This book was cute and a little fun, but overall not that memorable. I really wanted to love it, but it was just okay.

This was cute in the way of Duck/Rabbit where you are shown many illustrations that could be multiple things. It was a cute book that I would recommend for younger grades. My fifth graders were not as interested. I got a kick out of it and enjoyed reading it with my own children. It kept us entertained.

This book is a part of a growing trend of stories where the author/narrator talks directly to the reader or a character in a way that suggests interaction. We are not simply hearing a story, we're engaging in a conversation. In this case, the narrator interacts with a simply drawn cat, the cat demanding a horse and the narrator suggesting other additions to the story. Horses, we are told, are hard to draw so here is a different thing. The scene becomes increasingly silly, the cat's demands for a horse increasingly strong. It's bound to elicit giggles from a young audience. And because the illustrations are quite simple, based on easily replicated shapes, it encourages slightly older kids to draw their own versions of the illustrations, to take more chances with their drawing.

A fun premise that I thought would be right up the alley of my young, silly, art-loving bookworm child.

It was just a bit too simple, I think. My daughter is only 5 and absolutely adores silly narrator books with characters that break the 4th wall (think: Deborah Underwood's, "The Panda Problem"). I think perhaps this particular story is aimed more towards 3-4 year olds who either don't read on their own yet or are just starting to. It's silly, it's insistent, it's simple. It garnered a few chuckles from my child but she didn't and hasn't wanted to read it again.

So as much as I enjoyed it, I think the opinion of the audience it's written for is of more importance than mine. It would make a great book to read to a class of young kids, and I think it is a fine story and silly idea (in a good way), it just isn't one that I think will fine a lot of re-read time on our shelves.

I thank the publisher for the opportunity to have read this.

A funny little tale about a cat who wants the book to draw a horse but the book does not know how to draw one. The book tries drawing other things instead, but the cat continues to insist it wants a horse.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

This book has an omniscient narrator. It starts out with a sheep that becomes a cat and the cat wants a horse. But our omniscient narrator says they can’t draw a horse, but they could draw a fill in the blank. The story goes on from there. It is a round robin story like “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”, which makes for a really fun ride. The illustrations are fun and childlike but in the best possible way. It helps move the story forward as well as keep it entertaining. While it’s great on the pages, it could also be great for a whiteboard story time or even made that way for a flannel story time. Overall, the story just works, and kids are going to love it.

With simple phrases, easy shapes and tons of humor, this is a cute read, which is sure to have listeners giggling and laughing the entire way through.

This book includes the illustrator as one of the characters. The illustrator draws a simple shape, which so happens to then be made into a cat. The cat, however, has desires and demands, since it doesn't want to stay alone and wants some fun. It wants a horse. The illustrator, however, claims it can't draw a horse and tries to satisfy the cat with a different friend. The results are silly and send the cat into all sorts of mini-adventures.

Created with simple, short phrases, this is a wonderful book to get those early readers hitting words on their own. Plus, it makes a great read aloud, too. The sentences are printed clearly with only one or two on the page. Then, there are word-bubbles from the cat, which are just as simple and add comic relief.
But then, the situations (and the cat's complaints) are humorous.

The illustrations are very simple and, still, pack everything they need to make the story fun. And they do a great job and showing how creativity works. With just a simple, basic shape, various animals and scenes come to life.

And there is a message or two, which cleverly meld right into the silly fun. Altogether, it's a creative read, which is sure to become a favorite.

Reminiscent of The Little Prince when he demands a drawing of a sheep from the pilot. This picture book is so fun and creative. Perfect for story time, you can ask participants to see what else you can draw with this little shape. I loved the little details, like the pages drawn of graph paper and the yellow speech bubbles. This encourages readers to broaden their imaginations and keep trying even when they feel like they can't do something. Engaging, silly, and charming; which is all you can want from a picture book.

I thought that this was an enjoyable book, it was fun and very funny

The story was easy to follow and it was fun to read with my daughter - it was lovely

She has recently learnt to read in Reception at school so it was great that we could read it together

The illustrations are lovely and they really bring the story to life and we had plenty of giggles

It is five stars from me for this one – very highly recommended!

