This is the book my mother taught me to draw from growing up, and now I can use it to teach my own children. Anyone can draw!

I have been using MOna Brookes method for over 20 years . My students come away from a few lessons drawing on their own at home. I am able to "weed them away" from me so they become independent artists of on their own! That is proof this method works.

Very inspiring, colorful resource material for kids & their teachers, parents.
A great find, arrived in great condition & in a timely manner.

I am excited to start this book with my 5 year old. She loves to draw. I can't wait to see if the book's suggestions actually work...

Oh, if only EVERY teacher had a copy of this "how to" book! If teachers had their children drawing in every class, what a great eduction system we would have. Readers, please take the time to read the sections on "using drawing to teach other subjects!" And of course the enlightened "reaching special ed and at risk students." Take the time to create your own exercise sheets, and do the step by step drawing of the bird, lion, parrot, and horse and you will see the method and how it works. I have always been an artist and it is easy for me to see how powerful and exciting this teaching concept is. Thank you Mona for Monart!

I have a previously published book by Mona Brookes. I liked it very much, and purchased this issue to get a better insight in teaching pre school aged children. It was very helpful, while not providing specific lesson plans for my 26+ group( what would), it gave me simpler processes and approaches to help me out. I very much reccommend this book for anyone looking for ways to draw and teaching/seeingto many different age groups.

I used this book 3 years ago with a group of teachers who were interested in improving their art instruction. We found that it vastly improved our own drawing skills. I like that the specific instructions for drawing techniques really helped my students (grade 3 to 5) to express themselves through their drawing in a very satisfying way!

Mona Brookes' "Drawing with Children" is one of three book which I purchased--the others being "Art for the Absolute Beginner" and "Art for the Utter and Absolute Beginner"--to get myself back into drawing, an activity which I enjoyed as a young person. Each book is different, and I have learned from each of them.

Brookes begin with the premise that art can be taught, even to very young kids (toddlers) by teaching them to observe and reproduce the "Five Elements of Shape": dot, circle, straight line, curved line, and angle line. By this she does NOT mean the five basic shapes--which I interpret to mean the shapes of whole objects--an orange is a sphere, my computer is a cube (sort of), and so on--but rather the direction your pencil must follow to outline the subject which you are drawing. For example, when I draw a bird (there's lots of birds in the book), I draw a dot for the eye, surrounded by a circle; then I draw a curved line for the head, an angle line for the beak, and so on. Oddly (to me) each and every drawing starts with the animal's eye, or the center of the object to be drawn.

This way of looking at drawing focuses on the outline of objects, rather than the basic forms which make up the object. She seems to have had much success with this method. My cat is asleep on the chair as I write this; he's curled up in a ball. Traditionally I would see him as a ball for his body and then a smaller ball representing his head, his long, tubular tail, and so on, sketching these general forms lightly on my paper. Then I would sketch some details of "sub-parts" that make up my cat, his oblong face, the curve of his haunches, the triangle of his ears, and so on, for guidelines. I would then move on to the details of his features: the shape of his mouth, the stripes in his fur, his whiskers; so that I can make an accurate rendering of him. I'd have to take into account such things as what direction the light is shining on him from, the shadows his body makes on the chair, the roundness of his form.

"Monart" would have me draw a "curved line" for his body, until I get to the ears, then an "angled line", more curved line, then a straight line for his leg sticking out, and so on. The first couple of lessons show photographs of subjects to draw as well as a simplified line drawing. The student is guided to follow the outline of the subject by seeing and drawing the "elements of drawing". I had good success reproducing the drawings--level one through three-except for the carousel horse, which was a miserable failure. I believe that, in cases like this, it is more effective to use the blocking method described above, where you first observe and sketch the general forms that make up the animal, using that as a guideline to fill in the details.

That said, I do like the results I have been having with this approach. I can easily draw several types of tropical birds, and follow the outlines of still life subjects. The drawings by children before and then after a few lesson are awesome, as are the color plates. The drawing preliminaries have helped me to relax and focus, so I feel more confident and ready. And I like how she gives lots of practice to drawing the elements, in increasing complexity, that guide even small children to build these skills that lead up to drawing. I've had fun with the coloring. Yeah, I know, I've got to get back to work with topics like perspective, light source, and other stuff. But for now I am "Drawing with Children".

Home school, two years ago, I failed horribly teaching this to my son who was "not at all interested" and didn't apply himself. However, I who have never even doodled, trained my eye to see shape and flow of line in everything. Look at me now: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindielee/
I started with stick figures and great embarrassment - forget ever playing pictionary!

