When I Draw a Panda

by Amy June Bates

Sometimes when they say to draw a perfect circle, mine turn out a little wonky.
I can draw a perfect fluffy cloud, a perfect scoop of ice cream, and a perfect flat tire.
So when I draw a panda, I keep drawing more and more not-perfect circles until I see a panda.
Then I step back and think, Does it need something else? He probably needs a hat, and then he is my panda.

When a girl draws a panda, it comes to life and helps her embrace her own creativity and unique way of seeing the world.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Drawing, Storytime

34 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2020

About the author

Amy June Bates has illustrated more than forty books for children, including Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed by Lesléa Newman, Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan, and The Dog Who Belonged to No One by Amy Hest. Her work has been honored by the Society of Illustrators. She lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl narrates this picture-book exploration of creativity, the artistic process, and the role of imaginative play, making an argument for the idea that there is no "right" way to make art, and no "perfect" that needs to be achieved. Together, the girl and her panda - drawn, or perhaps imagined, from the stuffed panda in her room - experiment with all kinds of ways to make a picture...

Published this past year (2020), When I Draw a Panda is the second picture-book that Amy June Bates both wrote and illustrated, following upon her 2018 The Big Umbrella . She has also illustrated numerous picture-books by other authors. I found it enjoyable, appreciated the depiction of a child wrapped up in her own creative, imaginative world, and agreed with the message that there is no right or wrong way to make art. That said, this one didn't particularly stand out to me - when it comes to this kind of thing, I prefer titles like Peter Reynold's The Dot or Sky Color - and I suspect I won't have a strong memory of it, in a year's time. Although not destined to become a personal favorite of mine, I do recommend it to picture-book readers looking for new titles addressing the themes of creativity and imagination. Perhaps it will make more of an impression with them.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly enchanting picture book about a young girl's enthusiasm for drawing -- doing it her own way on her own terms. This is an empowering depiction of joyful creativity and a heartfelt salute to a powerful imagination. Don't miss the endpapers! The ones in the front give step-by-step drawing lessons and the ones in the back have added the girl's drawings with the lessons.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is less-than perfect art OK? Is it the effort that matters? What if I “run out of space” or my “lines come out of our pencils and they are not going anywhere in particular”? This young girl loves to draw. Her not-perfect circles end up creating a panda, who then also draws his own way, and they end up with lines that “...are just going somewhere that makes up happy.”

Sparse text with illustrations combine for a full message of self-acceptance.

Not to be missed - especially the cover under the dust jacket! Pair with “Ish” by Peter Reynolds.

[Jennifer McCallum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book challenging uniqueness in the classroom. It's okay if your circle isn't perfect or you colour outside the lines because it gives you the opportunity to create something equally as wonderful.
The panda is used as an outlet for the girls fidgety thoughts that bounce across the walls.

[Jaimie Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book exploring the idea of perfection and individuality. The picture book features a girl in front of her chalkboard wall doing what she loves most: drawing things in her own style. Her circles aren’t always perfect, but she doesn’t let that frustrate her. Those imperfect circles make “a perfect fluffy cloud,” “a perfect flat tire,” and after swirling enough of them together, a panda bear, who springs to life and draws alongside her. Just like her, the panda also draws in his own way. Both panda and the girl like to take drawings in their own direction.

With entertaining illustrations all throughout, the book ends on an abrupt but content note of how their lines are “just going somewhere that make us happy.” The panda acts as a fun alter ego for the girl, as describing him allows her to explain her own approach to drawing and challenging conformity to reveal her own creativity and originality.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! The illustrations are wonderful and the story is perfect for kids. It lets them know that it's okay to create art the way they want to and that it's not bad to draw outside the box. A definite 5 stars from me!

[Abbigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa! I feel like this book would speak to many adults and children who have had experiences in school or art class being told to do something a certain way at the detriment of their creativity and imagination. A beautiful and kind of funny book. Perfect for storytime or at home.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! I'm in the middle of reading anther book on growth mindset and this lovely, creative book fits that entirely. The protagonist of the picture book is comfortable doing things in a way that works for her, even if it's not "perfect". The illustrations are beautiful.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with a great message. Love, love, love this!

