The Big Book of Cartooning

January 1, 2017

K-Gr 4-How many eyes should an alien have? What kind of face does a race car driver make in action? Professional illustrator Garbot encourages kids to use imagination and humor when drawing cartoons. Cartoon themes include superheroes, aliens, monsters, animals, sports, and fantasy figures made up of simple shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, and, occasionally, blobs. Ultimately, this is a simple exercise in learning how to draw. Projects are suggested with steps to take toward the finished figure. Blank practice pages follow examples of eyes and mouths, while color wheels teach about using primary, secondary, and complementary colors. Expressions are suggested to show different emotions. The line drawings given as templates are bold and easily traceable, while the color palette is vibrant and inviting. The book encourages readers to add their own ideas to the offered suggestions. VERDICT Kids will want to draw all over this book, so have some scrap paper handy. Consider for art/illustration-centered programming. -Jessica Cline, New York Public Library

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