This Great Thumbprint Drawing Book by Ed Emberley is a "thumb-up" for everyone. Even though it is geared towards ages 4-8, this simple but entertaining drawing book has been used by my 9 and 12 year old daughters this week. This book gives simple step by step illustrated instructions to show you how to turn your thumbprints into owls, pigs, pilgrims basketball players. All you need is paper, pencil ink pad and thumbs.

If you notice this book is geared toward 4 year old and not all 4 year olds can read. But this book give a great illustration on how to draw without using reading skills. I only had to show my children once and they took it from there.

The Book:

The first four pages of the book shows how to make drawings using a thumbprint and the the letters ivy lou. There is an example how to put the letters u, v and i together with a thumbprint to make a bird. The next two pages divided the page into two parts. One row tells what to draw and the other row shows where to put it on the thumbprint. It also shows examples where you turn the letter around, scribble and fill in an empty space to made a picture.

The next section of the book is several pages of how to make people. There are section on how to add emotions, hair or turn prints into action people (like a basketball player).

The next section is how to make animals. The show how to make animals standing walking or running with only a few extra marks. Other animals include a bee, caterpillar, turtle and beaver. There is a page dedicated to a bird standing, running singing or eating.

The next section is dedicated to holiday or events. It shows how to make a pilgrim, birthday cake, firecrackers, valentine and even Uncle Sam.

All the examples up to this part of the book are using only one thumbprint. The next section are examples of how to draw a scene with thumbprints or something different using more than one thumbprint.

The last two pages shows you ways to make prints. It shows how to use an ink pad or how to make your own pad. It also shows how you can use a cut carrot or potato to make prints.

My Experience:

Not only has this book given my girls hours of entertainment. We have also used what we learned from this book on other projects. We have made stationary, note cards, wrapping paper or certificates by using this technique. This book is geared toward younger children (4-8) but it gives the tools that older children can take off with. There are also other books by Ed Emberley to expand a child's art world. Keeping an ink pad around and making sure it does not dry out is the only problem I have found using this book. We have used it on trips and have given it as a gift. This book can give confidence to a child who thinks he cannot draw.

Where to Find this book:

I have always located this book online or at speciality toy store. The price has ranged from $7.99 to $12.99. That price is only one or two movies tickets and the entertainment last longer than two movies.

Overall: You can't go wrong with this book. All children have enjoyed it at my house. Even Mom is an artist with thumbprints and a few letters.

Recommended: Yes