Reviews (1)

Amazing book for Teachers!
This book is an incredible asset to any classroom. Thedirections are clear and concise and the full color pictures of theend result are great! I would highly recommend this book to any teacher in need of extra ideas! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

great
i have this book and letter art and i use them together to make magnets and bookmarks to sell. i even helped a friends mom write names on waterbottles for their basketball team!

All sorts of ideas for you!
I really liked this book because there's so many ideas
of how to write and design letters and paper. My favourite
chapter is Chapter 1 and 2. Chapter 1 is how to design
words, for example, for hot, use red to write the word hot
and draw fire around it. Chapter 2 teaches you how to write
Top Secret letters. There's codes, hidden messages, and
dots with letters. Other chapters are interesting too. This
book has six chapters in all. Chapter 3 is Paper Capers,
with all sorts of ways to write letters to friends. Chapter
4 is called Writing from the Road. When you are traveling,
this book teaches you interesting ways to write about your
trip to your friend or others. Chapter 5's title is Super
Stationery. You can make pretty paper and interesting
envelopes. The last chapter, Chapter 6, is called Signing
Off with Style. The author show you many ways to sign a
letter. But you'll have to read this book to see everything!

THIS SPICY BOOK
if you are one of those girls that when they're bored they like to draw, paint,invent envelopes, and find out the different kinds of I dots you can make, this book is for you. This book has an explosion of imagination and creativity I liked it vey much is HIGHLY recommended

This Book is Fantastic !
I loved this Book. Its filled with so many great ideas. It kept me entertained for hours. I would recommend this book for any one that llikes Art. I'm American But I live in Spain and I.ve introduced American Girl to all my Spainish Friends And they liked this American Girl book the most. You will not regret getting this book.

This Book Changed My Life
If you want you child to write more and not complain about it, this book is for you. Don't miss it! A fun and engaging journey for any child (and certainly this adult!). The ingenuity behind making writing fun for children is outstanding. Kudos Laura and Valerie! ... Read more

Book Description

Pokemon fans can create 3-D versions of their favorite creatures with the second edition of Viz's colorful origami kit. Preprinted paper and easy-to-follow instructions allow kids to fold their own Pokemon in minutes. With this complete kit kids can create Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Eevee, and Zubat, along with other creatures they dream up themselves. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good introduction to origami
Same review as Pokemon Origami 1, only the characters are different.

This book has pokemon characters printed on, usually two, with a slightly different look usually with the eyes. You tear out the paper, cut and fold it. The paper is not quite square the the picture is not exact. A lot adjusting to fit the colours is required. There is a lot of cutting involved but the folding is very simple. The final shape is very simple too and not easily recognisable if there is no picture of the pokemon on it. The picture can be just a face or full and need mounting on a flat surface for it to look good since generally it cannot stand. Recommended as an introduction to origami for children who likes pokemons.

Note that generally it cannot stand as a 3D origami despite the Amazon's book description.

Pokemon Origami 2 is better than the first one!
I bought this for a friend of mine, and let me tell you, that if you love origami and pokemon, then this is the book for you... Since this book is made for younger children, almost anybody can use it! Trust me if you buy this book, you'll enjoy hours of the high quality japanese paper folding! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Not worth the [money] spent!!!
I like to check out the reviews on books before I buy since there is no way to actually thumb through the book and see for yourself if it is what you want. Most of the time this has done fine for me and I have enjoyed what I purchased. Not this time. For the life of me I can't figure out why anyone would give this book any more than 1-2 stars...5 stars is just absurd!!! Looking through the pages of this book all I could think of was, "you've got to be kidding me!" So there goes another [amount of money]out the window. I guess if you know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about hairbraiding and you can't find a friend to show you the BASICS then you might find something here. I mean they "teach" you how to create a PONYTAIL...is there anyone on the planet that doesn't know how to do a ponytail? Honestly? I was looking for a book that would offer some variety. I have two small daughters one starting school next year and I wanted to be able to do somthing with their hair other than a pony tail, pig tails, or a basic french braid. So, I bought this book on Braids...what a mistake. I will go to the book store next time so that I can look through the pages! I wanted to give this book 1 star, but I changed my mind due to the fact that there are a couple pages on how to make scrunchies and barretts and the end of the book. So one star for basic french braiding for someone who is an absolute beginner and one star for the barretts section. Again, this was not something I was interested in, and also something I think most people can figure out fairly easily on their own, but none the less I decided to give this book 2 stars...which is being VERY, VERY generous on my part! If you are looking for a book to give you some ideas on styling hair I highly suggest you look elsewhere. Happy book hunting - I hope this helps someone out there.

