A Free Hand...

Jean Free, a library consultant, is a retired public-school teacher and
librarian in Whitby, Ontario.

A Free Hand is described as “an art and imaging book about God and
creation for ages 7 and up.” It asks children to interpret the
creation story and tries to put the reader in the situation of being
present at that time. The author suggests that the parent read the
creation story in Genesis before the child begins the art work. The book
includes 22 pages that ask young children to interpret such questions as
“The very first human wakes up, stretches, rubs its eyes. What does it
see in the world around?” and “What kind of partner does the human
need?”

A Free Hand tries to help children interpret the Judeo-Christian
creation story through their present emotions. However, the questions
vary a good deal—from those a seven-year-old might be able to answer
(e.g., draw some animal friends) to philosophical questions a
twelve-year-old would have difficulty with (e.g., “How does God make
room for the world?”).

It is difficult to imagine a child asking and interpreting most of the
questions posed by the author, even presupposing specific beliefs. A
Free Hand would be useful, as a result, only for parents and children of
religious groups who believe in the literal interpretation of the
biblical creation story. Children interested in creating a personal book
about this would be better able to ask their own questions and interpret
their personal feelings through art, music, or writing without the aid
of a predesigned coloring book.