Cartooning Classes for Schools & Libraries

I'm Mark Anderson, and I have the best job in the world - I’m a cartoonist.

And while drawing funny pictures and writing jokes is fun, my favorite part of the job is getting to look at the world not necessarily as it is, but as it might be.

For example: What would a raccoon order at a restaurant? What might a pirate say to his therapist? And what if someone on trial brought their sousaphone along? (All actual cartoons I’ve done.)

In my cartooning classes, students will learn to see things differently too and explore:

  • Problem solving
  • Design thinking
  • Individuality
  • Curiosity

I’d love to come to your school or library and share not only a lot of fun, but also the benefits of seeing things differently.

All classes are available live at your location, or virtually via Zoom where I can accommodate entire schools at once!

  • NEW! - Wild Voices

    Elk bugle, mice scream, deer roar, walruses whistle, and cheetahs chirp. Doesn’t sound right? Every one of those is true. Learn to draw all sorts of animals, then hear the actual sounds they make. But that’s not all! Students will then add their own speech bubbles to imagine what they’re saying!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • NEW! - Cartoon Cryptids

    Kids will learn to draw familiar creatures like the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot, but also lesser known beasts like the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp, the Jersey Devil and the Loveland Frog! No blurry photos this time! See them in all their goofy glory! (Don’t worry it’s not too scary.)

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • NEW! - Untamed Teamwork

    Talk about terrific togetherness! Students will draw and learn about pistol shrimp and gobies, wooly bats and pitcher plants, wildebeest and oxpeckers, and librarians and cartoonists! (OK, maybe not that last one.) Come see why it’s just natural to work together!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • NEW! - Toon Time Travelers

    Come with me as we travel through time! Maybe we’ll visit the pyramids! Maybe we’ll walk with the dinosaurs! Maybe we’ll go far into the future and witness… well, I shouldn’t spoil it. The thing is, it’s all up to you! Decide where we’ll go, who we’ll meet, what we’ll draw, and when exactly that’s going to be! Don’t miss it!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • NEW! - The Secret of the Mysterious Whodunit

    Help! Something bad has happened and we need your deductive drawing to solve this case! Help cartoon the clues, sketch the suspects, and puzzle out the pictures to find out… whodunit!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • NEW! - Martial Arts Mayhem

    Get your black belt in cartooning! We’ll draw characters kicking, jumping, punching, blocking, and working out their disagreements by using their words… of fury! Do not miss this!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • NEW! - Animal Amalgams

    Honestly I have no idea what this class is… because you need to tell me! I’ll ask for two animals and show you how to draw them combined! Lion lizard? Sure. Turtle monkey? OK! Octopus platypus?! That’s a maybe.

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • NEW! - Dinosaurs vs. Robots 2

    So you’ve drawn dinosaurs and robots before have you? Well, not like this. More dangerous dinosaurs! More ridiculous robots! More perilous pencils! (Hey, I was on a roll.) Be there!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Robots!

    Hello, carbon based life form. BEEP! Sign up for this cartoon robot drawing class.

    Human children will learn to draw automatons, robots, droids, mechs and more. WHIRR! Do not worry, robots are your friends. And we are not plotting to take over your library or school.

    Sign up now. END TRANSMISSION.

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Hilarious Hiking

    Kids will go on a cartoon hike and decide where we go, who me meet, and what happens next! We might draw wildlife! Weird plants! Quicksand! Bigfoot! Squirrels! (OK, that last one is pretty mediocre.) It’s a fun free-for-all that’s different every time!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Undersea Adventure

    Learn to draw all sorts of weird underwater creatures! Pelican eels! Barreleye fish! Immortal jellyfish! And the tasseled wobbegong! You’ll have to sea it to believe it! Water you waiting for!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Cartoon Constellations

    Long before there were cartoons we wrote stories about collections of stars in the night sky. Epic warriors! Amazing creatures! Dippers of varying size! We’ll draw our own new constellations and then embellish them cartoon style! And you don’t even have to stay up late!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Spooky Stories

    Legend has it that on the very day this class is held, a spooky specter will return from the beyond to… Wait! What was that?! Did you hear that?! It’s… it’s… A terrifically fun new cartooning class! We’ll draw ghosts! Ghouls! Goblins! And Gary!!! (Who’s Gary?! You’ll have to wait and see!)

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Space Fights!

    Somewhat recently, in a universe just over that way… Space Fights!

