In I Can't Draw written by Stephen W. Martin and illustrated by Brian Biggs, Eugene is the best artist in school, and Max would love to be able to draw like him. When Max asks Eugene to teach him, however, he finds that his own style - involving space, robots, and lasers - keeps interrupting his lessons. Finally, Max realizes that it's not that he can't draw. It's just that he needs to embrace his own talents for what they are.
This book is a celebration of creativity and it emphasizes the idea that what one individual creates can't be replicated by any other individual because we all have our own styles and abilities. I don't love that Max's style involves a butt joke because that automatically disqualifies the book from staying on our shelves, but otherwise, the light tone of the book and the captions the boys draw for some of their pictures really amused me. I love the way the illustrator incorporates the artwork into the story and even uses it to convey dialogue at some points.
I think this would be a good read-aloud for an art teacher on the first day of school, or maybe for a library art club or class. Whether kids are great artists or not, there is great fun to be found in creative pursuits, and I appreciate that this book encourages them to opt in for the fun whether art is where their talents ultimately lie or not.
I received a copy of I Can't Draw from Margaret K. McElderry Books in exchange for an honest review.
