This is an excellent book for kids to pick up and be inspired to draw. Each page has instructions and great pictures that will inspire and help you to learn to draw. It also gives you writing prompts to help you make the art your own. Prompts are always good for they allow for our own creativity to begin. Once you have the basics, you can begin to expound on what you know. I think the wonder of creativity is amazing and love any inspiration or starting points for all ages. I love that this book is great for all stages from beginner to expert that needs a little motivation or help getting creativity flowing. It includes supplies needs, ideas and prompts to help engage drawing creativity.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

This was a fun book for any kids who are interested in drawing, but who may not know where to start. My 9 and 7 year old kids really liked it and were able to follow along and draw some pretty cool things.

This is a great book for anyone who loves to draw or wants to begin drawing but want some guidance/prompts. There are a wide variety of prompts including abstract ones and ones requiring little drawing "skills." I would recommend this book for any ages!

A great resource for creative kids! I think some of the prompts in the book could also be a good resource for teachers or librarians as class activities or library programs.

This is a really cool book that get the imagination working! I feel like in this day in time, we really depend on stimulation from electronics or other people and don't really let our imaginations take off. This book really promotes that.

“I’m bored.” Get ready. Summer is here and if you’re a parent, you’ll most likely start hearing these words soon (if you haven’t already.” For kids who WANT to draw, but often don’t know what to do with a bank page, having access to the 99 prompts in this book will help! Each prompt has a simple drawing, and accompanying text to inspire your child to release their creativity.

I wish I could have printed some samples of this book to try out with my students. I love the way it has some pictures already on the page to get the creative juices flowing and I can see using this as a spark of creative writing within the classroom as well as using it for the purposes of getting hands on, artistic learning. I love the prompts that are still open ended, but allow the child to not be afraid of a blank piece of paper. I like the questions that are asked to encourage the child to delve deeper in their thinking, and planning. I also loved all the tips at the beginning of the book in regards to ways to use the book and how to help foster a child's creativity. All in all I really enjoyed this book and would love to be able to buy it in a format where I could print copies to use in the classroom setting as would be appropriate.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Invitation to draw is a book of 99 different prompts for children to inspire creativity and problem solving too.
Each prompt is different and gives the child an opportunity to think how to do it, what they will do, materials they will use etc.
Each activity is fun and engaging and with 99 to chose from will entertain them for a long time.
The beginning of the book has a section for parents for them to understand the concept of the book and for them to help support and encourage their child's artistic creativity.
This book is fantastic and ideal for any child who loves art.

The title of the book is very appropriate, and through it the author has extended a helping hand out to children to hold and take their first few steps in the field of fine art. At first glance, it resembles the colouring books available in market but in fact offers much more than that. To give you an example, one figure shows an outline of only the trunk and branches of a tree. The drawing is titled ‘What Season Is It?‘ and asks the child-artist to “add flowers, leaves, or fruit to the tree that are appropriate for the season. How about some birds and animals, too?” This way, it does not just ask the children to fill the drawing, foreground and background with colours, but also encourages them to unleash their imagination and explore the different and alternative ways in which this drawing could be modified. Now this is what we call a ‘prompt’ in real sense of the word.

Besides the prompts, the introduction and other writings by the author are also valuable. Here she tells you how to use the book, presents additional ideas for using drawing prompts, and how to make your own prompt. The self-portrait drawing of the artist at the end page is surely going to put a smile on your face. It also shows how much you can achieve by just a simple line drawing. I would also suggest that you visit her blog ‘The Artful Parent’, which would give you ideas on how to connect with your children through the bond of art.

But just as any other art book, the success of this book depends on how your children use it. If they are able to draw even a few figures with the help of this book and take their first steps into the field of art, then this book would have served its purpose. Note that I say ‘first steps’ because based on my 30 years of experience in art, I can assure you that from that point onward art would itself pull them into it. The first step is the most difficult step, and then the only problem is how to continue making art. Once children overcome these hurdles, they would definitely enjoy a beautiful life.

