When 2D animator Ed Klein visits a library to teach a group of children and adults a few cartooning basics, he likes to set the mood with a little background music, so the sounds of an orchestra playing tunes associated with Saturday morning favorites and animated movies accompanies Klein's instructions.

Klein also likes to wear a baseball cap during his programs and to keep the presentation interactive, which he did when he worked with a crowd of more than 30 in the Perella Schoolhouse at the Intercourse Library on June 11.

Klein welcomed the group to what he called "cartooning made easy," breaking the ice by asking how many members of the class practice drawing up to six days a week. "I promise that if you put to use what I am going to show you, you'll get better and better," stated Klein, who also promised that each child present would leave with a drawing Klein had completed. Children could receive a drawing by guessing the name of the character Klein was creating on the page. Klein's first giveaway was a drawing of a dog associated with a group of four teenagers that has a knack for solving mysteries. He followed that up with an animal that hails from Tasmania and is known for zipping into scenes with the speed of a buzz saw.

Klein took time to answer questions from attendees, such as "What is one of your favorite things you've drawn as a cartoonist?" Klein replied that he has a lot of favorites, and he named a number of well-known characters, such as a very famous mouse, a cricket known for giving sage advice, and a bee used to advertise a honey-flavored cereal. Klein said that his favorite emotion to draw is happiness, and he spent some time explaining that each second of cartoon animation requires 24 drawings, which means a full minute of animation is the result of more than 1,400 drawings.

Klein then began instructing the class in a warm-up exercise that encouraged those in attendance to fill a page of paper with shapes in a variety of sizes. He stressed accuracy and practice, noting all the characters he would show them how to draw would utilize those shapes. Working step-by-step, Klein instructed the class members in creating on the paper before them the face and bow-tie of a world-famous mouse with a squeaky voice. Another character came from a cartoon set in the Stone Age, and the character - the owner of a pet dinosaur - was drawn in a three-quarter view, with the face turned to the side. Klein shared that the character's animated stories, set in a prehistoric town, run on television stations around the world 24 hours a day.

Klein, who has drawn for a number of famous animation studios, is currently working on a film about the North Star. He has illustrated jewelry, figurines, and toys, among other products, as well as working on more than 300 commercials and five full-length feature films.

Klein's visit to the library was part of the organization's Summer Reading Program activities. More information about the Intercourse Library and a schedule of upcoming events may be found at https://intercourselib.org.