Step by Step Drawing Book by Fiona Watts / Candice Whatmore, reviewed by Chitra Soundar

When I stumbled on The Step by Step Drawing Book by Fiona Watts, illustrated by Candice Whatmore, published by Usborne Books in a new independent bookshop called Bookasaurus in Melksham, Wiltshire, I thought it would be perfect for my 4 ½ year old nephew who loves to draw.

As I flipped through the pages I realised, it would be perfect for completely novice doodlers like me too. I bought a second copy so I needn't share mine with my nephew.

As a child, I never learnt to draw. But I was always a visual learner and loved illustrated books. One of the reasons I love reading picture books is that a lot can be told in pictures. If there was one thing I’d like to go back and fix if I ever got a time machine would be to learn the skill to draw, doodle, express myself in pictures. For now, I’m learning how to draw a time machine.

Until a few years ago, I never thought I could even attempt drawing. My skills were undeveloped and I knew about 4-5 things I learnt as a child that I could still draw. When my nephew was born and he liked drawing, I decided it was time to learn but this time I had company. I could draw with him. 

My Doodles of Things that go vroom..

I'm proud of this one I learnt to draw from Youtube.

Long story short, I’m still learning to draw and this book is perfect for me. It gives clear and simple instructions that can be followed by an expert 4-year old or a novice 40-year old. It has a selection of animals, people, things that go vroom… and more.

It’s a great book to share as a family and children can definitely get a sense of achievement drawing one thing at a time. And they have a lot of space on each page to practice until they get it right. Once they have learnt something, they can then go ahead and use that knowledge in a wider canvas - use it creatively to tell a story. That for me is a great reason for young people to use this book.

Although this book is part of a series where you can choose to draw lots of dinosaurs or lots of animals or different people, I like this one, which is an assortment of everything.

For an author like me who can’t draw, I’m hoping to practice some nice doodles so I can do them when signing books. So if you're like me and somehow grew into an adult who didn't learn drawing, there is no more any excuse not to learn.

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Starstruck - Katie and the Starry Night, by James Mayhew

reviewed by Saviour Pirotta

James Mayhew's ground-breaking series about Katie, the young girl who has the magical ability to climb into paintings, started in 1989 with Katie's Picture Show.  Since then there have been eleven books in the series, including a special Jubilee edition of Katie in London earlier this year.   Katie and the Starry Night is the twelfth title, and a dreamy addition to Katie's artistic escapades.

In the best picture book tradition, the plot is deceptively simple, yet igenious.  Katie visits an art gallery with her nan to see some Van Gogh masterpieces.  One of them is The Starry Night.  Katie is so taken by the twinkling constellations, she can't help reaching into the frame to pocket one of them.  Stars, of course, have a habit of shooting across the sky and, before she knows it, Katie has to enlist the help of characters from other paintings to restore harmony to the starry night. All before nan wakes up from a nap and the guard returns!

As all Katie fans know, paintings are doorways to adventure and the five works in this book provide vibrant backdrops to Katie's newest exploits. Mayhew's reworking of Van Gogh comes alive on the page.  The sunshine reflecting off the field in Noon, is so bright, the sky so blue, you can almost hear the cicadas in the hay. When you turn the pages to see the waves in Fishing Boats on the Beach, you want to dive right in to cool down.

What makes Katie's series so wonderful is that it works on two levels.  The stories are entertaining and beg to be read over and over again.  And then there's the second, educational, layer that introduces children to the world of visual arts. There's much to look at and talk about on every page, and helpful notes on the last page point you in the way of more discovery.  The ending, makes this the perfect story for bedtime too.  Mayhew has come with another little masterpiece of his own.

KATIE AND THE STARRY NIGHT is published by Orchard Books. James will be promoting it and the Katie series at the Edinburgh Festival and other venues around the UK. Visit http://jamesmayhew-katiespictureshow.blogspot.co.uk/ for more details.   I interviewed James over at http://pirottablog.com about his book.  Click here to read it.   




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