Total lessons in last two years:
One Adult Ed. Summer Class - 8 sessions aprox.
One Prophetic Art Class - 6 sessions
Endless online free lessons and utube tutorials a four month period.

Honestly, I started with stick figures.
This book has been invaluable to me, try it, train your eye and experience the joy of drawing!

Hi, when I went through this book I was excited with it. It really teaches theory and gives great lessons to develop your skills. If I was using it to teach my own children or just one or two kids at a time I think it would be great. But it seems to need a lot of one on one time with the child, or at least several more sessions than I had available for my class.
Be aware that this book requires a lot of preparation (in my opinion)to be able to sit down and teach a child even if you only have one or two children. This is a great book if you have the time to first teach yourself, then you will be prepared to teach children.

I am a new Porcelain painter and wanted to develop the skill of drawing my own subjects instead of tracing them on my china.
I have enjoyed learning the history of this program, the drawing tips and lessons.
The book is well written and easy to understand and is just as helpful for an adult as a child.

I am looking forward to purchasing the next book,"Drawing With Teenagers."

Kelda

This book is a great way to get kids to realize that yes they can draw. It really gives great techniques and excercises that teach the basic elements of shape.

This book is a great way to get kids to realize that yes they can draw. It really gives great techniques and excercises that teach the basic elements of shape.

This book is aimed toward parents and/or teachers. It gives good advice and a good drawing technique to learn in order to teach drawing/art to children. Not exactly a book for children, but a book that will help YOU teach children! :o) My boys have certainly enjoyed looking thru the book and the pictures, but the "meat" of this book is directed to the parent/teacher. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, especially to parents/teachers who might be like me and not have great art skills or a background in drawing.

I highly recommend this book for all ages. The lessons were fun for my [...] and my [...]. These lessons teach the children that they can draw without frustration or failure.

I was thrilled to find this book. I homeschool my children and wanted something simple that would teach them to draw more realistically. I've looked for years and finally found this awesome book!!! and interestingly enough it has helped me, in more than just art! It gave me the feeling that if I can draw (when I never thought I could!!!) what else can I do? I've always wanted to write...And now I have the courage to try... This book has unleashed a creative side of me that has been bottled up somewhere! (the author mentioned that this was a "side effect" in her book, and it certainly was/is for me. Thanks, Mona, a.l.d.

ps it's really helped my kids too!!! they love it!

I am using the methods outlined in this book in my elementary school art classroom. The kids love the warm up exercises, and I am seeing great improvement even in just a few weeks. I have needed little adaptation of the materials from kindergarten through middle school. Its been a good choice for my kids, and made my job a lot easier!

I really enjoyed using this over the summer with my five-year-old daughter. We didn't get through more than a couple of chapters, and we didn't work every day, but I saw such progress in such a short time. Both of us learned to look at things much more closely and how to replicate what we see. We are not finished, either. The exercises are low-impact and really interesting for kids. I now keep a sketch pad with me and just draw up exercises for her whenver we have some quiet time (church, etc.) She loves it. Now trying to draw something is fun for her, rather than frustrating. Love this book!

This is a good book to learn how to draw. However it helps if the adult helping the child or whom ever helps the child has some ability to draw as well.

I started to use this book when my daughter was 3.5-years-old, she was interested in watching me drawing, and copying mine too. Now she is 6, she vulanterily draws for her 4 year-old brother. I definitely recomment this book to parents who don't draw much in their daily lives, but love art as much as their spare time allows them to.

We homeschool and I have been TRYING to find a book that actually goes beyond the simple "crafts" a typical Kindergartener will do. This is BEYOND amazing, we only just started but she is enthusiastic, trying her best ans asking to do more!
This is from a 5 years old who will burst into tears if she likes your picture more than hers, which was a huge problem for us, we started avoiding drawing together since she was to competitive. This helps break down the barriers and start small AND appreciate everyones version.
This is a little advanced for my 4 year old but I bet after the summer he will be ready to start as well! Say no to cheezy comic book drawing and teach them to really make ART!

As an artist I was delighted to discover the first edition of this book--and more delighted when the second edition came out, with its inspiring section on teaching children with special needs. The before-and-after illustrations of students' work are most convincing; they're what I usually show people first of all when describing the Monart method to those who aren't familiar with it.

