Most kids I know love to draw at some point. Some of them love it so much, they go on to create video games, comics, cartoons, and graphic novels. If you are looking for some excellent books on cartooning for kids, here are three that can help you get started.
One of the absolute best overall introductions is Big Book of Cartooning by Bruce Blitz. He starred in a public television show for many years, and I was able as a young adult to learn from his techniques.
The book covers everything from basic cartooning skills, like combining different facial shapes, features, and hairstyles, to make various characters. It also shows how to draw human bodies and add motion to them so they are funny and dynamic, and not just standing still.
He does a great job of introducing cartoon effects and accessories. Those are the kinds of things that make cartoons fun and bring them to life, like the wavy lines coming out of a slice of pizza, to show that it smells good. Or the lines on a puddle of water or a mirror, to show they are reflective. And the most fun of all, those little beads of sweat or action lines, like when someone has just thrown a ball.
There is also a lot of mention on how to create comic strips, including how to lay them out, think up jokes, and do your lettering. For kids who want to try their hand at superhero-type comics, he covers different ways to make your man go from dopey to marvelous, from zero to hero. Also included are various poses you might use, like lifting, taking off, flying, and punching.
This all-inclusive work also has a section on cartoon portraiture or caricature. That way you can draw funny pictures of yourself, friends, family, and teachers, and give those away as gifts. You might even end up selling your work!
Another excellent overview is Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Cartooning but Were Afraid to Draw. The author is a Disney-trained artist, so it's a perfect reference if you like that style. But it too covers everything from expressions and drawing action poses, to comic strip layout.
One particular section I like is how to draw your cartoons from different camera angles, like way down low. That way, if you are trying to draw something from the perspective of a very small character, like a mouse looking up at a person, you can get a great funny look to your work.
Art for Kids: Cartooning: The Only Cartooning Book You'll Ever Need to Be the Artist You've Always Wanted to Be encourages kids to experiment with different techniques to get their own styles. The style is loose and open, so it's easy for kids to follow. There is also information on writing jokes and creating panels.
So if you are interested in cartooning for kids, these three books to help you get started are perfect. You will have three completely different styles to study, and you will have lots of ideas on drawing basics, plus details on how to put everything together into your own cartoon creations. Happy cartooning!
Find more great books for kids
Find more kids cartooning books plus books for reluctant readers and recommendations at http://greatbooksforkids.info