NISHIDA, Masaki . Drawing Manga Martial Arts Figures . ISBN 978-1-4042-3850-3 . LC 2007015191. NISHIDA, Masaki . Drawing Manga Medieval Castles and Knights . ISBN 978-1-4042-3849-7 . LC 2007016376. ea vol: illus. by author. 24p. (How to Draw Manga Series). glossary. index. CIP. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2007. PLB $23.95. Gr 3-5 Each of these instructional manuals gives aspiring cartoonists the rudiments of manga-style art while focusing on subjects popular with children. Each volume briefly explains the style (as compared to the Western comic book) and has a list of needed supplies. Nishida provides the basics of drawing characters and creating scenarios and offers some historical background on each of the subjects. The texts are easy to read and understand and the art is appealingly manga-influenced without being manga-specific. The presentations include short comics using the drawing projects and a glossary of common comic-related terms (such as plot, text, and technique) and subject-specific terms (such as chivalry or opponent). Although some finished examples may be a little advanced for younger artists, the author succeeds in providing quality instruction in the basics of cartooning. Dave Inabnitt, Brooklyn Public Library, NY