[The Unabridged Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was really sweet and I immediately want to buy a copy for our elementary school’s art teacher!

[kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

am I the only one with a copy that has a typo in it? I read and re-read trying to see if it's just my misunderstanding, but I can't see how it could be. Elsewhere in the book it says, "Sometimes when they say to draw it....", and then on one page it says "Sometimes when they SAW to draw it....". otherwise the concept is pretty cute, but I can't get past the fact they published it with such a glaring typo

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is When I Draw A Panda by Amy June Bates, a delightful tale of imagination, creativity, and expression.

A girl in white overalls and messy bun introduces herself to the reader as simply as possible: “I love to draw,” she states, gazing at a blank chalkboard wall with excitement. However, she points out that she is often encouraged to draw things “perfectly” or “the right way”. This does not appeal to the young artist, who prefers to create in her own way, such as swirling her chalk in circles until her own unique panda appears. She and the panda both enjoy drawing their own way, by giving their instruments free reign and allowing their imagination to fill in the blanks. So while their style may be a little “too crazy” for some, they don’t mind – not when their art makes them happy.

Adorable. This sweet tale reminds kids (and adults) that when it comes to art, there is no “right way” or “wrong way” to do things. This is both a nice encouragement for blossoming artists to let their creativity rule their efforts, as well as a good reminder to adults that children should be allowed to create in whatever way suits them personally. Bates’s charming illustrations and cheerfully irreverent text are a great match; the girl and her panda are both immediately lovable, and their imaginative illustrations are very entertaining; our favorite page gives a quick and fun tip for drawing dragons that we couldn’t wait to try out. The length is great for a quick storytime, and JJ loved it. A lovely ode to imagination, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Kristin Guay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story because it reminded me of some of my other favorite children’s books, Harold and the Purple Crayon and The Art Lesson. The young girl in this story not only has a vivid imagination, but also has strong opinions as to what is considered “art”. The story begins with a young girl getting ready to draw. (It appears her parents have covered one entire wall in her room with chalkboard paint so she can create directly onto the walls). She lets us know that she loves to draw, but she voices her frustration on how others tell her she should draw. Sometimes her circles turn out “wonky”, but she is able to transform these into fluffy clouds, an ice cream scoop, or even a flat tire. Eventually her crazy circles start to take the shape of a huge black and white panda. She and the panda have a fun day together with the young girl adding to their adventure as they go along. This includes a castle, picture frames, a dragon, a butterfly and even a roller coaster. This young girl never really knows where her drawings are going to take her--just that it makes her happy. There is a little bonus feature in this book and that is a step-by-step guide to drawing princess, pirate, dragon, castle, crocodile, and of course, a panda.

This book is perfect for children between the ages of three and seven years old. I think younger children will enjoy the story, but I do think older children will understand the message of being creative and sometimes a perfect circle is not really perfect. I think any child that enjoys Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Art Lesson, and even Beautiful Oops will enjoy this story. The message in this story is more about being creative than being perfect and this can never be repeated enough to young children.

[Christine Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subject: Drawing -- Fiction.
Individuality -- Fiction.
Imagination -- Fiction.
Pandas -- Fiction.

Sometimes when they say to draw a perfect circle, mine turn out a little wonky.
I can draw a perfect fluffy cloud, a perfect scoop of ice cream, and a perfect flat tire.
So when I draw a panda, I keep drawing more and more not-perfect circles until I see a panda.
Then I step back and think, Does it need something else? He probably needs a hat, and then he is my panda. When a girl draws a panda, it comes to life and helps her embrace her own creativity and unique way of seeing the world.

Webinar on Booklist:
An Afternoon of Art! (September 25, 2020) Join Simon & Schuster and Booklist for a presentation from six incredible picture book artists about their craft and their newest publications! We’ll have the pleasure of speaking with Jillian Tamaki, R. Gregory Christie, Lita Judge, Lauren Stringer, Amy June Bates, and Cozbi Cabrera about their inspirations, processes, new titles, and more! Mark your calendars for Friday, September 25 at 1 p.m. central for this free, one hour webinar that is sure to inspire all young artists and readers! Moderated by Books for Youth senior editor, Julia Smith.

