Amazon.com

Jewel and Gem Goop. Make-it-Yourself Stickers. Tornado in a Bottle. Funny Putty. Fruity Lip Gloss. Magic Muck. Snow Globe. Scratch& Sniff Watercolors. Believe it or not, it's possible--easy, infact!--to make every one of these "wacky, wild, and crazy concoctions" (and 57 more) using common household ingredients. John E. Thomas and Danita Pagel have pulled together the cream of the crop of potions, clays, and all-around weird swills for the pleasure of children and scientists of all ages. Why not introduce the very youngest artist of the house tothe world of art with Puddin' Paint? Is there a geologist in the house?Make an Instant Volcano--begins with a fizz, then erupts in a bubblingflow of lava. Time for a bath? Try Bathtub Finger Paints--bathers andthe tub will get clean at the same time! These truly amazingconcoctions are not mess-free, but they guarantee hours of absorbed,lively, creative fun, and inspiration for a lifetime of imaginativeendeavors. Brief scientific explanations would have been a welcomeaddition, but maybe young readers will be motivated to explore thechemical, physical, and geological origins of these experiments ontheir own. Adult supervision is recommended for all projects. (Ages 5and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (45)

FUN & CHEAP! ITS THE BEST!!
When I first opened this book I could tell why it was the #1 selling arts & craft book. The projects duplicate toys you would usally buy in the store at a fraction of the price. I found almost all of the ingredients in my kitchen. Other ingredients I didn't have like Kool Aid could be purchased for very little money at the grocery store. I must confess, I don't usally get excited over arts & craft type books, but "The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions" is not only the best art & Craft book I have ever seen it is also one of the most exciting & refreshing children's books I have ever seen. I recently saw the authors on the Discovery Channel, they seem regular pto really be having fun. Hope someday they get a show of their own.

Great Green Gobs of Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts!
Why does my kitchen look like Dexter's Laboratory? Because my 8 year old loves to cook up his own 'recipes', mixing and zapping all kinds of concoctions.

When I saw this book, I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did! It helps to keep the experiments in-line. There are almost 70 easy, cheap, interesting recipes in this book.

The author cautions that adult supervision is needed - definitely true since although the ingredients are pretty much common to the household, they include some that are messy to handle and sometimes a stove or glue guns are used.

We leave our book on the kitchen table, and before running an experiment, my son checks to see if we have the ingredients. Food coloring, corn starch, white glue, funnels, rock salt, water are scattered throughout the book (the only addition I'd make to this book would be a checklist of common ingredients, to add to my grocery shopping list!)

A favorite for the little kids (under 7) is the shaving soap/food coloring/egg carton/paint brush in the bathtub combination. Instant watercolors, with just 2 ingredients (water and food coloring) is also popular or instant finger paints, with liquid starch, powdered paint and freezer paper.

For older kids, jewels and gems can be made of white glue, the ever-present food coloring, and rock salt and given as gifts. They can make their own stickers with water and gelatin, or use coffee grinds, flour and a few other very ordinary things and make Treasure Stones, to hide gems or secret messages in, and give to friends (or teachers, or family).

Clean up and prep for most of these are easy enough a child could do it! (As I tell my son). The index in the back separate concoctions by type (Toys; Paints; Dough's; Edible Concoctions; Putty, Clay, Pastes; Other).

This is a collection of shared recipes, so there will be some you already have. But there are 70! (So unless you're a homeschooler or a teacher, there have to be some new ones).

All the recipes are in one place, and the directions are easy enough for a child (6 and up) to read.

We aren't even halfway through, but we love this so much, we ordered Book Two. Recommended for entertainment, education, gift giving, too!

Cheaper Than PBS
I just saw this Kid Concoctions book on PBS for a $150 donation. Thanks Amazon for saving me a ton of money! Great arts, craft & science project for kids of all ages.

I Luv it!
My favorite book of all time! This book has been a real lifesaver for last minute science projects and scout projects. I can't to see the next book!

