School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Levin describes basic shapes such as squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, triangles, and trapezoids, and puts them together to create very simple drawings of people, animals, and castles. She admonishes readers to draw very lightly in order to make erasures and to be sure to practice, practice, practice. While showing step-by-step sketches, the author includes descriptions of medieval life and clothing and makes suggestions for what colors to use, e.g., purple, blue, red for royal garb as those dyes were expensive. Specific terms are used as well, such as the "kirtle" the princess wears; a knight's "hauberk" and "gauntlets"; the "portcullis" and "crenelations" of the castle. This book will appeal to competent readers who want to know how to draw while learning a little about life in the Middle Ages.-Cathie Reed, The Montessori School, Lutherville, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 3-5. This large-format paperback teaches children how to draw 24 vehicles, including a race car, a fire truck, a school bus, a cement truck, and a limousine. Most projects are shown on a double-page spread, though some take another page or two. Levin begins by discussing the basic shapes and the tools (ruler, compass, circle template) that can be used to make the pictures. Then she shows how to draw each vehicle, beginning with a basic rectangle, then rounding shapes and adding lines and colors to finish the picture. Each step is noted in the text as well as visually. Each project is broken down into many simple steps and shown larger than in many other drawing books, so these instructions may be somewhat easier for children to follow than those in similar books. An attractive guide to drawing vehicles. Carolyn Phelan.