmates." — Booklist
"Heartwarming tribute. . . . Detailed representational paintings bring to life scenes that evoke both true sorrow and absolute joy." — School Library Journal
"In this heartfelt autobiographical picture book, Patricia Polacco pays tribute to her first art teacher, Miss Violet Chew." — Library Media Connection