Exciting Science Based Book!
Wow! Without question the best science based book on the market, nothing else has ever come close. The fact that this book has won all of the top awards in the publishing industry, including the Parents' Choice Award and Dr. Toy Award, says alot to me as an educator. The person who wrote that this book is not challenging or exciting is NUTS! I wonder if they have ever seen Kid Concoctions on TV, it is the most exciting thing I have ever seen for kids! If they wanted a book for older kids try "Kid Concoctions & Contraptions". ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Fun book
This book was written for younger readers, but I will find it very useful for my rubberstamping projects. I was glad to find easy to follow instructions for many kinds of books all in one book. Now I won't have to search through my magazines and printouts to find instructions for a project.

The books are fun and easy to do, but the results are impressive.

A kid again
While this book is written for young people, these projects can easily translate into adult projects. The book includes some fundamental book making but also takes you, step-by-step, to more complex design, stitchery and concepts as you go from chapter to chapter. The coptic stitch is woven into pages 28-30 so subtly that you may not immediately realize its intricacy. What is fascinating about Books that Fly is its imagination and introduction to the wonder of books. It takes the reader on a magic tour of books.

great!!!
What a wonderful book! It brings alot to the imagination and really helps children learn to make their own books. It really helps bring a book to life and helps children understand that books do not always have to be paper with words written on them.

Great for creative kids
I bought this book for my daughter for Christmas. She is 10 years old and is forever making construction paper books (I have them all over my house).
From looking through this book, I know that she is going to love making all the projects that are listed in this book. I am sure that I will have a lot more books around my house but at least this will be creatively designed by my daughter!!

I'm giving this to my nephew
Unfortunately, the initial part of this book's title (Books for Kids to Make) isn't something amazon.com shows well so I was expecting something geared to a different audience. Something to 'accessorize' Cover-to-Cover (the supreme bookmaker's book!). This book does a good job of making the craft of book making accessible to children.....so I'll be sharing this with my artistic nephew instead. I could see this also as being useful to a teacher in the lower grades....but it doesn't discuss anything new and exciting for those already immersed in bookmaking. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Little Hands
This is a very useful book for a parent who wants to work along her child. Activities are well explained and organized by supplies needed, so you won't have to browse through all the pages to find something appropriate for the supplies you have at home. Also, though not clearly stated, there are holiday activities. Older children, especially those younger than nine, will find this book useful. And, they should be able to follow thw instructions with very little help, if any.

More Crafts than Art. found here.
As an artist and parent who now teaches art to young children, I think this book has some cute craft ideas but is not the best introduction to art for children. I prefer Scribble Art by Mary Ann Kohl - it has a similar easy-to-read format with projects that can be adapted to almost any age, but Scribble Art involves more open-ended projects that allow for creativity and self-expression. Little Hands is more results oriented - for instance, if you want to make a quick turtle using a plastic bowl, this book will show you how. Many of projects involve a specific end result - a representational image of a pumpkin or porcupine. Granted, there are times for this; however, I prefer an approach to allows children to create their own subject matter, or explore freely within a given material or technique.

Excellent book for daycare providers or at-home moms!
This book not only provides awesome project ideas, but also shows how to make it simpler or more complex based on age AND provides other ideas and/or book suggestions to go along with the project. It takes a the idea of doing a project with your littles ones to a whole new level. An excellent source for daycare providers, stay-at-home moms, and home schoolers!

By far the best home arts & crafts book for preschoolers
After being disappointed repeatedly by other books of this type, I was lucky enough to find this one. Nothing compares with it in terms of simplicity, creative fun, easy instructions, excellent illustrations, availability of materials at home, variety. My 3 and 4-year olds' favorite afternoon activity is to flip thru the pages and pick out a project - and they are always delighted by the results. My favorite gift to other mothers of preschoolers. Only one word of advise - the clay recipes are not the best - in particular the play dough one - but it's common enough to find elsewhere. If you're going to buy one book in this category, I couldn't recommend this one more. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Best Instruction Book I've ever read
This is a beautifully illustrated instruction book for beginners of all ages. The author wrote a simple poem for kids to say as they learn to knit. The poem was a real hit with my 8 year old who learned easily because of the poem.