I enjoyed the creativity in this book. It has prompts ranging from ocean to space, people to animals, food to robotics. The questions are interesting for lower elementary-aged students.

My only wishes would be that it would have included more than just caucasian outlines and ideals. Sections including other than straight-haired white people would have been lovely. I would also like to see some examples for students who are at lower art levels.

Overall, I think this will be a wonderful classroom book for teachers to use as creative worksheets.

What do papercraft and drawing prompts have in common?

Posted on May 16, 2021 by michellelovatosbookreviews, world's first book color commentator, book reviews with a twist

Today we have two titles, two publishers, one roundup worth reading. Here we go:
First up, The Art of Paper Craft, a Storey Publishing title by Helen Hiebert. We all have our passions, and this author’s mastered one of the most impressive art forms I’ve seen in a while. Paper art. Sounds cheesy? No way.
Years ago, Hiebert acquired a century-old paper-making mold used in the day when specialized artisans made the writing tools one sheet at a time. Hiebert was fascinated by this age-old process and could not help but dip her hands into the mushy liquid past and feel first-hand what it was like to spend hours and days creating a simple sheet of paper. From that point, she was in love with the intricate possibilities that arose for paper-making art. And clearly, she is a master at working with a unique art form.
This colorful, mind-twisting book is an origami lover’s dream, a fine paper artist’s ode to her inner beauty. I’m so impressed.
Yes. There are pages of beautiful origami instructions. Hiebert features that art in Chapter Four. But this 300-plus love affair with paper crafting encompasses so much more.
Hiebert treats us to full-color renditions of her paper-thin fine art, beautifully photographed and presented for all of us to admire. Like a cookbook, this author shares the necessary tools, techniques, and methods for creating paperwork masterpieces. Then she instructs, informs, and inspires.
I have to admit, Hiebert’s ability to create the colorful world of art with paper amazes me. It’s like viewing a watercolor painting on a piece of paper or an intricate modern art sculpture you could squash with two hands. Even if you are not a paper nut, which I am not, this book is worth considering. Sometimes, we all need a new passion, right?


Next up, Invitation to Draw: 99 Drawing Prompts Designed to Inspire Kids’ Creativity by Jean Van’t Hul is a Roost Books title that is grandchild approved.
Maybe I like these children’s art books because my grandchildren are perfect for discovering the art world. Or, it could be that I am a perpetual child who loves the elementary joy of creating art with pencil and paper. Whichever it is, this time-munching book is the perfect anecdote to a miserably hot afternoon that keeps our inner artists cooped up in an air-conditioned room.
Invitation to Draw contains all the regular stuff: The notice that prompts are not a substitute for free drawing, the idea that friends can copy the book, and instructions about creating future drawing prompts. This is a title that would lend itself well to a younger audience of artists. Kids between six and nine would enjoy finishing the design started on many of these pages.
But I have to say that this title has some more complicated line and shape art prompts that would be good for older kids between 10 and 12 years old. Heck, I remember drawing some of these things myself, but, perhaps embarrassingly, I was in high school, NOT paying attention to algebra. This 200-page playbook could get as complicated or straightforward as an artist would like it to be.
The more I look at this title, the more I want it for myself. Hey, where’s my unlimited budget and my Amazon account?

BoutiquePublishingService@hotmail.com
BoutiqueBooks@hotmail.com
Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128: 1-2

Invitation to Draw is a fun guide aimed at younger readers with interactive prompts for creative play by Jean Van't Hul. Due out 15th June 2021 from Roost Books, it's 208 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a graphically appealing and accessible guide with 99 varied and fun tutorial prompts and exercises aimed at young readers with structured ideas to engage them and get them drawing. So much of our lives have been put on hold during the pandemic (and that includes our kids especially who have virtually no control over anything happening to them). Drawing and self-expression can give a measure of control and stress relief to everyone, including youngsters. This book includes lots of different prompts which can also become an important part of online/distance learning. Many of these tutorials will fit seamlessly into home learning with or without other classes.

