Hart, Christopher. Cartoon Cute Animals

Hart, Christopher. Cartoon Cute Animals
Watson-Guptill (see Random) 2010 160p 21.99
978-0-8230-8556-9 ms/hs E-BN

Creativity abounds, both in the writing and in the presentation of the drawing lessons in this book! Illustrations of all types of animals warm your heart and make you laugh as you learn how to draw each potential comic book or cartoon character. With how-to books like this one, art instructors will become obsolete! Cartoon Cute Animals is sure to delight budding artists of all ages! After a comprehensive introduction, Hart includes the following chapters: basics on how to draw body parts, dogs & cats, bears, woodland creatures, jungle & plain animals, birds and sea life & reptiles. The book is so attractive that the reader is not even aware that the sketches are completed entirely in black and white! Hart accomplishes his lessons after first presenting the basics on how to make adorable creatures. For example, “cute” is accomplished with the creation of a large “top of head,” and “adorable” comes with big eyes and pupils. He provides the student with the latest trends in the animation world and shows him/her how to turn ordinary creatures into extraordinary ones! After focusing on the facial features, he turns to the construction of the bodies of a variety of animals, offering hints along the way. One hint that will interest everyone is to shade by hand, not by computer! Hart also shows us side, back, action and still images. One final touch lies in the addition of special sections which serves to clarify a special technique that Hart has utilized in presenting his sketches. The peach tine and orange text show the artist the additional suggestions both clearly and uniformly. All of the elements are present for an outstanding book! This book is appropriate for children of all ages. Both new and accomplished illustrators will find something of value between the covers of this guide. Squaresky, Martha

Take the Mummy and Run by Mary Amato

Amato, Mary. Take the Mummy and Run.
Holiday House, 2009, 222p, $16.95, 978-0-8234-2175-6.

Fourth Riot Brothers book. In this installment cousin Amelia comes to visit and brings her own version of mayhem. Together they solve a mystery, find a lost mummy, and have fun at a homemade water park. There is a laugh on every page.

Wilbur and Orville Riot learn that their cousin Amelia will be staying with them for three days. They expect absolute boredom. After all, what does a girl know about fun? What a surprise! She fits right into the general mayhem, whether tracking down a mummy or creating their own water park. Amelia even creates some mayhem of her own. This is the fourth Riot Brothers book.
The cartoon style illustrations add to the humor. There is a bonus section of directions to the games mentioned in the text, the songs the crew sings, and some of their rules.
The type is large, helping make it an easy read. This will attract reluctant boys and anyone who wants a rollicking fun adventure. JT