Great Quick Ideas for School Hair Styles
Lots of easy ideas for quickly getting your kids' hair ready (from K-12 and beyond!). And some projects for them to craft, too. My daughter likes the clear pictures, which means she can quickly flip through it and say, "I want my hair like this today." None of the styles take more than a few minutes to do, but they look nice. These are not very complex (no 4-strand braiding, here), but hold up well through the day.

Excellent for men too!
I am a male with long hair, and I found this book to be most helpful in giving me direction how to french braid my hair, and do cute styles with a barrette. I would recomend it to any males with long hair!! ... Read more

Book Description

What could be more different than the icy arctic landscape and the hot blast of a glass furnace? James Houston, explorer, artist, and writer, draws the inspiring connection in this fascinating introduction to one of the world’s most ancient – and most beautiful – arts.

During the years that James Houston lived in the Arctic, he was above all impressed by the resourceful people. But he also fell in love with the rugged treeless land, the winter moonlight shining off the snow and ice, the majestic ever-changing shapes and great sighing of new-formed ice.

When asked to design glass sculptures for Steuben, he, with some misgivings, left his isolated arctic home to move to the heat of a crowded New York summer. As he learned the art of glass sculpture, he found an affinity with life in the Far North. After all, glass is a liquid that hardens, much like ice. The jagged shapes reflect the arctic landscape. Glass making depends on small teams of cooperative craftspeople, much like the Inuit families as they hunt and create their art together.

This very personal story is a stunning introduction to glass making, and to an extraordinary individual. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Not as fun as it seems
When I first heard of this title I thought it had the complete "How To" write or read hieroglyphs, but they were only stamps. There is a small book included but not what I expected.

Great
This "book" has a mini book inside with cool activities, an awesome stamp pad to make things funner and on the inside cover a full list of hieroglyphs, their sounds, their meanings, etc. This is a great book if you want to teach your kids hieroglyphs becuase Its fun, easy and very interesting.

Fun With Hieroglyphys
As a homeschooler we really enjoyed the "hands on" approach that this book with ink and stamps gave us. It was great fun and it helped us to understand the first written language a whole lot more.

I like it!
Good

This is a book and a stamp pad!!!!!
This set was awesome. I love to read the book and then use the stampers to spell out the cool stuff I learn. All my friends at the tattoo parlor absolutely love it and they use it to make original designs for tattoos. I highly recommend it!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lots of ideas for projects....
I found this book very helpful when planning preschool art classes with plenty of paper bags available. Paper bags are cheap and recycle-friendly, which makes them ideal for class projects. This book has lots of fun ideas for making art and crafts projects, such as maraccas and wreaths. I think the ideas can be adapted for children of almost any age, 2 and up (for 2-year-olds, an adult can form the base, such as a wreath, from a paper bag and let the child decorate it with glued on things or paint...) I have picked it up from the library more than once and am considering buying a copy for my refernce shelf. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Imagination Realized!
My child writes stories and poetry every day. This kit offers the next best thing to realizing a child's dream to be published. Included are all the materials needed to create your own beautiful hardcover book complete with slipcover. An easy to follow instructional guide and history of bookmaking is included. My daughter's finished product has even been on display in her classroom and school library! ... Read more

