During the pandemic, art is one of the best hobbies to introduce to kids. Learning to draw can open a world of screen-free enjoyment that also encourages self expression. Drawing is easy to learn from books or videos, it requires simple and cheap supplies, and it’s a great way to get into a creative flow. Draw Fashionable Manga Girls by Tomomi Mizuna lets young artists learn an amazing new style that will get them excited and ready to create! 

Manga is the name for a type of graphic novel written by Japanese artists, and manga art is easily recognizable. Manga can be written for adults or children. Japanese manga are typically written in long running series that allow the reader to truly get to know characters. Manga have a distinct style; characters typically have large eyes, small mouths, and unusual hair color. This workbook teaches young artists the distinctive pieces of manga characters, then sets them free to design their own! Artists are first introduced to a set of characters and learn the components that make them unique, such as “The Musician,” “The Free Spirit,” and “The Cool Chick.”

Designed for ages 8-12, Draw Fashionable Manga Girls includes over 100 exercises, beginning with tracing and moving toward freehand drawing. It’s written to bridge the gap for budding artists to reduce frustration and help them see great results quickly. Throughout the exercises, you’ll learn to mix and match facial expressions, clothing, hairstyle, and accessories to create your own characters. At this age, kids sometimes begin to lose touch with their playful, inventive side as they feel the pressure to act more like a teen, and this book can help coax back some of that imagination. There’s nothing like creating your own characters and stories to give kids a burst of fun in a challenging time!