Learn to Draw Forest Animals

August 1, 2015

Gr 1-4-These books provide step-by-step instructions for depicting a wide variety of animals. Forest Animals covers a diverse selection of creatures, such as raccoons, barn owls, orangutans, and forest elephants, while Cats & Kittens has directions for drawing various breeds, such as Manx, Persian, Siamese, and Maine Coon. Each animal is featured on a colorful, cleanly designed spread that includes a photo, a few basic facts about the species (or breed), and occasional mini-quizzes. While the steps usually begin with a few basic shapes, such as a couple of circles for the head and body, they quickly jump from a fairly simple collection of lines and shapes to a completed animal with lots of shading and detail, without offering much guidance on how to make the transition. There are no tips on, for instance, how to illustrate fur or how to use lighter lines that can be erased later on. While other series, like Lee Ames's "Draw 50" books (Watson-Guptill), do a better job of breaking down the examples into manageable steps, with suggestions on how to improve skills, these titles are acceptable additions. VERDICT The eye-catching covers are bound to attract kids, and those who already love to draw will likely enjoy the challenge of re-creating the steps.-Ashley Larsen, Pacifica Libraries, CA

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