Most of the pages include fill-in-the-blank type frames and partial drawings for things like dialogue, settings, small drawn stories, story boards, and more. One feature which I really loved was the inclusion of some solid advice from the author to parents and facilitators with good ideas on how to use the book and make it relevant for different ages and situations (for example laminating a page and using it again and again).

The book can be used in a linear manner, front to back, as well as a pick-and-choose resource with specific prompts where needed. Though the book is aimed at youngsters, there are some good takeaways here for readers of all ages. I enjoyed it a lot and the exercises were really fun.

Five stars. This would make a superlative classroom or home learning resource.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
at May 15, 2021 Email This

I loved the book, Invitation to Draw, and as an elementary school teacher and librarian, I would love to have this for my classroom. This would be a great way for my kids to have an introduction to drawing, and not make them feel intimidated. It gives the prompt so they have a starting point and can take it in whatever direction they choose. My dad is an Art major from Auburn, and I am an Art minor, and I see so many benefits to having this for your child or classroom. This is a wonderful idea that encourages creativity and individuality as well. I also love that it has writing prompts as well. This amazing book would be great for a variety of ages, because older kids, or students, can use the writing prompts to work on their creative writing. I can see how this could be a great asset for a teacher working with a wide variety of ages, or a parent wanting to improve their writing, spelling, creativity, and art skills all while having fun and not realize in many cases they are learning. I am hesitant, however, at purchasing this book for the library due to the fact that a child would naturally draw or write in it, and then it is used with one person. That is why I suggest using it as a teacher resource or for family fun. Overall, I loved this book, and I cannot wait to get one for my family members' children.

Invitation to Draw a great book to get kids started on the practice of drawing. Building a skill, like drawing requires consistent practice and this book is a jumpstart to get you in the habit of drawing. This book gives them prompts to spark their creativity and ideas of things to draw. This would be a good tool for teaching art to children during this time of distance learning. I highly recommend this book.

This will be a great book to have when the grands come to visit. No wrong ways to create and everyone can have fun drawing their own interpretation for the prompts. Can't wait to try some of these prompts out with multiple age groups.

This book is a great resource and I can’t wait to get a copy for the youth I work with! It’s filled with interesting and creative drawing prompts to help strengthen your artistic muscles. My only note is that I wish more attention would have been spent on the history and meaning of the Mandala, as it is important to be conscious of utilizing art forms of significance to other cultures. I do foresee myself using this book with the groups I work with, and will be adapting the prompt accordingly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Roost Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My five year old daughter and I have really been enjoying this book, although we have yet to work our way through the whole thing. Notice I said WE, and really, I am enjoying it as much as she is! We've created quite a few masterpieces based on the art prompts given in Invitation to Draw.
This would be an excellent book to take on a long trip/vacation (hoping that there will be more of those in the near future!).
I also think this book would be great for early education teachers, as it would be very cool to see how all of the finished artwork differs. No two imaginations will come up with the same thing!

'Invitation to Draw' is a creative book that says, on the cover, that it aims to inspire kids' creativity. I genuinely think this is a book that can inspire creativity for all ages - children and adults alike. It is full of lots of ideas for drawing with different creative prompts. One example is of a bare tree which the drawer is then invited to decorate with birds, leaves, animals and anything else they'd like to draw. It is a really fun book from start to finish.

This would be a wonderful book for have in your classroom library for children to enjoy. Each page is filled with a picture that you can complete with a pencil. It gives you a writing prompt to help you make the picture your own. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a kiddo that loves to draw or it starting out drawing pictures.

A lovely book for children (and adults) to sketch in. lots of prompts and starters. Some pictures are quite crudely (simplistically) drawn but it doesn't detract from the main ideas.