Just So Stories

Walker Books Australia

Imprint: Gecko Press

ISBN13:9798765670491

Australia RRP:$29.99

New Zealand RRP:$34.99

Invariably, when I’m with a class and we are about to draw, there is always the one – or more – who say ‘But I can’t draw…’ or ‘I’m terrible at drawing…’. I always tell them that I’m not an artist but I love to draw, and that it’s like anything else. You can learn to draw, and if you practise, you will get better. They love to do step-by-step drawing and I’ve had many successful sessions with joyful children proud of their Mr Chicken or their Frankentoys. Most drawing books seem to daunt young ones rather than encourage, and they certainly don’t go anywhere near the unusual starting and finishing points that this unique book does. I mean to say – how to draw a penguin? Start with a fly. Or how to draw a a bee? Start with a bee. And as each new drawing is completed, bits are added or subtracted until it’s the next drawing. Page by page, one drawing evolves into another. And it doesn’t ignore the frustrations when things go wrong. The last few pages are devoted to one ‘wrong’ drawing after another as a car refuses to transform into a baseball cap. And creator Enric explains that this happens, ‘But don’t worry! Take a deep breath. Go for a walk, Read, sing, dance!‘ And if it doesn’t improve, well there’s always tomorrow – good advice!

It’s definitely the cleverest and most fun drawing book I’ve ever come across. Do you have a kiddo who is keen on art but sometimes lacking in confidence? What a terrific stocking stuff this would be!

My quick artwork in classrooms or the library may impress the small people but I know it’s pretty ordinary really! Lucky they’re not a very critical audience 😉