Freddie Levin

1-2-3 Draw Ocean Life NEW!
1-2-3 Draw Horses NEW!
1-2-3 Draw Pets and Farm Animals
1-2-3 Draw Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals
1-2-3 Draw Wild Animals
1-2-3 Draw Knights, Castles, and Dragons
1-2-3 Draw Cars, Trucks and Other Vehicles
1-2-3 Draw Mythical Creatures

Steve Barr

1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Cars NEW!
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Trucks & Motorcycles NEW!
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Aircraft NEW!
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Monsters NEW!
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Faces
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon People
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Animals
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Wildlife
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Aliens and Space Stuff
1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Sea Critters
1-2-3 Draw Cool Cartoon Stuff

These two titles [Pets, Dinosaurs] offer a nonthreatening approach to drawing based on readers' ability to draw circles, ovals, and eggs. The author advocates drawing 'lightly' (erasing softly) and practicing the basic shapes so they can be combined to achieve the desired effects...Levin clearly understands the capability and interests of young children and encourages them to go beyond the instructions and add their own touches to their projects. The text is minimal but supportive, the steps are clearly defined, the results are attractive and doable. The examples are done in shaded colored pencil. ..Satisfying and helpful choices for beginning artists.

- School Library Journal

Both 1-2-3 DRAW DINOSAURS and 1-2-3 DRAW PETS AND FARM ANIMALS are terrific selections for school libraries. Levin's attractive, colorful work fills a void, providing instructional drawing books for ages 6-10. Her books are simple and easy to follow; the step-by-step instructions accompanied by the friendly tips for starting out make you want to get started right away! She shows how to perceive basic shapes and how to build a drawing around them using easy techniques, little by little turning eggs and circles into the animal which you thought you would never be able to draw. Information about each animal adds to the books' educational value and appeal. These books will instill confidence and encouragement for aspiring young artists of all ages.

- Nancy K. Volkman, Librarian
Norwood Park School, Chicago, IL

This large-format paperback teaches children how to draw 24 vehicles, including a race car, a fire truck, a school bus, a cement truck, and a limousine. Most projects are shown on a double-page spread, though some take another page or two. Levin begins by discussing the basic shapes and the tools (ruler, compass, circle template) that can be used to make the pictures. Then she shows how to draw each vehicle, beginning with a basic rectangle, then rounding shapes and adding lines and colors to finish the picture. Each step is noted in the text as well as visually. Each project is broken down into many simple steps and shown larger than in many other drawing books, so these instructions may be somewhat easier for children to follow than those in similar books. An attractive guide to drawing vehicles.

- Booklist

Using combinations of simple geometric shapes, children can draw an unusual array of wheeled vehicles, including cars, trucks, public-service vehicles, and construction machinery. The book begins with an explanation and examples of shapes and methods of drawing circles, including using a compass. The steps are numbered, and each one adds details to the vehicle. Each step is also accompanied by a few explanatory sentences. the last one shows the addition of color to complete the drawing. Because of the preference for geometric shapes, the vehicles have a somewhat chunky or squared-off look, but because of their simple components, drawing them will be less intimidating than drawing the sleeker vehicles presented in Lee J Ames's Draw 50s...

- School Library Journal

1-2-3 Draw Cartoon People: A Step-by-Step Guide was created by syndicated comic strip artist Steve Barr as a useful and 'user friendly', methodically crafted instructional guide for young people wanting to create their own cartoon figures. Beginning with some expert preparatory advice and a few invaluable cartooning tips, Barr stars with simple, basic shapes and lines which can be quickly copied and expanded upon. The very nicely illustrated instructions continue on for drawing heads, hair, expressions, emotions, hands, arms, boys, girls, grandparents, and characters in motion. Also very highly recommended for budding artists are Steve Barr's two companion instructional books: 1-2-3 draw Cartoon Faces and 1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Animals.

- Midwest Book review

In People, Barr uses simple lines and shapes, mostly ovals and curved and straight lines, to show, step-by-step, how to create faces from the side and the front, add details such as hair, alter expressions to reflect emotion, attach a body, and depict walking and running. Faces, which also relies on basic shapes, expands a little on facial detailing, showing, for example, how to add glasses and create faces in three-quarter view. Animals is a riot of critters that look just like stuffed toys. Barr sets down instructions--usually four or five simple steps--for drawing a bird, a cat, a dog, a horse, a bear, a turtle, and more. Of course, having fun and experimenting should be part of each project, something Barr emphasizes at the get-go and reiterates through each volume.

- Booklist

Barr encourages creativity; his instructions are flexible, not hard-edged. Each page takes readers through several steps that will make them successful at drawing cartoons. In the beginning pages of the first book, the drawings are of faces only; later pages show how to add expressions. People begins by showing how to draw faces, then adds bodies, and explains how to show movement. All of the steps are illustrated with black line drawings; the finished drawings are in full color. The instructions are more basic than those in Lee J. Ames's 'Draw 50' titles (Doubleday); most librarians will want both series.

- School Library Journal

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