Kate Talbot is an Australian-born, New Zealand-based children’s picture book illustrator who enjoys creating quirky characters and vibrant illustrations. How to Draw a Dragon is Talbot’s debut picture book as an author and illustrator.
This hilarious story is told in dialogue, marked by different typefaces, making it easy to follow the two characters. One character is drawing a dragon, and the other one has many ideas about what a dragon really looks like. The back-and-forth conversation, which is also mirrored in the illustrations, is a funny and engaging exploration of creativity. As the narrative progresses into wonderful realms of imagination, readers see that sometimes you have to stick to your convictions, sometimes you might not feel like drawing at all, and other times teamwork creates magnificent art.
The end papers are a riot of colour, hinting at the fun waiting inside the book. Just like the separate typefaces, each character’s drawings easily stand apart. Talbot uses stunning black and white pencil sketches for one, while the other is coloured brightly. There is a fantastic surprise at the end of the story which is simply squeal-worthy.
This adorably illustrated book is clever and charming, leaving readers with the satisfying knowledge that all ways of creating art are valid. Perfect for little and big artists which really means it’s perfect for everyone, because don’t we all have an artist (or an art connoisseur) inside us?
Kate Talbot is an Australian-born, New Zealand-based children’s picture book illustrator who enjoys creating quirky characters and vibrant illustrations. How to Draw a Dragon is Talbot’s debut picture book as an author and illustrator.