The best part of this text are the pictures of children of both genders having fun with knitting projects. For anyone with young ones learning the craft of knitting, the instructions for all the projects are simple, creative, and easy to follow. This is one of those "must have" books if you are interested in teaching someone to knit because they fidget or just want to be creative.

I bought this book to teach my daughter to knit
... The instructions are clear and concise - very easy for any age to understand... The photos throughout the book are very colorful. Seeing the pictures of the kids knitting motivates...

There are many projects, which are very cute. Most of the projects can be done in a short period of time, which is great for kids who can't wait. The projects in the book use the basic garter stitch then teaches how to combine knit and purl stitches into several stitch combinations. The book even teaches how to read a pattern. This was a great help to me since I knew how to knit and purl, but never combined them.

I have shown this book to many friends, and everyone has loved it. The yarns look beautiful, and the projects are do-able. We are really excited to start knitting!

For Beginners, Kids or Adult
While it is certainly easier to learn to knit from a live person, this book is the next best thing. With clear pictures and directions, this book takes you from the tools through how to knit a whole sweater.
Along the way, there are lots of projects designed to practice specific skills: knit, purl, weaving, increasing, ribbing, and so on. This means that, instead of practicing for a long time before you begin your sweater, you can make a bean bag, a hat, a scarf, a back pack, and much more while practicing. At the end, you will be ready to succeed with the simple sweater pattern. Since the pattern goes up to 46" at the chest, many adults will be able to make and enjoy this sweater, too.
My personal favorite pattern in this book is the spiral sock. This pattern makes great slippers, while giving plenty of practice in decreasing. The swatch scarf lets you practice different stitch patterns and use the results in a whimsical scarf. There is even a felting project. All the patterns are given in plain English, but there is a page at the back which explains knitter-ese like "psso". Naturally, all the patterns are simple, but they are designed with beautiful yarns which will give nice results. A beginning knitter who makes several patterns from this book will be ready to go on to grownup patterns!

Great Projects & Easy to Follow
This book is beautiful. The projects are fun and the directions are easy to follow. This is the book I learned with as an adult. The projects are great for both kids and adults.

I HATE IT!!!!!!!!
Okay, So I picked this book up and bought it, thinking it could teach me to knit. Th intructions make it seem very challenging!!!!!! I don't reccomend this book to anyone. ... Read more

Book Description

Distilling the innovation, science, and enthusiasm of their first book-The World Record Paper Airplane Book-world record holder Ken Blackburn and mechanical engineer Jeff Lammers present The Kids' Paper Airplane Book.br>Written and designed for younger paper pilots, it has simpler planes with brighter, bolder graphics; games, activities, and fun aviation facts (the "A=Alpha, B=Bravo" pilots' alphabet, for example); and everything kids need to fold and fly. They will learn how to design their own planes, do stunts, and build a 3-D airport with stuff found around the house, and they'll discover that the largest aircraft ever flown wasn't a plane at all. There are 16 models and 76 full-color planes in all, a full-color poster of an airport, a pilot's license and flight log, and a field guide to common aircraft.

But the irresistible attraction, as in the grown-up version, are the planes themselves: The Count, The Dragon, The Manta Ray, The Slice, The Aerobat, the Saturn Rocket. Plus the chance to be the next world record holder.

Selection of the Doubleday Kids' Club. Suitable for ages 5 and up. 360,000 copies in print. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The best flying airplanes in the world
The book had a lot of good airplanes that fly really well. I can't decide which one I like best. The instructions were fairly easy to follow. The book is so good, you should buy it to see the astonished look on your child's face.

