Member Reviews

Thank you so much for granting me this wish!

I have to say; these creatures are super fun.

Dragon - super cute, but it looked like a hamster when I tried...
Unicorn - It looks like the one in the book but a slightly feral version
Dodo - It looks like a turkey! Mine and their as well.
Mermaid - It looks like a mermaid, surprise!
Gnome - I call him Harry Gnome cause he looks like he just got the Sorting Hat on his head
Mandrake - in all honesty, I failed this one so bad!
Angel - Until I got to the wings, it looked okay, but then it suddenly turned rotten.
Bigfoot - Tell me I'm not the only one who drew it with tiny feet? No? Okay.
Boogey Man - The cutes of them all! He needs a Tim Burton movie!
Brownie - Who's that? A cleaning gnome?
Centaur - If any centaur saw my drawing, they would make a goat out of me! Not that I did not do the same...
Chimaera - Mom! I want a chimaera for Christmas!
Cyclops - Love them! They solved my problem with not being able to draw even eyes!
Demon - He looks like the demon from Futurama.
Dwarf - Am I the only one who gave him a bottle of beer?
Elf - He got a flowery shirt! No more Christmas attire for this poor guy.
Fairy - fairy grandma... I cannot draw this one young, sorry.
Faun - he looks like he needs to pee.
Frankenstein - no one ever told me to drew Frankenstein as a green Bart Simpson! It works.
Gargoyle - Dad! I need a Gargoyle for my Birthday! It looks like a cat with wings.
Ghost - easier to draw, what a surprise.
Ghoul - I gave him a pineapple to eat, cause it looks like a head with a fabulous hairstyle!
Goblin - Mine's pink and yours?
Griffin - Okay, this one is impossible to draw from the front; the profile is the way to go.
Hippogriff - why does it look like an angry chicken?
Hobbit - Sitting on a throne of rings! Btw, why do they have larger feet than a bigfoot does?
Imp - looks like the kind of guy who's driving the devil crazy! So much fun to draw.
Kraken - Drew like fifteen of these, my fave.
Leprechaun - I kept drawing a rainbow around these guys, do they have anything to do with a rainbow?
Medusa - She ended looking cuter than a fairy and mermaid, strange isn't?
Minotaur - No idea what I did to him, or they. Poor guy, first a labyrinth and now these drawings.
Nessie - I have no idea who to tell that I need a Nessie as a pet! So much fun to draw the same as with Kraken.
Ogre - I guess he had too many beers. Not my fave.
Orc - Into the kitchen with this one! I gave him even the apron my grandma used to have.
Pegasus - Either his wings are too huge, and he looks like a dragon or too tiny, and he looks ridiculous.
Phoenix - Another chicken.
Rumpelstiltskin - A skinny dwarf?
Salamander - Okay, I need a bigger house for all my magical pets.
Sea Horse - Horse Mermaid? I'm not going to ask about the evolution of this one!
Siren - It just looks like a Chicken.
Sphinx - It has a nose!
Tengu - I did not go the "make it cute" way cause it would be just another Chicken!
Troll - A bit mouse-like for my liking.
Vampire - Why is he sooo cute?! I cannot stress how much I like this vampire! Already buying a coffin for my magical house for creatures.
Werewolf - A cute doggo, I just don't see the "were" part.
Yale - A goat with very short legs but I guess he will be a great friend with the Sphinx, I moved them into the same room.
Yeti - I'm not even going to tell you how much I've messed up the fur.
Zombie - it keeps looking like a robot.
Flower fairy - I very much enjoyed drawing the flower hair.
Dokkaebi - Make it cute with a skateboard.
Enchanted Elephant - So, why they did not add an enchanted Chicken as well? I'm good at drawing chickens!
Forest Fairy - I don't know why but they keep looking Maya, if I am brave enough I'll give them their own calendar.
Genie - The fairest of them all.
Kumiho - I'm not even telling you how many of them I drew and how I love this lovely creature but no cleaning for this one!
Grumpy Wizard - Under that cloak, his body disappeared!
Flying Monkey - No wings! Flying ears.
Mummy - Okay, I failed with this one, Either it looked like nothing because of too much white or I tried using some "blood" red, and it does not look like a mummy.
House Elf - Okay, what's the difference between that and an elf?
Majestic Corgi - Where is my Chicken?
Merman - Don't ask me how terrible this looks.
Maine Coon - What is even that? Cat had a bit of fun with a racoon?
Baby Witch - Not cute at all, murderous!

