Why am I passionate about this?

I've been cartooning, or "curtooning," my entire life. As a child, I drew cartoons of everything, from animals to dinosaurs, and was the cartoonist for my elementary school, junior high school, high school, and college newspapers. My cartooning style with big eyes and simple lines came from my favorite cartoonists and their cartoon strips that I read every day in the newspapers. However, my most significant influence was reading every cartoon in Mad Magazine, including comics from Don Martin, Sergio Aragonés, and Al Jaffee. When cable came out with multiple channels in the 1980s, I felt there was not enough kid-friendly content, so I created my award-winning cable show titled It's Curtoon Time.


I wrote

How to Draw Cartoon Reptiles

By Curt Visca, Kelley Visca,

Book cover of How to Draw Cartoon Reptiles

What is my book about?

Cartoonists of all ages will learn easy-to-follow techniques on how to draw eight reptiles in six easy steps while learning…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Big Book of Faces: How to Draw 400 Easy to follow Step by Step Drawing Lessons for Kids

Curt Visca Why did I love this book?

I enjoy this book because it teaches artists of all ages how to draw various simple facial cartoons in a twelve-step sequential style that is easy to follow. How to draw people with different expressions is essential for any cartoonist. I like how this book takes the artist from drawing happy faces to surprised faces while covering a variety of nationalities. There are many components to drawing faces, such as eyes, a nose, a mouth, ears, and hair, and I like how this book covers it thoroughly in 400 different variations of faces. “Face” the fact that I never take a book at “face” value.

By Erik DePrince,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Big Book of Faces as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Learn how to draw faces! This book features over 425 easy to follow step-by-step lessons that will capture your imagination and inspire creativity. Happy Drawing!


Book cover of How to Draw Peanuts: Drawing Characters And Coloring With Peanuts Stress Relieving

Curt Visca Why did I love this book?

I’m the biggest Peanuts cartoon strip fan and enjoy this book because it teaches artists how to draw each Peanuts character in an easy-to-follow step-by-step manner. Most people that don’t think they can draw become overwhelmed with where to start. This book reminds cartoonists to follow a pattern and to focus on one line at a time that will all come together and form Snoopy, Charlie Brown, or Lucy. My wife and I have even flown into the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport and visited the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California, on two different occasions. I highly recommend visiting! Good grief, buy this book!

Book cover of Learn to Draw Your Favorite Disney/Pixar Characters:  Featuring Favorite Characters from Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, and More!

Curt Visca Why did I love this book?

I had the pleasure of going to Disneyland as a child and working at Disneyland for many years in high school and college. It was an honor to create artwork for Disney Castmembers (employees), such as t-shirt designs and a giant cartoon mural when there was an attendance record one summer day. Anything Disney/Pixar-related from the 1990s to the early 2000s is near and dear to my heart, such as the movies Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo. We took our children to see these movies when they were young, and I still watch them today. This book covers everything, from teaching Disney/Pixar fans how to draw Lightning McQueen from the movie Cars to Elastigirl from The Incredibles. The drawing exercising section is also a nice touch. Snap out of it, Buzz, and buy this book!

By Disney Storybook Artists,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Learn to Draw Your Favorite Disney/Pixar Characters as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, 8, and 9.

What is this book about?

Aspiring artists can now re-create the remarkable characters of Disney•Pixar films using Learn to Draw Your Favorite Disney•Pixar Characters as their guide. Following simple instructions, artists-in-training can learn to draw the entertaining personalities from Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Up, Inside Out, Coco, and more.

In this book, after an introduction to art tools and materials, a series of drawing exercises invites artists to warm up and learn a few basic drawing techniques. Then the real fun begins! The easy-to-follow instructions will guide you through the drawing process; each step builds upon the last until the…


Book cover of Draw 50 Famous Cartoons: The Step-By-Step Way to Draw Your Favorite Classic Cartoon Characters

Curt Visca Why did I love this book?

This book brings back many fond memories of Saturday mornings as a child when I would watch Popeye and Felix cartoons and The Archie Show on TV. I don’t think we can call a cartoon character Jughead anymore, but you can learn how to draw Jughead step by step and his trademark beanie. This crown-shaped cap, also called a whoopee cap or Jughead cap was popular in the 1930s to 1940s. You’ll go down memory lane with this book and, in a Popeye voice, say, “I yam what I yam.”