Fantastic
I highly recommend this book.We bought this for our twin sons when they were 5, and then another copy to use as party favors when they turned 6.Now they need a third copy.Its great!Spend a few minutes with your kids, teach them to fold paper, and they will have a ball for hours.

great fun; easy to use
I don't have a lot of patience or talent for putting things together.I bought this for my son when he was 5 and he loved it so much I bought it again when he was 6.The pages are just torn out and folded together easily and they fly great!My kids have had so much fun playing with these airplanes.This time around I'm going to try "World Record Paper Airplanes", but the "Kid's Paper Airplanes" was a big hit for us.

Cool
Bought this for my 10 year old.It is so cool.It is easy to use and provides lots of fun.I would highly recommend it.

Must have for children
My son is six and very interested in paper airplanes.The books we have checked out from the library are advanced and hard to follow. This book gives you the pattern complete with dotted lines for folding.We made four in under thirty minutes and they all flew!This is a great book for kids and adults with no mechanical knowledge or patience! ... Read more

Book Description

All over the country, kids are picking up knitting needles and wildly colorful yarns to make really cool clothes and other fabulous stuff--from cozy chenille scarves to snuggly shawls, funky rag bags to furry tank tops, whimsical brimmed hats to classy cardigans. Whether on their own or together with friends in after-school clubs, recreation centers, or even yarn shops, these kids are discovering that knitting is more than learning basic stitches and following pattern directions.

Knitting is a way to get exactly what they want to own, and it is also a fun way to relax and hang out, a way to surprise a friend with a handmade sweet sixteen present, a way to discover the creative "me" in themselves.

Teen Knitting Club shows them how they can do it all--from learning the basics to forming knitting clubs of their own. Firsthand stories and tips from scores of teens both advise and encourage teens, while lively four-color photographs of their handiwork show what can be done with just a little practice.

Cool kids everywhere will be saying, "Move over, Grandma," and joining in this creative and rewarding pastime. ... Read more

Book Description

Travel the Globe with These Fun and Easy Projects!

There's nothing like the thrill of finding out about faraway places. Now you can meet the people and share the customs of different countries by creating some of the things that keep their cultures alive.

You'll make a bookmark with a Guatemalan design using a cardboard loom, or an Egyptian bead necklace using dough or store-bought clay. Learn how prehistoric people told stories by making your own version of a cave painting, or make a good-luck charm in the form of a Tibetan goodwill message flag. Kids Around the World Create! is full of fun crafts and activities that will teach you about the customs of cultures around the world.

Every country has something special to offer, and all the activities in this book help you enjoy and explore this diversity. All the crafts are easy to do and the supplies are made up of simple household materials. Have fun as you journey to distant and exciting lands! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fabulous book for kids!
This is an outstanding book for kids and helps them learn a lot about different world cultures. The activities are fun and creative - I haven't seen a book like this in a long time. The 'good will message flag' activity from Tibet sends a wonderful message and is fun to make. In addition to the activities the author provides plenty of cultural information that kids and adults will find facinating. This book will be enjoyed by teachers, parents and kids from around the world. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Meets expectations
Considering what we paid for this book, it meets our expectations. A bit difficult for a 8yr old. But helps to increase awareness about electricity amoung childrens.

Nicely illustrated instructions, Little else
I was anxious to get this book for my son who is a precocious builder. However, I was disappointed to see that the gadgets you can build were not described at the beginning of the instuctions. The gadget is named, then the building instructions begin. There is no description of what the gadget does, or how it works.

I was pleased to see that most of the items need to make the projects are easy to find, since my son already experiments with electricity. However, starting from scratch will mean a trip to the electronics store for most people.

Good for young inventors
This is a great book for a simple introduction to electronic gadget building. My son is always building and designing and this is giving him a way to do it with electronics.