This book is ADORABLE. At it's core, it's both a fun children's book, but also a way to learn how to draw a variety of things using one basic shape. The cat is going through the book asking for a horse, but the author just keeps drawing everything else, all using that same shape, but in different ways. You can draw a bunny! A bear! A dog! But where is the cat's horse?? It's really fun and I love that it's both an engaging story, but it won't be read and forgotten - your child can use it to draw all sorts of creatures and objects. It's a very creative and unique book.

Really cute and clever picture for kids and adults alike. It shows how much you can do if someone believes in you. Also that you can draw a lot of different things with a pretty basic shape.

This is a cute picture book. It's for younger readers to encourage them to be imaginative,
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sterling Publishing for an ARC

Kids will giggle at the cat and his hilarious demands of the narrator to draw a horse (which admittedly are quite tough to draw) and the silliness that follows.

# I Cannot Draw a Horse by Charise Harper

Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 (4.5/5)

#childrenfiction #picturebook

I Cannot Draw a Horse by Charise Harper is a wonderful picture book that demonstrates the power of the imagination.

On the book, the illustrator draws a semicircle-like shape that declares, 'I am a nothing shape.' To counteract this feeling, he quickly draws a Cat out of it. And now the Cat desires a horse. However, the illustrator claims that he cannot draw a horse and instead draws a variety of objects as companions and for entertainment to cheer up the Cat. Eventually, the Cat strikes gold with a Horse.

Two key messages from this story, in my opinion, are -

1. Art is a powerful tool, Imagination can be powerfully stimulated by it. You will be amazed by how the illustrator skillfully turns a straightforward semicircular shape into a myriad of amazing objects.
2. If you really want something, you will get it. But sometimes things don't go exactly as you planned or hoped. For instance, even though the Cat gets the Horse, he prefers riding a bicycle over running.

This book would undoubtedly appeal to young minds and introduce them to a variety of interesting objects. It can be a fantastic book in an art class or workshop where we can get creative with other shapes.

I loved the narrative and would strongly recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advance Reader Copy.

I Cannot Draw A Horse was such a cute book! Showing that you can make so many things from one simple design! With a message to have courage and to believe in yourself. The drawing were so adorable and the book had a bit of humor in it which I liked. I just wished the ending was a bit different instead of leaving it open ended.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this for my honest review.

I received an electronic ARC from Union Square Kids through NetGalley.
The author uses one basic shape and builds the entire story around it. I appreciate the fun and creativity involved. Readers first meet the shape. It feels like a "nothing shape" so the narrator/artist draws a cat from it. The cat wants a horse but the narrator insists they cannot draw one. Instead, they draw a series of other animals. Readers will appreciate the humor as the cat interacts with the other drawings - all while asking for a horse. Harper leaves the ending wide open for readers to decide what was drawn last. Terrific for dialogue and short writings about how the story goes on from here. It's also an encouraging text to show what can be done with a simple shape. Entire books can be created. Elementary level readers will enjoy the story.

Imaginative and invites children to think about what other objects or animals the shape could be made into. Preschool-aged children are sure to laugh.

Kids will love this wonderful new picture book, I Cannot Draw a Horse by Charise Mericle Harper coming out on September 27, 2022. Pre-order your copy now.

When the nothing shape turns into a cat, cat becomes obsessed and wants a horse. The quick draw book can draw lots of other things which turn into a witty story for cat. In the end cat STILL wants a horse. Will his wish come true?

This book offers lots of simple dialogue and presents opportunities for kids to make predictions. It's the new must have book for classroom and home library shelves.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sterling Publishing for an ARC.

I Cannot Draw a Horse is a great beginning of the year book for preschoolers or kindergartners. The narrator talks to their illustrations, mainly a cat who would like a horse. Much to the cat's dismay, the narrator cannot draw a horse, but instead shows all the other things that they can draw. Seeing how young kids can get tied up on what they cannot do, the fact that this narrator instantly spins it to what they can do really would help kids with a positive mindset in taking on a new task. The illustrations were simple, like a child's, but fun!

I cannot wait to add this book to our Elementary Library!
At once funny, inspiring and full of creativity!
This book will be a fabulous jumping off point to a lesson on storytelling, drawing and finding your own creativity!