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This book is exactly what the title describes: 62 magical creatures, drawn step-by-step and then additional sketches on how to make each cute, And it is, indeed, very cute. I see this as a great rainy day, get off your iPad, "Mom-I'm-Bored!" book. It's simple, but fun and creative!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a great resource book for anyone who likes to draw, or enjoys magical creatures. You can find a variety of creatures in this book, and instructions on how to draw them and to make them cute. You will see dragons, house elves. hobbits, and many, many more! The directions are easy to follow and my students will love spending time creating their own magical creatures!

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Really cute book, with instructions on drawing magical, mystical creatures/cartoons. A great bit of fun and one for both adults and the kids to enjoy. There are 62 in all and all instructions have variation on the main character. Line drawn in black and white - a fun book.

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Draw 62 Magical Creatures and Make Them Cute goes through step-by-step character building skills. Starting with simple steps the book goes through different variations and challenges.
The illustrations are gorgeous and I enjoyed them even when I wasn't drawing them.
From gargoyles to unicorns, it sure expanded my imagination and pushed me to try new techniques.

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This is an absolutely adorable book that delivers on everything it promises. Ranging from Angels to Zombies you are provided with simplistic, easy to follow ways to draw these creatures in Heegyum’s characteristically cute style.

As you can see from the sneak peak up above, you are provided a step-by-step general outline to draw the character in a particular manner and then are provided some suggestions of how to take that outline and make it cute.

This is definitely a book created to inspire and spark your imagination, rather than a “how to draw book” – the good thing is that this is perfect for any level of artist. It goes straight from the contents page into the characters, however all you really need is a drawing utensil and a piece of paper in order to get started.

If you’re looking for a book to get your creativity flowing and be provided with inspiration then this is the book for you!

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I wish this book gave slightly more detailed step-by-steps. As for making them cute, it never gives alternative instructions so you get ideas how to do it. It provides finished pictures of the magical creatures in different cute poses but without showing you how to get there.

Overall, good if you can look at a book and copy without needing guidance, but otherwise not super useful.

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This book was rather disappointing for me. While it does offer step-by-step examples in drawing creatures, that's literally all it offers. There is little to no text, and no pointers, hints or tips. There is no advice about materials such as those which art books typically offer in my experience, or information on style or technique in terms of approaching your drawing.

All you get on each page is a set of half-a-dozen or so simple steps to start, add to, and finish your creature or folk-lore person, and then there are some suggestions, in the form of additional drawings, on how to make it look cute, which to me didn't always succeed, but that's a matter of personal taste.

So overall, if you don't mind emulating existing drawings, but being largely in the dark about methods, this book might work for you. For me, I do not like the minimalist approach which some might argue is lazy or cynical. To me it felt more like it was offering nothing more than basic patterns to copy, and I was not impressed. Having seen other, much more generous books on art, I cannot commend this as a worthy read.

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This book is excellent for doodling ideas. The instructions are clear and this pictures are funny and great fun to do. I probably wouldn't call them cute but they will make you smile. They would make a great rainy day activity to do with children of all ages. They are also a great confidence booster for beginner artists.

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.


There is some GREAT information in this book. My daughter LOVES to draw, and she adores this book.

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For someone who’s already confident in their drawing abilities, I think this would be a fun book to provide inspiration. That being said, I was hoping for a little more how to than what I got

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Wonderful selection of magical creature to draw. Step by step illustrations with lots of "make them cute" ideas.

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Draw 62 Magical Creatures and Make Them Cute
Step-by-Step Drawing for Characters and Personality For Artists, Cartoonists, and Doodlers by Heegyum Kim is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. I adore this book! I can draw pictures and it makes me feel good! I am not good at art but I try. This book has so many cute "terrifying" monsters that are so adorable and cute you just want to cuddle them! The best part is I made my own using the step-by-step instructions and all the illustrations that goes along with the step-by-step instructions! I am a beginner at art and if I can make these cute little guys any one can. It was fun thinking of ways to change them! I loved this book! I could think of so many uses such as playing with the grandkids, making birthday cards or get well cards, bookmarkers, and more! So much fun! I want this book!

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Einfache Anleitung für lauter zauberhafte, kleine Zeichnungen inkl. Variationen.
Zum wecken der eigenen Kreativität oder zum verschenken.

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Nobody does cute like Heegyum Kim! Draw 62 Magical Creatures and Make Them Cute is the second book in the series — the first one was Draw 62 Animals and Make Them Cute. This book is just as great as the first one but contains people and animals from the world of fantasy. There are the usual ones you would expect, like a fairy (“regular” fairy, flower fairy and forest fairy), angel, wizard, vampire, troll, hobbit, goblin, elf, and unicorn. Then there are ones that you would not find in other books, such as merman, werewolf, sphinx, medusa, and cyclops. There are a few I was completely unfamiliar with and you may be too — tengu, kumiho and dokkaebi. My favorites are: the bogey man, majestic corgi, flying monkey, and seahorse.