By Lee J. Ames,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Draw 50 Famous Cartoons as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

Even the youngest artists can make famous characters look great. It is aimed at aged 5 and upwards. "Draw 50 Famous Cartoons" teaches aspiring artists how to draw with easy by following simple, step-by-step instructions. Celebrated author Lee J. Ames shows readers how to draw a myriad of beloved cartoon characters, including Felix the Cat, Tin Tin, Flinstones, Yogi bear, Popeye, Scoobie Doo and many more. Ames' illustration style and renowned drawing method has made him a leader in the step-by-step drawing manual - the twenty-seven books in his "Draw 50" series have sold more than three million copies. It's…


Book cover of The How To Draw Book For Kids Anything Everything in the Cutest Style

Curt Visca Why did I love this book?

This book makes me smile because it's filled with a plethora of the cutest cartoons to draw step by step, from rainbows to cupcakes. Sometimes a person will tell me they don't like to draw certain types of cartoons, such as a cat. Still, I remind them that drawing something you are not interested in broadens your horizons and deepens your understanding of the world as you step out of your comfort zone. I like how author Takeshi Sugimori reminds artists to believe in themselves. Plus, he covers the artform of sketch hatching or shading, which is rarely covered in books. When I taught kids how to draw on my It's Curtoon Time TV show, I would remind them to add shading at the end of each cartoon. Sometimes life is about rainbows and unicorns!

Explore my book 😀

How to Draw Cartoon Reptiles

By Curt Visca, Kelley Visca,

Book cover of How to Draw Cartoon Reptiles

What is my book about?

Cartoonists of all ages will learn easy-to-follow techniques on how to draw eight reptiles in six easy steps while learning fascinating facts about each creature. Each reptile cartoon (rattlesnake, cobra, python, chameleon, gecko, desert tortoise, sea turtle, and crocodile) is paired with interesting facts to entice artists into the creeping, slithering, and crawling world of reptiles. Terms for drawing cartoons, a glossary, and an index are included to build a cartoonist's vocabulary. These drawing terms include action lines, angles lines, wiggly lines, and zigzag lines. This hardbound book has been in school and public libraries throughout the United States for over 20 years.

Book cover of The Big Book of Faces: How to Draw 400 Easy to follow Step by Step Drawing Lessons for Kids
Book cover of How to Draw Peanuts: Drawing Characters And Coloring With Peanuts Stress Relieving
Book cover of Learn to Draw Your Favorite Disney/Pixar Characters:  Featuring Favorite Characters from Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, and More!

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,488

readers submitted
so far, will you?

You might also like...

Book cover of Adventures in the Radio Trade: A Memoir

Ad
Joe Mahoney Author Of Adventures in the Radio Trade: A Memoir

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Broadcaster Family man Dog person Aspiring martial artist

Joe's 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

Adventures in the Radio Trade documents a life in radio, largely at Canada's public broadcaster. It's for people who love CBC Radio, those interested in the history of Canadian Broadcasting, and those who want to hear about close encounters with numerous luminaries such as Margaret Atwood, J. Michael Straczynski, Stuart McLean, Joni Mitchell, Peter Gzowski, and more. And it's for people who want to know how to make radio.

Crafted with gentle humour and thoughtfulness, this is more than just a glimpse into the internal workings of CBC Radio. It's also a prose ode to the people and shows that…

By Joe Mahoney,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Adventures in the Radio Trade as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"In dozens of amiable, frequently humorous vignettes... Mahoney fondly recalls his career as a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio technician in this memoir... amusing and highly informative."
— Kirkus Reviews

"What a wonderful book! If you love CBC Radio, you'll love Adventures in the Radio Trade. Joe Mahoney's honest, wise, and funny stories from his three decades in broadcasting make for absolutely delightful reading!
— Robert J. Sawyer, author of The Oppenheimer Alternative''

"No other book makes me love the CBC more."
— Gary Dunford, Page Six
***
Adventures in the Radio Trade documents a life in radio, largely at Canada's…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in cartoons, drawing, and cartoonists?

Cartoons 34 books
Drawing 68 books
Cartoonists 51 books