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Our thoughts on how to draw books for kids and our experience with the easy and fun step-by-step instruction in Ed Emberley’s books.
Updated September 2024
It can be tricky for kids when they know what they want to draw, but don’t know how to draw it. And we love our Drawing Skills Master Class for basic, foundational drawing skills, like mastering lines and shapes, creating realistic shading and value, and understanding the magic of perspective.
But sometimes kids just want to draw a dog, or a rocket, or a person. That’s where how to draw books come in. There are so many out there, but we really love the simple and fun nature of Ed Emberley’s drawing books.
Not only do we love them, but our kids do, too!
Experimenting with How to Draw Books
We tried Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Animals and Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book: Make a World and both of them were a hit.
The books offer step-by-step instructions on how to draw each thing (whether it’s a person, a lion, or a caboose). Literally.
If you’re drawing a face, it shows you exactly when and how to add the eyebrows, the silly glasses, the hair, etc.
By breaking it down, step by step, into shapes and lines, it helps a beginning drawer to see the parts that make up the whole and then to successfully create the whole without getting overwhelmed.
Our kids have been drawing people and animal faces from these books every day for the last week. At bedtime they ask if they can stay up and draw for a little while. And how can we resist that request?
There are so many Ed Emberley books to choose from, but here are some favorites:
- Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book: Make a World
- Drawing Book of Animals
- Big Purple Drawing Book
- Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Faces
- How to Draw Monsters and More Scary Stuff
You can also check out our Drawing Skills Master Class! Our engaging virtual lessons and follow-along booklets cover the essentials of drawing for kids, including mastering lines and shapes, creating realistic shading and value, and understanding the magic of perspective.
More Drawing Ideas for Kids
- Invitation to Draw: 99 Drawing Prompts to Inspire Kids Creativity
- 12 Kids’ Drawing Games for Creative Fun
- Observational Drawing Using a Wood Mannequin
- How to Use Drawing Prompts to Spark Creativity
- The BEST Art Supplies for Drawing
- 30 Days of Drawing Prompts Printable
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