“Scott McKowen is one of the great illustrators of our time.” — Milton Glaser. “McKowen’s mastery of line and texture, gift for arresting juxtapositions and perspectives, and fluency in drawing the human figure make for complex and breathtaking images that are at once old-fashioned and cutting edge. And he writes as crisply as he draws.” — Booklist. For many artists, drawing is both vocation and avocation. Drawing for pleasure keeps our skills sharp and allows us to expand our horizons by trying new materials and media — to say nothing of providing countless hours of enjoyment. Scott McKowen has enjoyed a four-decade career as an awardwinning illustrator and designer whose work is known across the world. Drawing is his livelihood, but he makes a constant practice of observational drawing from life. He always travels with a sketchbook — he draws everywhere from museums, restaurants, theatres and zoos, to cities, parks and on holiday. How I Draw provides an overview of Scott’s draftsmanship in various media, with insights and tips guaranteed to help anyone who shares his love of drawing. Sections in this book include: Some Basics; Travel Sketchbooks; Cabinet of Curiosities; Life Drawing; Portraiture; Animals, Vegetables and Minerals; Lucid Drawing; Ephemera. How I Draw is a delightful and inspiring tour through highlights of McKowen’s impressive drawing portfolio.

Mark Twain's brilliant 19th-century novel has long been recognised as one of the finest examples of American literature. Rich in authentic dialect, folksy humour and sharp social commentary, Twain's classic tale follows Huckleberry Finn and Jim the runaway slave on an exciting journey down the Mississippi. Each beautiful book is unabridged and features extraordinary art, a ribbon marker and the highest quality paper. A series of insightful questions appear at the end of each volume to encourage discussion and a deeper understanding of these enduring works.

Parents, teachers, librarians and youngsters will welcome four new superb, unabridged editions of timeless children's favourites - complete with artwork by Scott McKowen. Each book features extraordinary jacket art, detailed spot illustrations, a three-piece cover, a ribbon marker and the highest quality paper. Swiss Family Robinson tells of shipwrecked passengers on a deserted island: how will they survive? After their ship founders at sea, the Robinsons - father, mother, and four sons - find themselves stranded in an uninhabited, idyllic land.

Toad, Rat, Mole, Badger and the other appealing characters in "The Wind in the Willows" got their start a century ago as the stars of bedtime stories for the author's young son. Their adventures have delighted children of all generations for nearly a century. This attractive new edition of the treasured classic is sure to be cherished for years to come. "Sterling Children's Classics" is a new series presenting timeless classic works of fiction in handsome hardback volumes at an unbelievable price. Parents, teachers, librarians and of course young readers will welcome these beautiful, unabridged editions of evergreen children's favourites. Each beautiful book features: original full colour dust jacket artwork; three-piece cloth binding; the highest quality paper; detailed spot illustrations; and a ribbon page marker. It is beautiful classic literature at a classic price!

The illustrations for this series were created by Scott McKowen, who, with his wife Christina Poddubiuk, operates Punch & Judy Inc., a company specializing in design and illustration for theater and performing arts. Their projects often involve research into the visual aspects of historical settings and characters. Christina is a theater set and costume designer and contributed advice on the period clothing for the illustrations.
Scott created these drawings in scratchboard - an engraving medium which evokes the look of popular art from the period of these stories. Scratchboard is an illustration board with a specifically prepared surface of hard white chalk. A thin layer of black ink is rolled over the surface, and lines are drawn by hand with a sharp knife by scraping through the ink layer to expose the white surface underneath. The finished drawings are then scanned and the color is added digitally.
Every child loves a story about a horse, and Black Beauty remains one of the finest, most touching ever written. Set in Victorian London, the novel follows the shifting fortunes of a horse as he moves from owner to owner. Narrated by the noble Black Beauty himself, the tale offers an animal's perspective of the world, and highlights the thoughtless, even cruel treatment animals endured during that period.

This is a beloved tale that will make the perfect present! "Unabridged Classics" are aimed at ages 10 years upwards with more than 330,000 copies sold! This is the unabridged story with insightful questions for discussion, fantastic artwork, a ribbon marker and high-quality paper. Beloved in Christmases past and sure to remain a favourite in Christmases of the future, Dickens' popular holiday tale is the perfect Christmas present. The uplifting tale follows the mysterious and magical events that transform the miserly, miserable Ebenezer Scrooge into 'as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man' as ever lived.

