Drawing With Circles

Children's Literature

Kids love to draw. Just the act of drawing is satisfying to young children. As they get older and their motor skills develop, so does their interest in perfecting their drawing skills. The "Drawing is Easy" series is a very clever approach that uses a simple technique to help kids develop those abilities. In this case a circle is the foundation for each drawing. Four steps are illustrated for drawing each one of the ten creatures/objects in each volume. The format is simple and easy to follow. The page with the instructions is divided into quadrants with the circle shape in the center of the page. The four-step illustrations show a circle as the starting point for the drawing. Lines or other circles are added to the first circle to create the drawing. A few lines are added and the circle turns into a bear, cat dog or mouse. The drawings become more complex as multiple circles become a hippopotamus. An egg-shaped circle is drawn twice and becomes a little bird either walking or flying. A drawing with three circles is a puppy balancing a ball on his nose. Circles are used to create a butterfly, ladybug and spider. A favorite will be the page of silly faces. The final drawings are loose and interpretive, encouraging exploration and experimentation. 2003, Gareth Stevens Publishing, Ages 4 to 10.
— Kristin Harris