    Come draw all of your favorite Space Fight characters: Varth Mader! Duke Cloudrunner! Princess Mia! C3-D2! They’ll battle with laser sporks! Fly at dark speed! And use their somewhat ambiguous Intestinal Fortitude! Do not miss this off-brand space opera! May the Intestinal Fortitude be with you!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Kart-oon Racing

    Kids will learn to draw all sort of exciting racing karts and goofy drivers! Then decide what happens in each race!

    Molasses puddles? Sure! Giant lizards?! Why not! Broccoli bombs!! Seems like a waste of food, but OK! And finally decide who will win!

    Race to sign up for this!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Unlikely Animal Friends

    Oh sure, duckies and bunnies get along just fine, but what about honey badgers and goliath tiger fish? Hairy frogs and gharials? Aye-ayes and naked mole rats?! Come draw and let’s and find out!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Critter Collectors

    We’re going to create and draw our very own collectible cartoon critters based our your suggestions! 14 legs? Sure! 7 tails? Why not! 3 glowing-the-dark hypnotizing laser eyes?! OK, that seems like bit much, but you’re the boss! Then, and this is the best part, you get to decide who would win in a cartoon critter clash!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Alphabet Animals

    In this high-energy draw-along program, students will learn to draw 26 adorable cartoon animals using only the alphabet and simple shapes.

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-3
  • If You Drew the Zoo

    Students play a series of fun drawing games and invent their own silly animals. And at then end they get to share their funny favorites on the big screen in a wacky zoo!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-3
  • Dinosaurs vs. Robots

    First, kids draw dangerous dinosaurs on one side of the page and then radical robots on the other. What happens next? Do they fight or have a picnic? Shoot lasers or share ice cream? Either way, students love this fun draw-along.

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Myth, Magic & Monsters

    Kids will learn to draw all sorts of mythological, fantasy, and fairy tale characters, and then draw in their own stories!

    Will the ogre and unicorn fight? Have a dance party? Meet at a small cafe and discuss the events of the day over coffee and scones?! Whatever happens, students will have a great time!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Sharks vs. Trucks

    Over the past few years of teaching cartooning I’ve asked kids what else they’d like to draw. And by far the two most popular answers are sharks and trucks.

    So here it is! Sharks on one side, trucks on the other! What happens next? Honestly, I have no idea. But you know it's going to be super fun!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • BOOM! POW! SMASH!

    Holy cartooning class! Learn to draw awesome superheroes and terrible villains and then decide what happens next!

    Will Beltman use his scowl of justice? Will Ms. Quito bite him?! Will they decide to put their squabbles aside and play Monopoly?! (Get out of jail free indeed!) Stay tuned!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • BOOM! POW! SMASH! 2! The SEQUEL!

    If you like drawing superheroes and supervillains, but you've already taken the Boom! Pow! Smash!, you're in luck! Now there's a super sequel!!

    Students will learn to draw new characters including Arach-Ned, Stink Bug, Coldsnap, Lady Lava, Whirl-Wendy, Grunt, and Earth-Quack! Don't this miss fantastic followup!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Action Animals

    Learn to draw all sorts of amazing cartoon animals in action! Kangaroo rats jumping! Flic-Flac spiders cartwheeling! Mantis shrimp punching! Flying squirrels knitting! (Just kidding, they fly!)

    It’s pure zoological zaniness!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • A Tale of Two Tails

    Kids will begin by drawing tons of animals with amazing tails! Peacocks! Scorpions! Lemurs! Rattlesnakes! Hippos! (Hippos?) Yes, hippos! (Wait until you learn how they use their tails. It’s gross.)

    Then they'll draw in their own creative stories!

    (Again, you have to sign up if for no other reason than that hippo thing. Ugh!)

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Legend of the Lost Toon

    Kids will learn to flex their cartoon creativity and draw their own:

    • Mysterious mummies
    • Dangerous dinosaurs
    • Terrific treasures

    Then watch as their creations are “dug up” live on the big screen!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Secret Spies, Goofy Gadgets

    Meet Agent 327 and help him create secret spy gadgets for his next mission. Laser watches! Flying cars! Secret code glasses! Anti-gravity socks! And anything else you can come up with!

    Oh no! I’ve been discovered! Run! And sign up now!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Lunar Cartooners

    Kids will travel to the distant reaches of outer space and draw their own:

    • Bizarre blobs!
    • Triangular terrors!
    • Mysterious mustaches?!