I have used these guidelines in introducing both children and adults to the wonderful world of drawing, which Ms. Brookes clearly shows is available to virtually anyone who wants to learn--not only to those who already have "talent." I especially appreciate her pre-drawn warm-up exercises, and her chart of the five basic line/shape elements that are used in all drawing. Permission is given to photocopy these pages directly from the book; alternatively, one may reproduce them by hand (they're very simple) and then copy the hand-drawn versions.

Some three- and four-year-olds might be able to do the exercises and projects shown here; in fact, Ms. Brookes has samples of work from children as young as this. For teaching school age youngsters and up, however, it is definitely a good choice as a resource. It also works great with adults, who are sometimes more nervous and embarrassed about making mistakes and being laughed at than children. I particularly enjoy seeing adults who decided years ago that they just can't draw, producing lovely works of art after having just a few simple lessons right from "Drawing with Children."

I don't understand why some reviewers felt that this does not teach you how to draw. If you're looking for a book with a bunch of patterns to follow to draw specific subjects, then this book isn't for you. It is NOT a book to give to your child and say "Here's an art book for you." It is written for adults who will be working with children...or who want to learn how to draw themselves.

What this book teaches is a universal *method* which you can apply to *anything* you try to draw - once you learn the method and principles, you can draw anything you set your mind to!

I got this book because I homeschool, and my daughter was showing signs of artistic ability at an early age - and I barely passed art class in school. I was lucky to get Cs or Bs for grades; I had no "natural" talent (and all my art teachers only seemed to have time for the talented students - the bright stars of the class, and the rest of us just floundered) I too grew up thinking that it was a natural talent, not a developed skill. I got this book because I didn't want my daughter's art progress to be hindered by my "lack of talent."

This book lit a fire within me and I thought - can I really draw too? I remember wishing I could draw - I had great things visualized in my mind but could never get them on paper - my drawings were worse than my three year old's!

Well, this book did NOT disappoint. I have seen amazing progress in my work and believe in myself now. I have made a beatiful pencil sketch of my husband and also one of Pierce Brosnan - as well as some landscapes and still life compositions. This book only delves into the basics - I got insights on shading from some artist friends of mine...I think the more complex concepts are covered in the Drawing with Teens book by the same author.

In conclusion - if you're looking for a self-guided book to hand to your child - this is not it. If you are looking for a catalogue of drawings to mimic, this is not it.

If you secretly wished you could draw, but think you can't, or if you want to learn how to help your child draw - this is the book for you. I have had this book for three years love it. I am considering replacing it because I've used it so much it's falling apart!

I am 33 years old and have absolutely no artistic ability - or so I thought. I've always been interested in learning how to draw, but no matter what books I consulted, I still couldn't get it. The techniques presented there assumed you already knew some basics, but I didn't. My mother even told me that drawing is inherited, and since there is nobody in my family who draws, I felt I had no chance.

Then I found this book. The first thing you are supposed to do before any instruction is to draw a scene a house, person, tree, bushes, etc. My picture looked like a 4 year old drew it. Now less than one week into the book, I am on lesson 3 with 2 more to go, and I am astounded at my progress. It's simply night and day. I get so engrossed in my drawings now that 3 hours will go by in a flash. My husband is now starting the lessons because he's amazed at my drawings. Today I even started sketching my husband's face as he was eating. It took all of 5 minutes and it turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself. Plus, I hadn't yet started the lesson on drawing humans. I sketch everything in sight and just can't seem to get enough.

You may not need this book if if you already know how to draw and need more detailed instruction on technique, but definitely get this book if you need the basics of beginning drawing. You will not be disappointed. Drawing is not inherited, but developed. I am proof of that.

I bought this book on the advice that it was appropriate for younger children, but after reading it I am convinced that it will be several years before it is appropriate for my son. It seems to be more a "theory" book than a how-to manual which is what I was led to expect.

This book is more about teaching art than teaching kids how to draw. More theory than fun. I rate the book 3 stars rather than higher because there are very few simple to use drawing techniques, the kind of techniques found in the "50 Nifty" and the "How to Draw" series of drawing books featuring simple characters, trucks, airplanes, animals, and monsters that grab kid's imaginations. "Drawing with Children" is more a text for art teachers than for use by classroom teachers, Scout leaders, and parents trying to help kids ages 6 to 11 learn how to draw for fun. I'll be ready for this book in about three years, but I can't start kids at this level.

