ANGEL DRAWS A DINOSAUR

Oh, how Angel loves dinosaurs!

Inspired by a trip to the museum, the young aspiring artist knows exactly what he wants to draw. He gathers his supplies, consults his toy dinos, and starts drawing. But what Angel puts down on paper looks nothing like the dinosaurs in his head—a lament that will be familiar to artists the world over. And the more he tries, the more disappointed he gets. “Trying to fix the mistakes makes them worse!” he sighs, and he becomes reluctant to draw anything. But both his mothers are immensely supportive. Mama cuddles him and tells him art isn’t about being perfect, while Mom suggests that, like a paleontologist, he should consider his discarded pictures and look for some “good finds.” Eventually, Angel does just that, combining different elements from the various drawings—an interesting scale pattern, an eye-catching claw—into a single work of art. While Angel acknowledges that his creation isn’t perfect, he’s content with it and proud of his hard work. Skillfully acknowledging that frustration and perceived failures are part of the artistic process, Giron showcases an ever-increasing pile of drawings, deemed imperfect until Angel sees the beauty in them. Angel’s own images are rendered in a childlike hand, while the rest of the illustrations are more stylized and richly hued. Angel and his parents are brown-skinned.

Empathetic reassurance for both young perfectionists and budding artists.