Sorry, didn't like it.
The things in this book just didn't work for us. The gadgets look great in the book and my son was really excited to make them. But when the battery pack (which is the prerequisite for most of the other projects) didn't work, we started shopping around for another book.

lots of fun
I like it. It's a pretty tough book. I'm eight years old and I've been able to make almost everything in the book on my own. There's a supply list in the front and we've found most things at Radio Shack. The instructions are kind of easy to follow. It's hard work, but it's worth it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Simply the best!
For ten years, I've been painting faces for carnivals, parties, Halloween - you name it - this book can take rank beginners and allow them to paint very professional looking faces. The instructions are easy to follow, and elaborate on multiple techniques, including sponging and using different brush tips to achieve different effects. I highly recommend it - a word of caution- use only high quality face paints as they cover and blend better than the cheapos! Enjoy!

Face Painting (Hotshots Series)
This is a nice, compact, book on face painting. It briefly covers materials, equipment, and technique before showing you a nice variety of face-painting ideas. The directions for achieving each look, while not detailed, are sufficient to create the desired effect. Wonderful for Halloween ideas. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the creators of the wildly popular book, The Ultimate Book of KidConcoctions comes a second inventive collection of wild potions andcrazy crafts--all easily and inexpensively made from common household items.Kids should have a ball creating such wonders as an edible ocean (gummy fishsuspended in Jell-O) or a greenhouse grown in a plastic bag. Among the 78recipes are instructions for making such revolutionary new artistic mediums aswhipped cream finger paint, dryer lint clay, and toothpaste putty. Quite a fewof the concoctions are edible--chocolate bowls and fruity leather roll-ups soundparticularly delicious--while others make great party activities or simplegifts. Almost all the concoctions make a perfect diversion for a bored child ona rainy afternoon. The simple, well-organized instructions make the book easyfor kids ages 8 and up to use, though the authors call for adult supervision onall recipes. This is the kind of craft book that's bound to become a familyfavorite--in time, its large-format black and white pages should be covered withthe residue of many hours of messy fun. (Ages 8 to 12) --Marianne Painter ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Better than the original!
What a surprise! More innovate and creative than the first book. My kids are having a real blast tonight making the Splongee Flyers! A++

BETTER THAN THE 1st!!
What a surprise! The second book is better than the first. Jammed full of fresh new innovative ideas. I have been a crafter for over 37 years and thought I had seen it all. I guess I was wrong. My grandchildren love it!

Not as "different" as I had hoped but still good.
I was hoping for some really different ideas. Some were but others were common knowledge ideas. All in all, I don't really regret the purchase.

Great Book Series!
Kid Concoctions is our children's favorite book series. The second book is even fresher and more original than the first. We hope Book #3 isn't too far ahead in the future. Keep those concoctions coming!

Wow! Its Better Than The First Book!
Its very rare to find a book series where the second in the series is better than the first. But thats not the case with the new Kid Concoctions book. "The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions #2" was a hit the first time my children and I opened the book. Almost all of the projects are made from 3-4 common household ingredients. The projects seem to be even more original and innovative than the projects in the first book! Hats off to the authors for making a book that lives up to its name and out shines the original. A must have book for any parent or grandparent. ... Read more

Book Description

Here, for the first time, is your very own collection of paper dolls inspired by the classic Little House books. Inside this book you'll find Laura, Mary, Baby Carrie, Ma, Pa, and their faithful bulldog, Jack. From helping Ma gather food in the garden to watching Pa play his fiddle, now you, too, can be a part of Laura and Mary's happy days in the Little House in the Big Woods.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Little Girl Play Day
The Big Woods Collection of My Book of Little House Paper Dolls is a charming and endearing set of paper dolls and props. You can either be inside the log cabin or outdoors in view of it. Either way, it will provide an afternoon of delight for any little girl ... Read more

Reviews (3)

More than a kids' "busybook"
The craft instructions in this book are indeed easy, fun, cheap to do (etc) for kids. But the best part was the discussion in the back of the book on appropriate levels of creative projects for kids of different ages. It clearly outlined what attention span and dexterity level you should expect from kids of different ages. And it had useful advice for adults on how to make the project fun for kids; not just push the child to produce an "aesthetically ideal" finished project. That unanticipated inclusion in the book made it really stand out for me.

