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

★ "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

Filled with activities, Comics: Easy as ABC is a fun way for young readers to effortlessly and playfully start thinking like writers and artists. This simple guide is also aimed at parents, teachers, and librarians: all will enjoy learning the ABCs of this popular and rapidly growing medium.

Children kindergarten-age and up are shown how to use basic shapes to make faces, eyes, noses, and design their own characters. Ivan Brunetti’s funny and incisive advice on the language of comics (panels, lettering, balloons, and so much more) naturally leads budding artists and writers into thinking about their characters, settings, and prompts. A section with essential tips on how to read comics with young children rounds out the package. Featuring advice from master cartoonists and star authors—including Geoffrey Hayes, Eleanor Davis, Art Spiegelman, and many others.

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