I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and quality of the content in this book. Unlike many "how to draw" guides that rely on tracing, Yasmina Mattson takes a different approach. She teaches you the fundamental techniques you need to truly master the art of drawing cute animals. It's a refreshing change from the typical step-by-step tutorials and encourages creativity and skill development.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Draw cute animals is a great start to draw book. It lets kids use their imagination and works well with hand eye coordination. Will recommend.

i loved trying to draw these! the steps made it quite easy but i severely lack artistic talent so they all ended up a little wonky.

My children enjoyed this book. It's full of tips and techniques for how to draw.

The examples are cute and include cats, unicorns and koalas.

As well as how to draw the animals, the author discusses materials and how to add backgrounds etc.

I’ve written before about how much I’d like to get back into drawing and being more creative, but boy can that feel daunting. However, it’s hard to feel too intimidated when the samples look like this: [sample picture of cute hedgehog with butterfly on its nose]

The tone of the book is very light – very ‘ya’ or younger, I could say. It feels aimed at teenagers and very beginner artists. But, not to the point of condescension. The simplicity is exactly what I think I need to feel encouraging – yes, I *can* do this!

As with most art books, it starts with a discussion about tools and materials. This is kept light and easy, but still has some good tips. The author likes coloured pencils, alcohol markers, and watercolours, so these are the ones most mentioned. If you’re looking for an in-depth guide to using watercolours, for example, then you won’t find that here – just enough to get you started. I did like that it gives the advice to start cheap and upgrade if/when you know you’ll stick with it.

We then get a ‘Science of cute’ which I thought was a great idea! We’re deliberately not going for realism here, so a breakdown of why something looks more ‘cute’ than other things is very helpful. If your drawings aren’t looking adorable enough, then you can walk through this section: is the head too small, are the eyes big enough, are there sharp corners?

At the end there are step-by-step guides to drawing 30 different animals ranging from bunnies and pandas, to chameleons and tigers. There’s encouragement to copy as a form of learning – an important sense of permission, imo, as, yes, that’s allowed! However, before that there is a section on how to take any reference photo and start to transform it into a more ‘cute’ version.

Colour theory is very lightly touched on, as is shading, and a few pages each on adding backgrounds and telling more of a story with your drawings.

My favourite part of the book was actually the last bit, the ‘parting advice’. Learn by doing, practice, and “Joy > Results” – oh yes! I think that last is exactly why I like this book, and more than I expected to for something so simple: it’s not ‘serious art’, but oh is it fun and cute! And if that’s what it takes to get you (ie me) drawing, then – do it! :)

They are really cute
Self-taught artists and online art classes teacher Yasmina Mattson presents her book "You Can Draw Cute Animals. A Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing and Coloring Adorable Creatures", published by Quarto Publishing Group—Quarry. The book is divided into four parts: 1) Supplies & Techniques, 2) The Three Simple Steps to Draw Cuties [This is the very detailed teaching of the three main steps: observe - play - refine. These steps are used in part 4) to draw the various animals], 3) Let's Play, and 4) Step-by-Step Cuties [Here are the instructions how to draw 30 animals]. Yasmina states: "Everyone can and should make art, and I made this book to show you that truth!" (p. 9). She expresses her goal in the following statement: "..., I don’t want to just teach you how to draw a specific animal; I want to teach you how to draw ANY animal! This book will give you a strong foundation in drawing from references in your own style. This skill can then be used to draw anything your heart desires" (p.9).
I appreciate that Yasmina uses a reference photo of the real animal as a starter point in her instructions. The book presents unique drawings and comes in an attractive design with inspiring pictures. There are tips throughout the book and boxes with information to topics such as "Color Play", "Advanced Backgrounds", or "Faking Line Variation". The book also contains a "Parting Advice for Artists", and index, and a list with resources. I highly recommend it for older children and teenagers who are interested in drawing but also for beginning and advanced artists who are looking for new ideas and inspirations how to draw cute cartoon/comic-like animals.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#YouCanDrawCuteAnimals #Netgalley

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC!

This is a fun tutorial book that tells you all the basics you need to draw cute animals. After basics about blending, colors, how to draw "cute" shapes and forms, it tells you how to observe basic shapes of animals you want to draw and then build upon it. I think this is quintessential drawing tutorial book. It even goes into explaning shading, texture, color theories and stuff. It definitely delivers what the title promises so what's there to not like? I'm definitely using this to practice drawing.

This was a fun art book with great step-by-step instructions. Great for someone who isn’t necessarily the most skilled artist

Who doesn't love cute animals? Why settle for photos when you can create your own illustrations? Yasmina Mattson presents a step-by-step guide for drawing a full menagerie of cute animals, and it doesn't matter if you're an experienced art or have never picked up a pencil with the intent to drawing anything until now. Her easy writing style and fully illustrated how-to instructions make it super easy to not only learn how to draw basic animals but gives you the tools to explore and create your style.

