I Can Draw Forest Animals

Children's Literature

Kids love to draw, and at about 3rd or 4th grade they start to care whether their drawings are realistic. This is part of a series designed for that age group, or younger students with an eye for realism. I Can Draw Forest Animals combines a practical set of lessons for learning how to draw specific animals. Additional text includes information about where they live, what they eat and a paw print. The book provides step-by-step instructions for drawing deer, pheasant, boar, badgers, hedgehogs and woodpeckers, among others. Even the most complex drawings start with simple geometric shapes. Once the basic shapes are down, details are added. The lessons are for line drawings, with the accompanying illustration in full color. Scattered throughout the publication are illustrations of a variety of forest animals together. The full-color images are realistic and of a style that seem attainable by young artists who would try to copy them. A glossary and list of relevant resources complement this selection that is more than just a simple how-to drawing book. 2001, Gareth Stevens, $21.27. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Kristin Harris

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-This series brings art and nature together. The premise is that anyone can draw by observing basic shapes (circles, ovals, etc.), practicing, and following step-by-step instructions. Country Animals includes farm animals, pets, and wild creatures-from cows and cats to squirrels and horned owls. Forest Animals includes a deer, wild boar, a fox, badgers, a stag beetle, a hedgehog, and a wild marten. Each spread includes a page of drawing instructions for the animal in a single pose and a picture of one or several of the creatures in their "natural environment." Would-be artists will need to use their powers of observation to adapt the basic shapes and create the variations. The cartoonlike illustrations are colorful, but very simplistic and two-dimensional. The instructions include clear line drawings for each step. The difficulty increases toward the end of each book. In addition to the instructional text, there are short paragraphs about each animal and its home. However, youngsters who are able to read the texts independently will probably find the books too babyish. Titles in Philippe Legendre's "Kids Can Draw" series (Foster, Walter) are better choices. The execution of Leroux-Hugon's books is not strong enough to make them primary purchases.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.