I cannot draw a bicycle by Charise Mericle Harper

I posted a brief review of the first book, I cannot draw a horse, but I wanted to spend a little more time on this sequel.

The story is written on graph paper and starts with a single shape, the base for the cat, and later the horse, of the original story. The narrator shows readers how she can draw these animals and a skateboard with her shape. The cat hops on the skateboard and the horse asks for something cool for it to ride...

At first, it seems like this will just be a reiteration of the first book, with the illustrator offering drawings of different things like an icicle, but it quickly evolves (or perhaps devolves) into word-play, as the illustrator creates a bite-cycle, then a series of things for stomping, then a leaf monster... Eventually, the illustrator admits she has never seen a bicycle, but offers a variety of shapes, inviting the cat and horse to build their own. However, the cat and horse have never seen a bicycle either! They combine their shapes into a variety of creations, finally agreeing that a bicycle is indeed hard... but maybe they can make something else. Of course, their something else brings its own problems!

The short, simple sentences make this something that can double as an early reader, but it also offers a lot of scope for imagination and trying different kinds of creative thinking. Harper has created many unique and quirky books and always seems to have the imagination for something new, so instead of recreating her original idea, she has expanded it even more and made a fun, new story for fans of the first to continue the fun.

Verdict: Useful as a storytime read-aloud, in art classes, or just for fun, this is a title that most libraries will want to purchase. You do not have to have read the first book, but it certainly adds to the humor.

ISBN: 9781454945956; Published August 2023 by Union Square; F&G provided by publisher