This book wasn't what I expected. I thought I would be learning how to draw but instead I was highly entertained! Although one might say it is technically a how-to book, it is a humorous description of a fun way to get from one drawing to another, laughing as you go. Kids of all ages can enjoy either following along with pencil and paper or for the less artistic, just laughing though the steps and descriptions. This could be fun little book to leave on the coffee table for guests to enjoy as you fix the tea or a cocktail.

A quick read that draws humorous connections between seemingly unrelated things—like penguins and corkscrews. The art style is reminiscent of The Little Prince or The Corset and the Jellyfish.

Very charmingly illustrated! Though it is not a step by step guide to drawing, it’s a silly and fun way to allow the reader to rethink what we know about drawing. Seeing shapes and colors in different ways to come to the same solution.

This book turned out to be really fun. It isn't a step-by-step drawing guide that you typically think of. It is more about the concept that if you know how to draw something simple like a teapot, you can then turn that into an elephant, then a horse, then a camel, then a mountain, etc.

The drawings are fun cartoons that are not perfect. There are fun tips sprinkled in with a wide variety of animals, objects, and outdoor scenes. The book really makes you want to grab a piece of paper and try out the different drawings.

Truly a ridiculous guide for drawing all sorts of things. All you have to do is follow the steps carefully, even if you're starting with an teapot, you'll get to a unicorn eventually, and from there? Anything is possible. Perfect for a goofy creative kid.

This book will get everyone drawing and laughing as they create. The illustrations are quirky and funny and the instructions are too!
Kids (and adults if they want to) will learn to draw penguins, poop and even fire with lots of encouragement along the way.

I don't know why I was expecting an actual "how to" book about drawing... but in any case, this is not that! It's better. It's more about the idea of drawing, how to let our imaginations run the show. A young child who literally tries to draw an elephant by starting with an old-fashioned teapot could easily end up frustrated... but the idea of starting with something you know and turning it into something else? And then something else and something else, getting sillier and sillier? We can all draw like that. Or not. We can also just read this book about drawing... and then it read it again and again.

Very silly, but also quite repetitive. May give some good art ideas but probably better for older kids. Younger kids will likely get frustrated by the skipped steps.

What an adorable, silly, nostalgic book! The progression of drawings, with each one getting sillier, was so much fun! The whole book felt incredibly nostalgic and broke down some classic, easy drawings, while slipping in some hilarious ones.

I have no idea what I expected with this one. An actual step by step guide to drawing stuff? Well, I guess this is technically a guide. However, I don’t know if this was supposed to be taken seriously? If I were looking to buy a how-to guide for myself or someone else, this wouldn’t be it. It was a silly book, which I can appreciate.

I recieved this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for review.

This is a cute book that shows you how to draw one object by starting with another. Then each object can become another and another until the end. It’s a fun book that teaches you to be imaginative and creative in drawing and to use things you already now how to draw to draw something more difficult. Overall, it was a fun book. I find some of the steps to be more difficult than others but the point is to have fun and enjoy the process.

Really adorable and charming easy guide to drawing! I tried a few of the examples, and the entire experience was delightful.

An extremely creative way to teach someone how to draw.

As the book says, "Start with a Teapot." From there you will learn how to take different components from what you drew previously to make something new. Everything from animals, to items, to places, to plants, and to poop, each drawing borrowing something from the previous image to create a new sketch.

Step 3 of how to draw a horse is terrifyingly hilarious. The drawings are not hyper realistic. They are a quirky cartoon style that reminds me of how cartoons looked in the 90's. I really connected with the frustration felt by the illustrator shared when drawing a car. No matter how I try, it always ends up looking odd. Like a shoebox on wheels. The permission to start again, the acceptance of taking time away from your drawings when you feel hopeless or angry, and the push to continue to create are displayed wonderfully in this book. I really think it's a cute gift for a friend who likes to doodle. It's a book many different age ranges would appreciate, probably from about 7 up.

Such a fun unexpected drawing book. I love the whole premise of draw this then subtract___ or add____. It is fun and also might be a whole lot more helpful for some people then simple shapes.

My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard as I read this! This madcap look at how to draw objects based on other objects gets sillier and sillier. Children will be laughing out loud and arguing with the illustrator as the book is read to them. I recommend it for all ages of children as older kids might like to take on some of the drawing challenges, and everyone will enjoy the sense of humor. I hope to read more books by this author!

"Start with a Teapot" is a delightful and whimsical journey into the imaginative world of drawing. Enric Lax brilliantly blends creativity and humor, teaching readers that the essence of drawing lies not in perfection but in playful transformation.

This book challenges conventional drawing tutorials by inviting readers to see everyday objects as the building blocks for something entirely new. From turning a camel's humps into mountain peaks to transforming a large bean into a wise owl, Lax shows that the art of drawing is rooted in imagination and storytelling.

The simple yet clever illustrations are both entertaining and instructive, making it perfect for kids and adults alike who want to embrace creativity without the pressure of precision. Whether you're drawing an elephant from a teapot or evolving two bean-shaped owls into butterfly wings, every page is a reminder that art is about having fun and embracing mistakes.

With its charming illustrations and unexpected approach, "Start with a Teapot" is not just a drawing guide—it's an invitation to see the world through a playful and imaginative lens. A must-have for anyone looking to rekindle their creative spirit!

Thank you to Lerner Publishing Group and Enric Lax for the eARC!

If you've ever stared at a blank page and wondered where to begin, Start With a Teapot is the charming nudge you didn’t know you needed. Equal parts playful and insightful, this delightful book makes a strong case for approaching creativity with curiosity, humor, and—yes—a teapot.

From the first page, it's clear that this isn't your typical how-to-draw manual. The tone is quirky and lighthearted, encouraging readers to throw out perfectionism and embrace imperfection as part of the creative process. The titular teapot serves as a symbol, a starting point, and sometimes a punchline. With simple prompts, engaging exercises, and unexpected twists, the book guides you through drawing not just as a skill, but as a joyful habit.

What makes Start With a Teapot so engaging is its refusal to take itself too seriously. It's packed with amusing illustrations, offbeat advice, and a voice that feels like a very clever friend egging you on to make something just for the fun of it. Whether you're an experienced artist or someone who hasn’t picked up a pencil in years, this book welcomes you in and reminds you that creativity starts with permission—not talent.

In short, Start With a Teapot is a celebration of the weird, the whimsical, and the wonderfully creative. It’s a fun read, a practical guide, and a reminder that the best way to begin is simply to begin… even if it’s with a teapot.

A fun little read that kids will definitely enjoy. The illustrations remind me of The Little Prince and the words a bit of Dr. Seuss (just barely). As an adult, I felt greatly mislead by the title and premise but still found enough entertainment to go through the book.