A wonderful anthology of craft ideas for kids of all ages!
Kids Create! is an excellent collection that uses various mediums and can apply to children with varied artistic ability. I am a 6th grade art teacher, and I purchased the book after borrowing it from the library. There are too many wonderful ideas to let it slip away! My students especially love Carlson's collection of sculpting projects.

Simple crafts - using readily available supplies
Very useful book for those responsible for keeping young children interested and involved with handicaft projects. Supplies are readily alvailable and at nominal cost. Instructons are clear and uncomplicated. ... Read more

Book Description

Kristin Nicholas knows kids, and she knows crafts. In Kids' Embroidery, she shows kids of all ages how to make 15 fun, colorful projects, including bags, pillows, lampshades, journal covers, scarves, pins, and patches.

Written for children of reading age and older, Kids' Embroidery presents the basics of needlepoint, cross-stitch, and freeform embroidery with clear, step-by-step instructions and bright, hand-painted illustrations. Intriguing sidebars explore such subjects as embroidery traditions around the world; how to host an embroidery party; and fancy stitches that can add an individual touch to almost any piece of clothing. John Gruen's crisp photographs of boys and girls happily crafting complete the upbeat, confidence-building tone of this delightful title.

Share Kids' Embroidery with young stitchers and, before you know it, they'll be chanting-with happiness and pride-"I made this all by myself!" AUTHOR BIO: KRISTIN NICHOLAS is the coauthor and illustrator of Knitting for Baby (STC). She is the former creative director of Classic Elite Yarns, and her crafts have been featured in many magazines and newspapers, including House and Garden, Country Home, and the Boston Globe.

JOHN GRUEN is a lifestyle photographer whose work has appeared in Martha Stewart Living, Country Home, Country Living, House & Garden, Food & Wine, and Parenting magazines. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and son. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Pumped Up!
It's more than a book. It's more than a toy. It's a glimpse of our world at play. The inclusion of stunning photographs, from cultures and places that most readers have never visited, qualifies this as a "coffee table" book. We have all seen clowns who manipulate balloons into the shapes of dogs or other animals. But, hats? The authors of this book traveled around the world making "crowns" out of balloons, and photographing the people wearing them. Illustrated, step-by-step instructions are given that allow any person with a little creativity to make some fantastic designs. The Balloon Hat Kit provides hours of entertainment for ages 9 to 90. Readers are encouraged to participate in the art of making balloon hats because 30 balloons and a pump are included in the kit. The "Seven Reasons to Make Balloon Hats" will win over even the most doubtful. What I like most about this book is its promotion of the concept that all people of the world are more alike than different. The photos prove that the authors achieved their goal of uniting people across the global through laughter and a sense of fun.

Great
Hi all. You wouldn't believe this, I've met these people! At an Art camp. They came and showed us dozens and dozens of pictures likt the one in Thailand with a flower. It was a couple years back and they had planned to buy a book for us when it came back. They said they are going to go on Jay Leno and Rosie O'donnel. Well, I just got the book and I am advancing in balloon art. From crazy hats to a pup dog. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone! All ages!

Downright fun!
This is a great gift for any age. I got this book and kit for my 44th Birthday and did I have a ball with it. The book itself is beautifully photographed. It is amazing to see where the authors went and who they shared their wonderful, creative talents with. Even if you don't want to make balloon hats the book is a coffee table must. The kit part is loads of fun. The directions are easy to understand and within minutes we were making wonderful, goofy, silly hats, including my 5 year old son and his friends. A gift that will bring lightheartedness and lots of laughter and fun to all. I suggest buying extra balloons, once you get started you won't want to stop.

Great for beginers
This book has all the basics. What you learn in this book will help you make any kind of balloon hat you can think of!