Originally published in 1870, this amazing undersea adventure is one of the earliest science fiction novels ever written. Jules Verne invites readers to go below the ocean's waves in the first-ever submarine with Captain Nemo and a range of fantastical sea creatures. Each beautiful book is unabridged and features extraordinary art, a ribbon marker and the highest quality paper. A series of insightful questions appear at the end of each volume to encourage discussion and a deeper understanding of these enduring works. This voyage of exploration and the imagination retains a popularity that has spellbound generations of children.

The illustrations for this series were created by Scott McKowen, who, with his wife Christina Poddubiuk, operates Punch & Judy Inc., a company specializing in design and illustration for theater and performing arts. Their projects often involve research into the visual aspects of historical settings and characters. Christina is a theater set and costume designer and contributed advice on the period clothing for the illustrations.
Scott created these drawings in scratchboard - an engraving medium which evokes the look of popular art from the period of these stories. Scratchboard is an illustration board with a specifically prepared surface of hard white chalk. A thin layer of black ink is rolled over the surface, and lines are drawn by hand with a sharp knife by scraping through the ink layer to expose the white surface underneath. The finished drawings are then scanned and the color is added digitally.
Two of Jack London's best-loved masterpieces, in their entirety. Call of the Wild tells a compelling tale of adventure during the Yukon Gold Rush, and fully captures the unquenchable spirit of Buck, a kidnapped dog trying to survive in the harshest of environments. Also set in Alaska, the powerful White Fang follows the often savage life of the magnificent title character, a mix of wolf and dog.

This title is suitable for children aged 10 years and up. This collection of masterful stories by Washington Irving includes the classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the eerie Rip Van Winkle, the funny The Specter Bridegroom and the spooky The Devil and Tom Walker. These four stories create a strange and macabre anthology that's perfect for Halloween, or any time you want to feel your skin crawl. This handsome, unabridged edition of Irving's famous tales, with striking illustrations by Scott McKowen, joins Sterling's beloved classics line and is sure to find a treasured place in any family's library.

Thanks to its colorful cast of characters and gritty portrayal of street life in Victorian London, Dickens' "Oliver Twist" has captured readers' hearts for more than 150 years. Today's children will love it too. Oliver, a poor orphan, escapes the miserable workhouse where he was born only to fall into the clutches of a band of pickpockets led by the odious Fagin. Yet no amount of cruelty can destroy his purity...and through his goodness, he finds salvation.

Parents, teachers, librarians and children will adore these beautiful unabridged editions of timeless children's favourites. Each hardback book has extraordinary artwork on the cover, together with spot illustrations, a ribbon marker and the highest quality paper. In "Heidi" - what happens when a little orphan girl is forced to live with her cold and frightening grandfather? The heartwarming answer has engaged children for more than a century, both on the page and on the screen. Johanna Spyri's beloved story offers youngsters an endearing and intelligent heroine, a cast of unique and memorable characters, and a fascinating portrait of a small Alpine village.

The illustrations for this series were created by Scott McKowen, who, with his wife Christina Poddubiuk, operates Punch & Judy Inc., a company specializing in design and illustration for theater and performing arts. Their projects often involve research into the visual aspects of historical settings and characters. Christina is a theater set and costume designer and contributed advice on the period clothing for the illustrations.
Scott created these drawings in scratchboard - an engraving medium which evokes the look of popular art from the period of these stories. Scratchboard is an illustration board with a specifically prepared surface of hard white chalk. A thin layer of black ink is rolled over the surface, and lines are drawn by hand with a sharp knife by scraping through the ink layer to expose the white surface underneath. The finished drawings are then scanned and the color is added digitally.
Born in India, the unattractive and willful Mary Lennox has remained in the care of servants for as long as she can remember. But the girl's life changes when her mother and father die and she travels to Yorkshire to live with her uncle. Dark, dreary Misselthwaite Manor seems full of mysteries, including a very special garden, locked tight for 10 years. With the help of Dickon, a local boy, Mary intends to uncover its secrets.