Get Drawing!

April 1, 2014

Gr 2-5-What does it take to turn a daydream, an idea, or a vision into a tangible creative product? To shake a story or an image out of the brain and get it down on paper? The books in this series give kids realistic and manageable activities and exercises for initiating a project, getting past common creative barriers, and sharing their output with family and friends. Advice is given in clear, simple language, with lots of action prompts: "Try not to use the same words all the time. Write down any great new words you hear in your notebook." However, the page design, which mimics a scrapbook (torn edges, tape, doodled dots), is cluttered and distracting. Similarly, stock photos and illustrations in a variety of styles make the books look confusing-why is there a picture of Voldemort in a book about student filmmaking? Each book closes with step-by-step instructions for an activity that will send readers on their way inspired.

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