“Rocks! (Bounce Back) takes readers step-by-step through the process of illustrating chibi characters in this ­upbeat how-to book. Chibi is the ­Japanese word for small, and chibi characters are ­toddler-shaped, cute, and highly ­emotional. Artists often use chibi versions of characters to ­express strong feelings, and some manga ­characters, such as the ­Guardian ­Characters in “Shugo ­Chara!” are always drawn as chibis. While many how-to-draw manga books focus only on ­character designs and ignore the rest of the ­manga-­making process, this book starts with the basics, explaining how to render chibi ­faces and hair, then moves on to full bodies, fashion, and how to use chibis for ­different kinds of storytelling. Younger students may struggle to follow the instructions, but ­budding artists of all ages can enjoy copying the super-cute illustrations. Some of the pages are designed to be drawn on, but they also have QR codes that allow users to print pages for their own use. Other QR codes in the book link to the author’s video ­tutorials. VERDICT With a cheery tone and lots of examples to reference, this is a great how-to book for ­budding manga artists.”

– School Library Journal