Joan of Art is a beautiful story about a young girl that struggles between "living up to" her namesake and following her own personal dreams. I think this is an important lesson for people of all ages that may be struggling with following the dreams they hold onto in their hearts. In this story, Joan's friends end up playing a part in helping her to accept her own path and walk it bravely, which was also an important attribute. I would recommend this to kids of all ages but particularly those in early elementary who may be navigating the path of figuring out their own interests.

In 'Joan of Art', Lesa Engelthaler showcases the importance of being yourself. Joan has always dreamed of becoming an artist. As part of a school assignment, students had to explain why their parents gave them their names. Joan already knew who she was named after, and she didn't wish to tell anyone. She was named after Joan of Arc, the famous warrior who saved her country, France, and became a saint. She wasn't interested in becoming a warrior. It was her dream to become an artist. Because she wanted to be an artist instead of a warrior, her classmates thought she was crazy. Joan's friends knew she was a wonderful artist, so they came up with a brilliant idea! Do you have any idea what it was?

There is a great message in this book. I enjoyed the illustrations. Colorful and cheerful, they are sure to delight children. The book concludes with a two-page biography of Joan of Arc. There is a quote of hers that says, "Go forward bravely. Fear nothing. Trust in God; all will be well." This is a book I recommend.

"Joan of Art" by Lesa Engelthaler is a heartwarming and empowering children's book that celebrates the importance of self-expression and the courage to be true to oneself. Through the endearing character of Joan, young readers are invited to embark on a journey of discovery and self-affirmation.

The narrative follows nine-year-old Joan, a quirky and artistic young girl who dreams of becoming an artist but struggles to share her passion with others. Fearing judgment and ridicule, Joan keeps her drawings hidden away, until a school assignment leads her to learn about the remarkable achievements of her namesake, Saint Joan of Arc. Inspired by the bravery of her medieval counterpart, young Joan must confront her fears and find the courage to embrace her creative nature.

Lesa Engelthaler's prose is tender and heartfelt, capturing Joan's internal struggles with empathy and authenticity. Through Joan's journey, readers are reminded of the importance of embracing one's uniqueness and finding the strength to pursue one's dreams, even in the face of uncertainty and doubt.

The lush illustrations accompanying the text further enhance the storytelling, bringing Joan's world to life with vibrant colors and expressive characters. Each illustration is lovingly rendered, inviting readers to immerse themselves in Joan's creative process and root for her as she finds her way.

While "Joan of Art" delivers an important message about self-expression and bravery, some readers may find the pacing of the story to be slow at times, and the resolution may feel somewhat predictable. Additionally, while the book's themes are universal and relatable, its appeal may be particularly resonant for young artists and creative spirits.

Overall, "Joan of Art" is a touching and empowering story that encourages young readers to embrace their passions and be true to themselves. With its timeless message and engaging storytelling, this book is sure to inspire and uplift readers of all ages for generations to come

Joan of Art is a visional masterpiece that tells the story not only through the words in the book but the art on the pages. My daughter is an artist and while I am not, I do everything I can to encourage her. She loved this book (8 yrs old) and we will be adding a copy to her collection. We talk about the different colors, styles, and textures throughout the pages.

Joan knows that she was named after the warrior and saint Joan of Arc. The only problem is she keeps trying to be a warrior, but doesn't feel brave. Joan's passion is art. She loves creating and drawing and colors. Joan confesses this to her friends after her teacher challenges them to write about what they think they were born to do and how they can be brave. A cute story that shows kids that they can follow their passions and don't have to be like their namesake or who someone else thinks they should be.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Sweet story of a young girl who would like to be an artist. It shows her being brave and how she’s trying to make it happen. Girl power.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Vibrant illustrations lead the way in this story about a girl learning to celebrate who she is born to be. Art can often be spoken of as a non-necessity or something only to dream about doing, not to actually devote one's life to. Joan's friends help her see and embrace who she is in an act of friendship.

I didn't really enjoy the book. I think the plot wasn't really developed well enough (even though this is a children's book). It wasn't bad but it could be better.

What a great message! This book is about a young girl named Joan, who knows she was named for the famous woman warrior. But she struggles because she doesn’t want to be a warrior. She wants to be an artist. A class assignment helps her share who she really is. The words and pictures are simple enough for younger children to read to themselves, but it’s a great book for adults and teachers to read to children.

I read this book with my granddaughter and we throughly enjoyed the story of friendship and truly being honest with who you are. There were some minor flaws in some sentences but I’m sure all will be worked out once it gets released. The illustrations were bright and colourful and my granddaughter could point to the small things in the drawings ie. hopscotch, bikes, bandaids, and socks, that she too has and this all made the story relatable to her. The story of Joan of Arc at the end was a nice touch too. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this ARC

Hmmm. This one is ok. I feel like there’s a lot of unnecessary negativity and the story doesn’t quite flow right. I love the idea of exposing kids to more art and the possibility of being in the arts as they grow but this just didn’t quite work for me.

Cute, cute, cute! I like that this helps kiddos think about where names come from, but also that you don't have to be like the thing you are named after.

Such a powerful book. Joan wants to be an artist, but is named after a warrior Saint. Her teacher through school assignments and her best friends help her sort this out. I loved the pictures and the character of Joan. This book demonstrates how important it is to do something you really like. Also at the end of the book is a brief summation about Joan of Arc. I was blessed with an advance reader copy, and I am submitting my review voluntarily. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Church Publishing Inc and Morehouse Publishing for an Advanced Read Copy of this book!

Joan is a little girl who loves art! When her teacher gives an assignment to her class to investigate their names, Joan already knows why hers is special. The only problem is that Joan wants to be an artist, not a warrior. With some encouragement from her friends, Joan learns that what is most important is being true to yourself!

My kindergartener really enjoyed this book! She was drawn to the colorful illustrations and was excited to learn about Joan of Arc and her role in European history.

This will be a great book for my middle schoolers to read to their first grade reading buddies. I love the idea it shares that you can be whatever you want to be and you don’t have to live up to anyone else’s expectations for you.

This was such a great read and is very well written. The author went into great detail and made it relatable to many. I really enjoyed this book!

I received an ARC of this children's book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very cute book. The pictures are adorable and I loved the text of the book!

This was such a precious story about names and pursuing your passions!
The illustrations were bright and just lovely and so well done.
I think the brief history at the end was a great touch.
I think kids PreK-3rd grade will enjoy this and it may get them curious about their own names!

Joan is embarrassed because her parents named her after Joan of Arc. Why would she be embarrassed to be named after a hero? Because Joan doesn't see herself as a warrior -- Joan is an artist! This is such a great book about finding the courage to be yourself. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

Joan of Art is a sweet story of a girl, who has decided that she wants to be an artist, and must overcome the idea that she must be a brave warrior like her namesake Joan of Arc. This is a long read picture book that may have a niche audience but overall enjoyable to read. The main character has supportive friends and is creatively making her own way.

Very creative premise and lovely illustrations, I would sell this book for ages 5+ especially to those starting school and/or having trouble fitting in/being themselves.