Amy June Bates has illustrated books including the Sam the Man series; Sweet Dreams and That's What I'd Do, both by singer-songwriter Jewel; and Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan. She is the author-illustrator of The Big Umbrella, which Booklist raved, "A boundlessly inclusive spirit...This open-ended picture book creates a natural springboard for discussion." She lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with her husband and three children.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little girl and her panda love to draw. When they are told to draw something the right way, they draw it the left way. They draw silly instead of pretty, squiggles into dragons, and lions with unicorn horns. Their art is imperfectly perfect pieces that she and her panda love.

Climb into the mind of a little girl’s imagination as she brings her art world to life. In a celebration of creativity and individualism, When I Draw a Panda highlights the beauty of being yourself through artful expression. A perfect book for any library shelf, budding artist, or a springboard for a classroom discussion leads to a beautiful lesson on art. Darling and captivating illustrations bring this story to new heights, engaging any reader who falls into this beautiful story.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our main character tries her best to draw things The Right Way... but sometimes it's frustrating. One day she forms a Panda, and he leaps right off the chalkboard! Together they find that there's no correct way to draw anything-- you can draw a castle left instead of up if you want, or even give a lion a unicorn horn! Dear readers and artists, you don't always have to draw inside the lines. An absolute delight!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I love to draw. Sometimes when they say to draw a perfect circle, mine turns out a little wonky. [...] when I draw a panda, I keep drawing more and more not-perfect circles until I see a panda."

I love this book. I've been looking for more affirmative books that acknowledge frustration and not always following the rules - and this fits the bill. After reading a library copy, I bought a copy for my kids and for a friend.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl who likes to draw decides to just draw things her way and not bother with advice from others to draw things a certain way. While celebrating creativity and individuality, it kind of came across as needlessly self-important, contrarian, and unapologetic. While it's great to explore and be satisfied with one's own work, the pride of doing things one's own way just to be in charge isn't a great trait that I want my children to adopt.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book about creativity and just seeing what comes from just doodling. A girl has a huge chalk board in her room and she loves to draw. She is able to draw a panda and her imagination comes to life.

The artwork is fun and whimsical. She uses watercolor, gouache, pastel and colored pencils on watercolor paper. There is a whole lot of humor in her drawing. It's fun. The panda is so cute.

This girl has quite the imagination. I think kids interested in art will enjoy this book.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this and need to add it to my collection. Not everything needs to be done one way, there are many ways of doing one thing that are equally as good if not even more fun. This book made me smile and gave me a glimpse of what it felt like to create something for the pure fun and magic of it- feels like I need that reminder sometimes. What a wonderful book!

[Lynsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is super cute! Our topic for the next week in class is art, and even though this isn't on the reading list, I thought I'd check it out when I was checking in new books at work. I love the unmitigated joy of creativity in here.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the playful approach to drawing/art in this book. There are no mistakes, and rules are made to be questioned. The child drawing tries new things and doesn't get upset about perfection. The illustrations are beautiful!

[Deborah]

"My panda draws his own way. When someone tells him to draw a castle the right way, he would rather draw it the left way."

And now you have to look at the book to see how that—and the rest of this story—is illustrated. :)

[Rebecca Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl is always told to paint, draw, create a certain way, but when she draws a panda to be her friend, she and her panda discover their own way of being artistic. Lovely story that depicts how creativity does not live in a box.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl is an enthusiastic artist, but she doesn't always make things perfectly or the "right way". She doesn't mind (although everyone else does) and continues on in her individuality and creativity.

[Jillian Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book to read to students about NOT being perfect! Sometimes the day or drawing doesn’t go as planned. Turn that into a meeting drawing! Kids will love to be creative after this book gives them permission to just be... be creative, be funny, be excited about drawing.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up by chance at my local library for my son to read and I'm so glad that I did. It has a wonderful concept that explains there isn't only one way to do things and somethings doing something in an unconventional way it still perfect. I love the artwork too.

[Emily Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations and message are nice. It could be encouraging to children who have experienced criticism of their art, but otherwise, I think the intended message will go over the heads of most children. Probably wouldn't work the best in storytime, but could be done depending on the crowd.

[☆Amanda Cresse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this story and its message.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely reminder that perfectionism is the enemy of good.