Comics: Easy as ABC: The Essential Guide to Comics for Kids - Hardcover

Brunetti, Ivan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 194314544X ISBN 13: 9781943145447

Publisher: TOON Books, 2019

Synopsis

This guide to comics for kids is an essential tool for all those who enjoy comics. Simple cartooning basics are outlined with easy examples to follow. kids, parents, teachers, and librarians will love the humorous step-by-step lessons by master cartoonist and teacher Ivan Brunetti. Even reluctant artists will be inspired to pick up a pen and give it a try.

About this title

Review:

“An idiosyncratic guide to drawing comics packs a lot of information into relatively few pages ... offering readers a working vocabulary about what it is, exactly, that comics do... The mix of words and images effectively moves from entry-level techniques to difficult concepts as the book progresses.” - Publishers Weekly

"Comics: Easy As ABC! is a step-by-step-how-to, covering everything from basic shapes and faces to perspective and the vocabulary of comics presented in a straightforward way that is easy to follow and engaging for kids. At the same time, Françoise Mouly ... and others dedicate themselves to (once again) holding up comics as a valid medium, a complex and rich medium and, basically, a medium of book that it's o.k. for kids to read . . . 
The message that kids love comics and kids can make comics is clear - and valid. While the pages of this book feel packed with ideas and images, the progress and layout makes perfect sense for newbies and kids who have experience with drawing and sequential storytelling. Best of all, Brunetti's illustration style makes his lessons feel extremely doable.
Getting more technical, body type, body language, comics language, point of view and perspective are tackled. At every step, contributors offer words of advice, encouragement and humor. " - Books4YourKids

“With instructional drawing from Master cartoonist and educator Ivan Brunetti, this book is for comics fans and budding cartoonists. Comics: Easy As ABC will encourage you to put pencil to paper, and draw, draw, draw! In addition, educators, parents, and librarians will find invaluable information and resources on comics and literacy. This book will stay in my library for a long time, for both reference and inspiration.” ― Michelle Ollie, The Comics Journal

"This volume distills every major lesson a young doodler, comic book reader, or graphic novel enthusiast would ever need. ... Drawing guides have never been so appealing. A must." - School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW

Both newbies and graduates of Ed Emberley's classic manuals or, more recently, James Sturm and Co.'s Adventures in Cartooning series will find plenty of beneficial insights ("stick people aren't as easy as they look") and inspiration. First and next steps for budding graphic artists and illustrators." - Kirkus Reviews

"Toon books condenses the vast experience, talent, and child-friendly energy on display in its graphic novels into this comic-creation intensive. Comprehensive in its comics theory but pitched to its readership of young would-be cartoonists, this slim volume offers a new lesson on nearly every page. This design allows kids to follow it step-by-step and evolve their skills (with lots of practice) or to jump around to the examples that most pique their interest. ... While it is conceptually ambitious, it doesn’t skimp on the details and small devices ... highlighting that it’s the small things that bring individual style forward and make a comic tight and clear. ... Brunetti, with his crystalline design sense (think Chris Ware for kids) was the perfect choice to spearhead this project." - Jesse Karp, Booklist STARRED REVIEW

“... This volume ... is basically Cartooning 101 for precocious kids ... And it’s an invaluable resource for kids (like mine) who are always writing, always drawing, and always trying to marry the two.” ― Jamie Greene, The Roarbots

From School Library Journal:

Gr 1–5—This volume distills every major lesson a young doodler, comic book reader, or graphic novel enthusiast would ever need. Brunetti starts slow with a simple adage to "doodle!" and then moves at a quick clip with a new lesson on each page. The inclusion of complex topics such as perspective, scale, and movement emphasizes how rich and nuanced the medium is. The lessons become more challenging, inspiring readers to return to the book as their skills progress. Brunetti maintains a jovial tone that will encourage children to pause or skip around as the mood strikes. Artwork and words of wisdom from illustrators such as Jeff Smith ("Bone"), Elise Gravel ("Disgusting Critters"), Neil Gaiman ("Sandman"), and James Sturm ("Adventures in Cartooning") are interspersed throughout. The "How To Read Comics with Kids" tips may not be groundbreaking to storytime experts but will be invaluable to parents, especially those of the mind-set that a graphic novel isn't a real book. The further reading and bibliography list other comics or illustration manuals and acknowledge the breadth of work by other greats who paved the way for the comics field. VERDICT Drawing guides have never been so appealing. A must.—Amy M. Laughlin, Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

About this edition

• Publisher: TOON Books
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 194314544X
• ISBN 13: 9781943145447
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 56