Kim provides step by step illustrations, typically 4-6 steps, for drawing each of the 62 creatures. Then she shows how to make them cute by presenting several variations, usually 3-6 of them. While the steps are not illustrated for drawing the variations, once you have the basic figure down pat, it shouldn’t be too hard to “reverse engineer” them. I really enjoy looking at all the variations — they make for fabulous eye candy that are sure to bring a smile to your face. For example, the variations of the minotaur include one reading a newspaper and another as a fashionista. Frankenstein variations have one praying and another one smelling a flower. Finally, the faun has these variations- calling a taxi, reading, playing the harp, dancing, and playing a clarinet-type instrument.

Kim provides tips throughout the book - sometimes more direction on how to draw the particular creature and at other times she explains the origin or mythology. This book is great for those of us who cannot draw and for those that can, as there are sure to be some creatures or variations among the roughly 250 in total that you will want to draw. Those unable to draw will appreciate the step-by-step instructions.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group — Quarry Books and NetGalley for an advance reader copy that expires in exchange for my honest review.

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This is one of those book that it what it says it is. The title says it all. I do think this book is better for kids and people who are looking for inspiration more than instructions and tips. Each character is shown in progress with about 4-6 steps shown. It is very light on tips which is a little disappointing. I do prefer instructional art books that are heavy on images and light on text, but this is simply too light on text. The characters are a cute b&W illustration doodle style that is popular now. I like it. It’s just not my favorite. I just feel like it’s missing some inspiration or vital tips.

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What a fun doodle book, really great for creating whimsical and quirky images of some fun and unexpected characters. The layout is the same as the animals book of a similar name. One page has step by step instructions for a creature then the next page is the “cute” variations of the same one. I do think this book is lacking in instructions for how to get to the other examples, you could probably figure them all out but for this type of book it might be nice to have a little more.

The book is great for novices, and children because anybody can get decent results with this doodle style. The BEST image imo is the Frankenstein doing yoga! Perfect for “frankie says relax”, this was my first art but I will be working on another on those. Thanks to the publisher and net galley for the digital ARC to review.

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My Middle Schoolers will absolutely eat this up. They are not so much into the how to step by step detailed drawing methods, so this style showing chunks at a time is perfect for them. Very cute and a little bizaree.

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This is another fun book by Heegyum Kim, whose first book (draw 62 animals and make them cute) is one of my personal favorites for drawing instruction. This one is also easy to follow and gives you a variety of fun characters, though they are a little trickier sometimes and I didn't like them quite as much as the animal series. Also, not all of them are magical. Some are extinct (dodo) or just made magical (magical elephant) or kind of made up superheroes (a corgi with superpowers). Others are just fun animals (salamander, Maine Coon, sea horse). Many seem to be from other cultures that I was unfamiliar with (tengu, yale, dokkaibi, kumiho). Lots of mythological creatures are included (pegasus, sphinx, medusa, minotaur) and your standard scary creatures (ghost, goblin, kraken, ghoul, vampire) and urban legends (big foot, nessie) and sweeter magical creatures (mermaid, fairy, baby witch)...

Each sketch includes a basic outline to start with and you see how to fill it out, and then some examples of similar ones in other poses or with other hairstyles and so on. I like seeing the creatures from lots of different angles and with lots of variations.

All in all, this is a fun book for kids or adults who would like to learn to easily sketch some fun magical, mystical, odd or scary creatures.

My rating system:
1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost

I read a temporary digital ARC of the book for the purpose of review.

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This book is a cartoon style drawing book in what seems a very typical "kids style" drawing book -- show a series of drawings each adding a bit more to the drawing. This is followed by a "Make Them Cute" section which shows variations on the creatures. And a small spot to try to draw one yourself.

The book covers a wide variety of mythological creatures. However very few of the many creatures included were ones which could easily be made "cute", they could more often be described as monsters. And the author did not pull off a miracle and manage to make the monsters the cute either. In fact, in my personal opinion, the author's style was not cute even for those creatures that one would expect to be cute -- but I see that naming structure apparently is part of the author's previous books as well (which I have not read so can't comment on cuteness factor). I would recommend this book for a child who is more into the more odd and monstrous mythological creatures rather than one that is interested in anything "cute".

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