    Then watch as their creations are “dug up” live on the big screen!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Draw Your Own Adventure!

    You decide what, where, and who happens next! Oozing blob or skeleton? Creepy cave or jungle? Dance party or staring contest? We’ll draw based completely on your suggestions!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Bizarre Bugs & Irregular Insects

    Kids will play all sort of fun drawing games and create their own creepy crawlies!

    A bug with as many eyes are you are years old! An insect made entirely of the letter Q! The laughable little brother longlegs!

    Even if you don’t like bugs, you’ll love drawing these!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-6
  • Draw Your Own Coloring Book

    Students will follow along step by step as we create fun coloring book pages. Tropical fish, outer space, flowers, superheroes, and more!

    Then kids will color them any way they want! (Make sure to have some crayons, markers, or colored pencils nearby,)

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-6
  • Creative Cartooning

    In this fun, hands-on program, participants will learn how to:

    • Draw expressive cartoon faces
    • Sketch bodies in motion
    • Write jokes for cartoons
    • Use symbols to express ideas
    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: 4-6
  • Cartoon Confidential

    Learn about the life of a professional cartoonist. Draw along or just listen as Anderson exposes:

    • His mysterious path to a cartoon career
    • The undisclosed process of writing captions
    • Classified information on drawing
    • Tons of hilarious cartoons
    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: Adult
  • Seasonal Classes

  • Cartoon Monsters

    A total creative bonanza! Students will draw tons of crazy, unbelievable monsters. Weird blobby monsters! Scary pointy monsters! Funny hat-wearing monsters! And at the end, kids get to see their monsters come alive on the big screen and sneak up on poor unsuspecting Fuzzy Bunny!

    Not just for Halloween!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-6
  • Draw Your Own Haunted House

    Do you like your cartoons a little bit spooky? Then this is the class for you!

    Students will tell the cartoonist where to go, what will happen, what to do, and draw along! Will there be werewolves? Maybe. Vampires? Possibly. Frankensteins? Who can say…

    Toon in and find out. (Insert spooky laugh here.)

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-6
  • Weird World of Monsters

    Sure, we all know about vampires, werewolves, mummies, but those are old hat.

    In this silly spooky class, kids will learn to draw weird monsters from around the world! The Drop Bear! The Bunyip! The Ningen! And the Grootslang! You will not want to miss this!!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-8
  • Turkey Toons & Funny Foods

    A funny feast just in time for Thanksgiving!

    Students will draw their favorite foods in hilarious situations! Turkey-zilla! Stuffed stuffing! And mashed potatoes... IN SPAAAACE!

    Students will gobble this drawing class up. (Please note, class is not edible.)

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-6
  • Wide World of Wacky Winter Sports

    Young cartoonists will draw all sorts of silly winter sports!

    Snowman bobsled! Reindeer ski jump! Turtle slow-skating! And the freestyle snowball fight!

    See you there, sports fans!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-6
  • Do You Want to Draw a Snowman?

    There's snow time like winter to take a cartooning class!

    Kids will draw Picasso snowmen, snow animals, snow vacations, and snow much more!

    It's a winter wonderland of creativity! Snow kidding! (OK, that's it for the snow puns. Sorry.)

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-6
  • What Else Did the Groundhog See?

    We know he looks for his shadow one day a year, but what else does he see the rest of the month?! A super silly goofy grab bag that will leave you giggling!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-6
  • My Silly Summer

    Participants will draw all sort of traditional summer stuff - BBQs, swimming, baseball - and then add a weird twist!

    Grilled underwear?! A nacho cheese water slide?! A giant robo-space-lizard playing shortstop?!

    Don’t miss this creative celebration!

    • Length: 45-60 Minutes
    • Grades: K-6

Testimonials

  • The participants had a great time and learned a lot from Mark, but equally important was Mark’s ability to handle the kids. Not everyone who presents a program knows how to manage kids.

    Deidre Winterhalter

    Niles Public Library

  • Every student was engaged in the experience. They were so impressed with their drawings! Mr. Anderson taught them to draw each character step by step. I would recommend this to any school, club, or program!

    Karen Coffinbargar

    Fullerton Elementary School

  • It was wonderful to see the kids who usually are reluctant to make their presence known become engaged, and even enthusiastic without realizing it. They were having fun, connecting with the activity and the group, and learning about cartooning all the while.

    Jean Jansen

    Villa Park Public Library

Contact Me

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