Comics: Easy as ABC: The Essential Guide to Comics for Kids

by Ivan Brunetti, Françoise Mouly (Introduction)

Filled with activities, Easy as ABC is a fun way for young readers to effortlessly and playfully start thinking like writers and artists. This simple guide is also aimed at parents, teachers, and all will enjoy learning the ABCs of this popular and rapidly growing medium.

Children kindergarten-age and up are shown how to use basic shapes to make faces, eyes, noses, and design their own characters. Ivan Brunetti’s funny and incisive advice on the language of comics (panels, lettering, balloons, and so much more) naturally leads budding artists and writers into thinking about their characters, settings, and prompts. A section with essential tips on how to read comics with young children rounds out the package. Featuring advice from master cartoonists and star authors—including Geoffrey Hayes, Eleanor Davis, Art Spiegelman, and many others.

Genres: Comics, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Art, Childrens, Middle Grade, Picture Books

56 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2019

About the author

Known for his dark humor and simple, yet effective drawing style. Brunetti's best known work is his autobiographical comic series Schizo. Four issues have appeared between 1994 and 2006. Schizo #4 won the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic of the Year in 2006.


He has also done numerous covers of The New Yorker.

Reviews

[Carol Tilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the digital galley. This is a book that 8 year old me would have worn out with love.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for instructing kids who are interested in drawing their own comics, or simply sketching some fun animals and characters. Provides clear directions, comic terminology, and examples. As a fan of reading comics and graphic novels, I learned a lot about their structure and elements.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great how to draw book focused on the aspects of comics.

[Laurie Hnatiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this fabulous book via the wonderful @jarrett_lerner and you know when he recommends a book on creating you are not going to be disappointed. Looking to get back to sketchnoting and not feeling confident yet with my drawings, I found this book very helpful and found myself looking back to it for ideas and assistance. Lots of topics and examples this will be a favourite for those looking to gain confidence drawing characters, scenes or for those looking for ideas and/or ways for setting up their own drawings or comics. There are also contributions from @EliseGravel and the Toon Book publications and don't see this book hanging around a bookshelf - it will be in the hands of creators!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to drawing and creating cartoon characters basic on simple lines and geometric forms, from which the entire range of emotions and actions can be shown. Although aimed at kids, this short book provides enough information to encourage any budding cartoonist to bloom. Note: The book focuses on creating characters, backgrounds, and props, *not* on story development or plotting.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had this book as a kid, I would have adored it. Seeing as I'm a boring old adult now, I have to say the part I enjoyed the most was the short section that discussed how parents and educators can teach reading graphic novels to kids. I remember when I had to learn how to read manga, and if someone had taught me, I think I would have caught on so much faster. This little book is full of great tips for aspiring artists and is a solid introduction into how start making comics.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short basic guide to making comics for children. It encourages them to write and draw them and explains basic terms like panel and speech balloons. It also contains techniques for caregivers on how to read them to a child and questions to help the child learn. It’s compact and fun with short bits of advice from other graphic artists.

[Darlene Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource with helpful hints from several prominent cartoonists. Many examples of how to create human and animal characters with personality through facial details and body language. Solid lessons on perspective, point of view, and page and panel options. Two pages of prompts to create your first comic. End with a parent/teacher guide on how to read comics with kids.

[Alec Longstreth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five years after this was published, I found out from a friend that a four-panel comic I made was printed in this book?! I'm even credited, but no one told me! LOL Anyway, it's an honor to be included in such a fun tome of straightforward cartooning information and prompts for kids (and parents, and teachers) who are interested in comics. I'm excited to share it with my kids.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting ready for our study of comics and graphic novels. This book will be a handy reference to spark children's imagination and creativity. Heavily promotes the Toon books, so it ends up feeling like an ad to buy their books.

[Ashleigh Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for helping kids get down the basics of creating and reading comics. Also great for getting parents to recognize the skills in reading and making comics/graphic novels so they’ll stop shaming children for loving awesome books in that format!!!!!

[Grg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half is full of fun drawing prompts and examples of basic comic making. It was inspiring and made me want to doodle! The second half devolves into an extended ad for Toon Books. That made me want to stop doodling.

[Libra1bk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was okay though I wish there were more examples of illustrations and written content. The book focused on drawing faces from various perspectives to show emotion which was excellent.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great tool to use when having to demonstrate the value of graphic novels and comics to reluctant parents.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wished it had shown more step by step for drawing various things. Did offer lots of simple ideas for creating unique faces, people and animals.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivan Brunetti on comics for kids. Drawing ideas, how comics work, etc.

[Leslie Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect inspiration for the young graphic artist.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked the tips and suggestions, but then at the end there were bizarre four-panel comics that didn't seem to be for kids, and it all ended with a giant ad for TOON books.

[David Haggett · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this volume promotes the TOON BOOKS (somewhat shamelessly), this volume also introduces readers to the FUNdamentals of cartooning and comics.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction for kids on how to write comics/graphic novels. When I shelve this next to the graphic novels, I think it will always be checked out.

[David Germain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super intéressant et inspirant pour dessiner avec mes fils.

[Sarah left GR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but the last ten or so pages are basically an extended ad for TOON Books(r).

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Deborah]

Like Scott McCloud's UNDERSTANDING COMICS (which I love and think all picturebook writers & illustrators should read), but abridged for kids (of all ages!). Contributions and quotes from 15 different comics creators throughout, and includes a note at the end to adults on how to read comics with kids.