• Age: 8 to 18
• Grade: 3 to 12

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…Please Return to Elise Gravel, 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 pepper pops, 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!

Shira Adriance's profile page

ELISE GRAVEL a écrit et illustré une trentaine d’albums jeunesse. L’auteure use d’un humour mordant pour exprimer ses vues et éveiller le sens critique de ses jeunes lecteurs. En 2022, Elise a remporté le prix Vicky Metclaf, qui souligne le travail d’un auteur ou d’une auteure jeunesse. Elle a également reçu le prix du Gouverneur général en 2012 dans la catégorie illustrations pour son livre La clé à molette, de même que le prix Droits et Libertés et des droits de la jeunesse.

ELISE GRAVEL has won a Governor General's Award for illustration, the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, the Rights and Freedoms Award from the Quebec Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, two Applied Arts Awards and a Grafika Award. She also was short-listed for Mr. Christie's Book Award. She has written and illustrated over 30 books for children in both French and English including Not Me (Pas moi), Everybody! (Tout le monde! and It's My Body! (C'est mon corps!). Elise lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Elise Gravel's profile page

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

"A bright, colorful and quirky paean to drawing, imagination, and creativity." - NPR

" If Found. . . Please Return to Elise Gravel . . . feels like accidentally uncovering the greatest (and silliest) sketchbook of all." - The Hollywood Reporter

"[ 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 rare mix of wackiness and savvy counsel - just right for getting the creative juices flowing." - Kirkus Reviews

"A valuable message for adult artists that want to achieve a more liberated state of mind. . . " - The AV Club
"This fascinating, quirky and liberating glimpse into the creative process will inspire budding artists and daydreaming doodlers alike." - National Reading Campaign
"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
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