Start with a Teapot: An Unexpected Guide to the Art of Drawing

Gr 4 Up–Each prompt in this book begins, “How do you draw…?” Followed by a surprising first step. How do you draw an elephant? Start with a teapot, then add eyes and a tusk, of course! Through vague instructions paired with spot art, readers are encouraged to let their designs evolve. A horse becomes a unicorn, becomes a camel, and a few additional brushstrokes yield scenic mountains beneath a starry sky. Lax’s charming illustrations are the highlight. Reminiscent of the illustrations in The Little Prince, the sketchlike style feels accessible for young artists. Things devolve into pure silliness, with narrator and hypothetical reader arguing over a drawing until clouds of frustration fill the page; in the fallout, Lax encourages “you” to take a breath—it is okay, even necessary, to make mistakes and come back to something later. This book feels more like a rhetorical guide to shifting perspective than a tutorial. There is no introduction, discussion of materials or techniques, or additional resources. Any attempt to follow the extensive draw-alongs would involve a large, potentially unenjoyable amount of erasing. The fun is in the prompt to see everyday items as a collection of moveable lines and shapes, an excellent skill for budding artists. Those picking up the book expecting detailed instruction may be disappointed they can’t quite join in on the fun—but pared down to two or three steps, the art sequences could inspire a great classroom or library activity.