SISTER SCRIBBLES

Lila loves drawing, but her older sister is much better at it than she is.

Relying on wobbly, uneven lines of crayonlike texture, Lila produces exuberant, jewel-toned drawings of fantastical creatures with bulbous bodies, sticks for legs, and smudges in the background. The only thing that dampens Lila’s artistic enthusiasm is her sister, Rosa, who creates artistic masterpieces. Family, friends, and strangers are always impressed with Rosa’s skill; her beautiful renditions are juxtaposed with Lila’s efforts. Hoping to wow audiences with her own artistic prowess, Lila decides to take part in a contest that challenges kids to “Draw Your Hero,” but she soon learns that Rosa has entered the competition, too! It isn’t until Lila discovers that her sister struggles with the same frustrations that the two realize that drawing together is more important than trying to make comparisons. Wen uses the girls’ artwork as a poignant metaphor for their feelings; pages are filled with their trials and successes. In one especially noteworthy spread, Lila uses a human-size eraser to clear a path through the scribbles to find her sister. By book’s end, each knows exactly who her hero is. Both girls present East Asian.

Captures the struggle and inspirations of emerging and developed artists alike.