Art for Kids: Cartooning: The Only Cartooning Book You'll Ever Need to Be the Artist You've Always Wanted to Be »

Any child who can make a stick figure can learn to create funny cartoons--and this enjoyably illustrated guide tells them exactly how. Written by professional cartoonist Art Roche, it gives kids lots of hands-on opportunities to turn their creative ideas into delightfully drawn reality. The emphasis is on doing original illustrations and developing a personal vision, rather than tracing or copying someone else's style; after all, cartooning is a free and fun form, so there's no "wrong" way to draw one. Roche also includes plenty of information that other children's how-to books overlook, including advice on writing jokes, composing panels, and getting published. In short, it addresses every step of the process, from buying a pencil to seeing the cartoons in print.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-This how-to guide is a step above the average cartooning instruction book. The glossy, full-color pages are visually attractive. The clean layout with colored borders at the top and bottom of every page and bold text headings directs readers' eyes to the text. Roche's engaging writing style is informative and fun. He encourages youngsters to experiment with tools and techniques and, unlike many other such books, does not ask them to learn or mimic a specific style. His loose, spacious cartooning style is perfect for beginners or kids who might be intimidated by more detail-oriented techniques. While the subtitle may not be completely true, this is a wonderful resource for libraries looking to update their cartooning collections.-Steev Baker, Kewaskum Public Library, WI Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.