All hail the Near-Sighted Monkey, who lurks as a muse in this inspirational volume. Lynda Barry asks, "What makes us stop drawing?" and tries to get us started again by teasing us with some very simple exercises. Barry fans will appreciate the appearance of Marlys, a favorite character, but there are new creatures and leitmotifs to meet and enjoy. By the end of this somewhat soothing tome, not only will you become quite fond of the Near-Sighted Monkey, but you will also be able to draw her.

Hardback, 204 pages. Drawn and Quarterly, 2010. $22.69 at Amazon

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