Materials; directions for drawing people, animals, and objects; the difference between gag cartoons, comic strips, and comic books, plus a section on writing humor are all covered in this clear introduction to the art of cartooning. Though it may not answer all questions, the upbeat tone, creative exercises, and lots of example illustrations will inspire budding artists. Ind.

Gr 3-6-This how-to guide is a step above the average cartooning instruction book. The glossy, full-color pages are visually attractive. The clean layout with colored borders at the top and bottom of every page and bold text headings directs readers' eyes to the text. Roche's engaging writing style is informative and fun. He encourages youngsters to experiment with tools and techniques and, unlike many other such books, does not ask them to learn or mimic a specific style. His loose, spacious cartooning style is perfect for beginners or kids who might be intimidated by more detail-oriented techniques. While the subtitle may not be completely true, this is a wonderful resource for libraries looking to update their cartooning collections.-Steev Baker, Kewaskum Public Library, WI Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.