I really liked that Mattson begins with the story of how she came into her own style of drawing. She then gives a list of supplies and techniques she uses but encourages the reader to find what works for them. While Mattson mostly works with watercolors, if the reader prefers colored pencils and markers or pastels and Conté crayons, it's no problem. The techniques demonstrated in the book are easily translated to any art media.

Mattson breaks down the art of drawing "cuties," as she calls them, into three simple steps: 1) Observe 2) Play 3) Refine. Each of these is then further broken down with exercises to build confidence. She also covers additional information such as "The Rules of Cuteness," adding accessories and clothing, backgrounds, body shapes, dynamic poses, and storytelling.

You Can Draw Cute Animals packs a lot of information into 128-pages as well as plenty of vibrant illustrations that are educational as well as inspiring. If you've ever wanted to learn the art of drawing cute animals, Yasmina Mattson offers a book that should be at the top of your must-have list.

This is cute, quirky, and fun. Easy to follow instructions but best suited for middle school and up if not guided with a parent.

You Can Draw Cute Animals is an ultimate cute guidance to learn how to draw simple animals. This book is beginner friendly and provide enough informations for start make drawing with your own hands.

I love the writing style, it is friendly, easy to understand, couraging and make the learning process become more fun. The tools, materials, and details techniques to do shading, blend colors, making textures are well described with easy ways and decorate with colorful illustration.
The book give 30 practices drawing as practice, start with easy step by step. I personally love the explanation about special unique details that make a drawing look cutier. It is a gems.

Thank you Netgalley, Yasmina Mattson and Quarry Books from Quarto Publishing Group for provided my copy. My thoughts are my own.

Very cute and colorful. I love this style. Simple and useful to draw cute animals.
My daughter loved this book.

"You Can Draw Cute Animals" is such a fun and breezy book introducing anyone (and I mean anyone!) to the art of drawing cute animals. Mattson breaks down the characteristics of "cute animals' and gives tons of examples that even the most artistically challenged can follow. I'm talking about this girl right here!

Her explanations of materials and mediums, artistic brush techniques, and color blending are super easy to follow and I couldn't help but feel excited and encouraged to start experimenting with my kids' watercolors. In addition, there is a constant theme of letting the reader find his or her own "style" through play and experimentation with helpful coaching along the way--which really is the best way to find your way as an artist.

I also used this book as a way to have a fun activity with my young kids over a loooooong winter break. Little did I know that I wouldn't get my tablet back and my walls would be filled with drawings of adorable hedgehogs, axolotls, and monkeys. Creativity and a squabble-free house? Win!

But in all seriousness, this little book is so, so lovely. No matter what your artistic level may be, you will be able to draw a super cute animal from the very get-go and find a new love for all things cute!

This book has some beautiful stylised drawings in with clear instructions on how to recreate them ourselves. It is easy to follow and has a great introduction detailing different techniques and equipment to use so it is successful.

This Astoundingly Cute Book Is Just the inspiration I need for my Art Class in the New Year.
(Thanks to Net Galley for this Book).

Wow, this is a really amazing art book, which my daughter and I really loved reading through together. She is a little artist, and she loves anything that is sweet and cute, so this book was perfect for her. She enjoyed looking at all the pictures of each animal, and how to draw them. There are 30 animals in the book, so we had a lot to look at and talk about together. A few examples of the animals are butterfly, flamingo, cat and tiger.

The book explains and goes into a lot of detail about the following; basic drawing techniques, drawing tools, colours, and tips on how to do shading, textures, animal fur and feathers, adding accessories and backgrounds.

The book is really fun, and it is suitable for all ages. There is lots of information for adults to read, and the pictures are perfect for young children to look at and copy, so it is a great book for an adult to read to a child, and then they can practice the art together.

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me the chance to read this book. This is an easy to use drawing book that teaches you how to draw cute animals.

It was okay. I feel like I grab these books in hopes they will bring out the artist in me but then I just get so overwhelmed by the words in the book. I need a shorter simpler lesson wordy version of this.

You Can Draw Cute Animals
By Yasmina Mattson

Review 🗣️

My daughter loves drawing and coloring so much! This was the perfect book for her. I actually think it’s a great gift idea for any kid or even adult who wants some extra practice with the cutest little drawings I’ve ever seen. It’s a big book and there are tons of small little creatures for you to choose from. Some of the words in the book my daughter needed help with, but most of it was just looking at pictures and following each step. So cute and so easy!

-Step by step instructions on how to draw! 🦄
-Great for beginners.🐌
-A really fun way to learn more about drawing. 🦊

Thank you so much for this book! My daughter and I loved it! ♥️

This is a super easy-to-read and learn-from book with short simple steps this is good as a gift for someone who is starting drawing or a younger middle-grade student. cool colourful and cute.