Why just draw your favorite anime character when you can "be" it? Cosplay-short for "costume play"-is sweeping the anime con scene from coast to coast, and once again we're leading the way with a pair of books for both beginning and veteran cosplayers. Each volume features: <P> transforming ordinary fabric and accessories into fabulous contest winners<BR> creating genre-specific costumes from scratch<BR> duplicating your favorite characters or inventing your very own<BR> cosplaying both for competition and just for fun<BR> accessories from shoes to makeup<BR> finding hard-to-get and imported items<BR> patterns, measurements, and sewing techniques<BR> money-saving tips and how-tos for cosplay on a budget<BR> pointers on the care and transportation of costumes<BR> resource lists, websites, where to find character models, etc<BR>. full-color photos, plans, and drawings. <P>Volume 1 covers Catgirls, a favorite of fans from "All Purpose Cultural Catgirl Nuku-Nuku" to "Hyper Police" and great for purring and prowling. Volume 2 is all about Schoolgirls (think "Sailor Moon") and how to make uniforms with just the right bouncy-skirt anime style. <P>Gerry Poulos is a longtime anime reviewer, illustrator, and photographer. He lives in Ohio.