Even at a young age, I knew I wanted to be a cartoonist. It was one of the few things I was both good at and enjoyed. (For the record, I'm not a cartoonist in my adult life, which is unfortunate for many reasons, but more importantly it's still TBD whether or not this will always be true.)

I received Cartooning the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm as a gift from my endlessly encouraging parents—this would've been decades ago so, yeah, I'm old—and I remember wearing out the pages over the course of years intending to learn its secrets. The book itself isn't just instructional, it's also a work of art. Read it, enjoy it, learn from it. Keep drawing and keep it fun. ( )

This book should be titled "The Encyclopedia of Cartooning the Head & Figure" since it not only demonstrates a variety of techniques, but it also thoroughly catalogs eyes, noses, mouths, expressions, and positions to name a few. Whether you use this book to learn to draw or to get ideas, you will use this book. ( )

My most used reference for cartooning the human figure. The various approaches shown even helped with my traditional figure work. Lots of examples and tidbits that are missing from the more current "how to's." This is the most handled book in my art related book collection. ( )