The Inflatable Crown Balloon Hat Kit
I've order several balloon book but this is the best! The colorful balloon pictures are magnificant and the instructions are easy to follow. What really stands out in this book is how they have traveled all around the world to bring smiles to people faces with their creativate balloon hats that they have made. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Easy Art for Anyone
Easy discovery art for everyone, no matter what age. This book has been around for awhile, but the ideas are still classics.

THE book to get for the child artists in your life.
All of Mary Ann Kohl's art books are great, but if you have to start with just one, I would get this one. In fact, if you are teaching art to young children or working with your own child artists at home, this would be an ideal book to start with. Why? It covers all the mediums: drawing, painting, assemblage, printmaking, collage, sculpture and crafts. It contains open-ended projects that are suitable for almost any age. The projects allow children to explore materials and techniques and come up with their own ideas. Each page includes one project and is illustrated with line drawings. Each project is coded to show at a glance how much time/preparation is needed, what age/experience level the project is appropriate for, and so forth. My only complaint is that some of the projects call for the use of liquid starch which I have not been able to find (only spray starch and powder starch) - so I substitute watered down glue, which works. I teach art, am an art school graduate and a parent, and I have quite a few books on this subject, but this is the book I turn to most for ideas.

My favorite art book.
I really like this book. The ideas work every time, and the kids love them all. I don't think you need any other art idea book if you have this one.

You can do all this with crayons, glue and scissors!
There are over 100 ideas in this book for kids to create with no adult models or samples to copy. All you need are the basic art tools like scissors, crayons, glue, flour, salt, paper, tape. Try the Watercolor Salt project, if you want something amazing yet easy to win over any child to art.

Author Comments on Scribble Art
When I was teaching, these were the all-time best ideas that worked every time, with all ages. Art. Kids love it. When there is no expectation about the finished product, kids absolutely thrive in art! These ideas give them a push into paints, chalk, crayon, sculpting, or construction, and off they go. You will be amazed at the depth of joy and learning that takes place. Yes, I admit it, I love this book. Gee, I'm swell. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the best art books for children( older children too)
This book has so many terrific, easy to follow, and imaginative ideas. The eye popping illustrations help as a visual aid to see what the end result may look like.I use many of the ideas for teaching middle school students as well as elementary. A must have for any art teacher.

Wonderful Resource!
Like all the Usborne books, this book is a great tool for learning. As an elementary teacher, I bought this book just to have as a handy reference. I have also used it with my kids at home, and it is everything I learned in a semester of college art class all rolled up into this handy children's book. With all my experience with Usborne books, I just can't get enough of them. For more information on Usborne books, visit ...

must have for elementary teachers, parents and creative kids
This colorful art book, is full of great ideas for elementary aged children. The projects are easy to read and recreate. The color images are inviting. The art images serve as inspriation for young artists. As an elementary teacher I plan to use this book full of easy and creative art ideas as my school years art curriculum. I am so excited to have such a wonderful children's art resource book. ... Read more

Book Description

A fully photographic how-to feast on kids' face painting.The waterbased face paints themselves come from Kryolan, manufacturers of the most-respected theatrical makeup in the world. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Love the book/paints, need more paints-where to get them?
Excellent Book and Paints.My community has many fundraisers where face painting is a huge draw. Being a local artist, I am often called to paint faces, and armed with these paints and book ideas, I can't go wrong. Problem is-I have 3 books now, & I've used up the paints, and don't know were to get more.

Great fun, great paints
When my daughter (age 4) received this book as a gift I was ready to strangle the family who gave it to her - because I was sure it would be a mess, stain making nightmare. Much to my surprise, this book soon became the hit of the family. We all use it and even take it on vacation with us. Just this summer we spent one long rainy day face painting all of the nieces and nephews - it helped keep everyone from going stir-crazy. we also set up "face painting table" at our big family reunion and created many masterpieces that day!

