Back in 1988 artist Ed Emberley came to my elementary school and sat in our little library to give a drawing seminar for all the interested students.  I remember this day so well…  I was sitting crossed-legged in the front row, watching him draw animals on a big pad of paper. He was charming and funny.  Afterward he signed a couple of my books, including his award-winning Drummer Hoff, and the Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Animals.

I recently found my old Ed Emberley books in the attic at my parents’ house and quickly snatched them up for my own boys.  I figured my 3½-year-old is the perfect age for them.

In his drawing books, Emberley teaches kids to draw in a step-by-step method using the simplest shapes.  All his animals are super cute and easy to draw when you follow his steps.  My son loves it, and even I still have fun drawing all the animals with him!

Since 1988 Emberley has made new drawing books, like the Drawing Book of Trucks and Trains (which I’m sure my boys would love) and even a Fingerprint Drawing Book which looks really cool.

They’re available from Amazon (US and UK).

-Courtney