The book is great; HOWEVER, my intelligent six year old was not mature enough for the lessons in this book. I meticulously read the directions (and followed same), but my daughter (who loves to create and draw) did not like the lessons because she has yet to perfect her fine motor skills (she likes to create stories but does not like the physical act of writing). I would suggest using this book for an older child (eight years old?), especially if your child does not have his/her fine motor skills fully tuned or does not like to sit still for very long. I admit that I was a little disappointed when the child illustrator on the front cover drew such a wonderful picture (age 5), but every child is different. Incidentally, my art skills (formerly limited to simplistic ball and stick drawings) have improved quite a bit since using the book!

Woo-hoo! "Drawing With Children" is back!

As an elementary art instructor, I used Mona Brookes' "Drawing With Children" with great success. My students' drawings entered a new dimension when I began to use this mimetic method of art instruction to help them identify, and then draw, what we called "drawing Legos:" the little pieces that can be combined to make a whole object.

While this method may be viewed as limiting creativity, I believe that it offers an important, foundational tool for anyone who is learning to see things as an artist sees them. Just as a pianist must learn the scales before he can play Beethoven, I believe that it is only with such an artistic foundation in place that students are able to truly express what they are trying to communicate through their art.

As a university instructor training future art teachers, I am glad to be able to pass on this gem of a book to my students, who will train a new generation of children to see as the artist sees.

This is the instruction book to buy if you are an artist who wants to refresh your way of seeing things; if you are an instructor who needs to introduce children to drawing; if you are an adult who feels that they cannot draw or if you are a parent who wants quality involvement with your child(ren) by introducing them to art. Everyone gets the same instruction. I was extremely taken with the examples of artwork by 2 - 4 year olds. Additionally, the beginning work by adults that was shown with the progress made after only one lesson was startling.

Haven't yet begun the lessons, but after reading the earlier reviews I can't wait! The ideas in this book make so much sense! We don't expect children to sit down at a piano a la Mozart and belt out original compositions. We don't expect our children to learn to read without instruction. Yet if they can't draw realistically, we chalk it up to lack of talent (after all, YOU can't draw either, right?).

This book gives you the tools to teach your kids how to draw even (especially!) if you aren't an artist yourself. The author is also very generous in allowing unlimited photocopying of the exercises to elementary teachers which I think shows she genuinely cares about helping children learn. My only regret is that there is no Monart school nearby!

I decided to teach my children art (ages 5 & 7) during their X-mas break. This book served as the curriculum. It was excellent. I xeroxed the exercises (as instructed in the book), my kids were focused during the lessons. After a total of 6 hours of instruction... they are very good drawers. They have developed their spatial awareness, which was my aim. "Drawing with Children" and its 8 basic shapes methodology is excellent for anyone who wants to teach or learn art in a school or home environment. Especially if the teacher is not a practicing artist.

This book is wonderful - I was a person who said "I can't draw", but once I sat down with this book and went through the lessons it was so easy. Now I can say "I can draw this". I have a new way of looking at things, my mind keeps working all the time thinking of how I could draw this. If you don't know how to draw this is the perfect book for you.

Finally a book that outlines techniques, tools, the artists environment and everything in between. The premise of the book is that we are not given the proper tools to excel as artists. Given the proper tools and instruction, anyone can greatly improve their drawing capability. I look forward to using the methods outlined in this book to assist my 6 year old aspiring artist in developing her talent. This is a wonderful book.

This book lays out the basics for the beginner artist; child or parent or teacher.It is easy and pleasant to read. One can work through it easily at one's kitchen table. (You have to be willing to turn off the phone!). The method is extremely simple but brilliant. Everyone can experience success by following these simple guidelines. The key is the same as the key to any skill: practise!How sad that many of us have forgotten that simple truth in education.

I've read the book, and both of my children have been taught in their schools by teachers using the Monart method. I am very pleased with the results. I first heard of this book from my mother, she was a first grade teacher without an extensive art background, and used it to improve her art instruction in the classroom.

Over the past several years, I have seen the drawings of art students at the school where my daughter attends. I am continually amazed by the quality of the students' work as it is displayed at various times throughout the year. I have spoken with the teacher and found that she has been using the books, "Drawing with Children" and "Drawing with Children and Teens" for several years.

I am delighted and amazed with the joy and confidence this book has given my daughter. She experienced a less than positive atmosphere in the realm of drawing (and the academic world in general), but skyrocketed within a month of utilizing this book. The Monart method is an easy to follow, easy to implement, fail safe method, insuring spectacular results!

The title sounded like what I was looking for, a book to help my grandson to draw. This book don't even begin to show how to draw. It contain alot of filler pictures. It is the first time I regret buying a book from Amazon. Thank heaven for their generous return policy.