The paints go one easy, with great instructions, and come off with just water. It's great! My kids and I both love it. AND now we give this book as our gift of choice!

Mother's Favorite!
My nine year old daughter has spent hours creating both the faces shown in the book, plus her own creative masterpieces. We got the book with paints for her a couple of years ago and she has never tired of it! Her friends enjoy the face painting activity for playdates and I never have to worry that it won't wash off of their faces or clothes, and no one has shown any allergic reaction either. We plan on buying more of these fantastic paints for her soon. What a wonderful gift to encourage a child's imagination!

Not an artist? Doesn't matter!
A terrific introduction with reassurance for the uninitiated throughout and superb supplies.

If you are reading this then you have at least as much artistic talent as I do, and probably more. In spite of not being able to pass stick figures in kindergarten I bought this book hoping to learn to create a reasonable painted face while having something fun to do on rainy days with my 5 year old daughter.

IT WORKED! We have a blast with this and I have now painted her friends, my sister, my daughter's classmates and teachers all with great results.

If you are looking to become a professional make up artist, perhaps this is not the book for you. But if you are looking to be a hero to someone you know ages 2 to 102 this book is the ticket.

Note: the terrific kryolan face paints can be purchased separately from several web sites or perhaps even a local theater supply store if you are in a decent sized town/city... (...)

childish, but OK
If you are serious about learning about face painting and making effects, this book IS NOT FOR YOU. I found it to be childish . There isn't as many ideas either. The pictures in the book looked to be slopply done. But I do like the paints. Goes on easy and cleans up easy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good simulated art of other cultures
This is another excellent art book in the "A Williamson Kids Can! Book" series. I have several in the series, all of which have provided me many ideas for my students' art projects. I have used this particular book least however, because the projects are more complicated than the other books, and require more adult intervention, especially with younger children. It's advertised as for ages 4-8, but for children to work more independently, I recommend most projects as suitable for ages 7-13.

Materials include paper, aluminum foil, yarn, salt dough, yarn, popsicle sticks, mud, paper plates, papier mache. There are recipes included for the papier mache and salt dough. The projects represent the following cultures: Native American, Latin American, African, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese. None are very authentic, but are good simulations of arts from these cultures, and can enhance cultural studies, or be done just for fun. One project I have returned to several times because of it's ease to do, and because of its attractive artistic results is the Guatemalan Wild Cat.

Great Crafts, Great Exposure to Other Cultures
This is a wonderful book with a range of easy to more complicated crafts for children from 4-8. We have done a number of the projects in here and not only do my children enjoy them, but they get some exposure to cultures outside of their own. There are suggestions for changing the art projects to incorporate more creative impulses as well. It's the one craft book I keep returning to because the ideas are so interesting. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Science made EASY!
This book is simply great. I bought several of Jean Potter's other books so when I found her name on line, I decided to buy this one. It is everything I thougt it would be and MORE! I love art, but never thought the two mixed. This is a book for every kid, teacher and parent!

I never realized how beautiful science can be.
I had never really thought how beautiful and mysterious and colorful and delightful science could be. This book inspires me, a person who has never really liked science all that much. Now I do! And I will pass that on to my kids when we do the Chromatography Art Experiment and separate colors on absorbant paper. Can't wait!

Wonderful way to integrate science and art!
What a wonderful and unique approach to science education! This book is jammed full of one-page "art experiments." The key is to use art projects to learn some science principles. Among many of the ideas to learn are dissolving, symmetry, reflecting light, gravity and friction. The only drawback is that the book could benefit from an introduction on the inquiry-based approach to learning...From The Science Spiders(TM) Newsletter.

A great resource book for preschool teachers
Like all of Mary Ann Kohl's books, this one is easily readable, with 1 activity listed per page, including pictures of the activity. It provides a reminder that science doesn't only happen at the science table! I often make my student interns choose an activity from this book (or MathArts)as the activities are open ended, process-oriented, and explained step by step. A great resource. ... Read more