Review by Booklist Review
It can be a challenge to find an introductory drawing guide for kids that doesn't jump from a beginner's first step (draw a circle) to an advanced final product (when did contouring and shading happen?!). This title in the Art Works series admirably keeps its instructions at an entry level, giving young artists an array of dinosaurs to draw in six simple steps. Each prehistoric creature (14 in total) has its own double-page spread, with the left page illustrating each step needed to create the dinosaur's basic shape, and the right offering suggestions for final details like pointy teeth or volcanic backgrounds. The goal of this book is not to draw intricate, lifelike scenes. These dinos are chunky, cartoonish things that a second-grader can pull off using a crayon and a couple of markers just as they should be. Running the gamut from a cheerful Iguanodon to a spiny Kentrosaurus, this book is perfect for kids looking for drawing basics and lots of fun.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-Any artist-even kids still getting a handle on their fine motor skills-will get good results by copying the simple shapes that make up the steps of these drawings. Breaking each drawing down into large masses gives kids practice with one of the fundamental techniques of representation. Art done in saturated colors and tactile art-supply textures-crumbly crayon, overlapping felt-tip marker lines, and rough paper-gives these books visual appeal. Perhaps Robots and Monsters provides the most leeway for improvisation, and the greatest margin of error, while Dinosaurs includes authentic details such as the Iguanodon's thumb spikes and Parasaurolophus's tubelike crest. Fairies and Mermaids appropriately represents the diversity of fairy and mermaid kind, although there's only one boy fairy and no mermen. VERDICT Attainable results, lots of projects per volume, and an appealing look make this a good choice for very young artists. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