Book Description

If you love Battle Bots and would like to make your own table-top fighting robots then this is the book for you. Cyber Sid, your robo-guide shows simple step-by-step instructions on how to make five brilliant battling bots from household junk. Spray them in metallic paints and add customised stickers (included with the book) for stunning results. There are also rules and instructions for challenges and games you can play plus technical details on how to add motors, buzzers and lights in the Electra-Extra section. 32 pages of riveting fun for all budding roboteers. As Cyber Sid himself would say... A pile of junk...some odds and ends...You've got the basic parts. Now set to work and make them fit...That's when the real fun starts ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great children's author and teacher....
Kelly loves children, Kelly knows writing, and it shows in her latest work. The craft ideas featured here are creative, and the wording of the book will appeal to younger children. It'd be a good idea to jump on this book now, as I genuinely believe Kelly Milner Halls is going to end up being nationally recognized as one of the most gifted children's authors around. ... Read more

Book Description

Kids are discovering that sewing is the rage! With just a little instruction, they learn how easy and how much fun it is to make and customize their own things. It’s also a great way to create styles that fit their personality and show their individuality. Step-by-step instructions guide them through basic stitching techniques, and easy-to-follow diagrams demonstrate the more complex embroidery and appliqué skills that they’ll master in the process of creating many of the book’s items. Sixteen separate projects include —

Reviews (1)

Simply Fabulous Sewing For Beginners
I got this book as a learning/teaching book for my 5 year old daughter and myself.Every project is simple, but still interesting, like a drawstring t-shirt skirt, pj pants, and cosmetic bag, to name a few.There are no patterns for tops, but perhaps simple top patterns will be included in a later version. Well written (with both metric and inches noted), with plenty of illustrations in a clean format make this book a great self-learning book for a pre-teen as well as novice sewing moms.The book also shows hand-sewing stitches and explains that all projects can be hand-sewn, but will take a little longer.There is basic information regarding the sewing machine, which includes tension, types of stitches, and components. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There are few heirlooms more treasured, or useful, than a handmade quilt. At its best, a fine quilt is a visual feast of color and pattern, not to mention an all-around great thing to wrap up in on a cold day. Ann Whitford Paul aims to inspire a new generation of quilting artists with her book The Seasons Sewn, which is one part pattern book and one part storybook. Taking the name of 24 classic quilt patterns as a starting point, she has fashioned stories that explain how the names might have come about. Each story is accompanied by photographs of the pattern and an illustration of Paul's story. The illustrations, by Michael McCurdy, are a triumph. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Seasons Sewn
This is an unusually handsome children's book with exquisite illustrations depicting life in the nineteenth century throughout the four seasons.

The author does a very good job in describing the trials, traditions andevents of this time period while explaining the origins of 24 differentquilt block patterns.It is a beautiful and informative book.

I wouldhave to disagree with the rating of this book at a reading level of ages4-8.It would indeed be a precocious 4 year old that would be able to sitand listen to this book much less read it themselves.It does not have a"story book" kind of story line but is full of interestinginformation and stunning illustrations for 2nd through 4th graders. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A very helpful knitting guide for beginners.
The Usborne Guide for Knitters may be marketed for young adults, but I strongly recommend it for adults as well.The book covers the basics in knitting in a clear and concise fashion--moreover, there are wonderful,colorful illustrations of each technique.These illustrations really makethe difference for visual learners like myself.If you'd like to learn howto knit using a well organized andinformative book, the Usborne Guide toKnitting is for you.One final note:includes several patterns for you toget started on. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

QUEEN OF COLORING BOOKS
Mary does it again! I bought this thinking that it would be a simple coloring book. It is so much more! The paper stock is quite thick, the images once colored (I recommend professional grade coloring pencils) are noteworthy of framing. This book stands up to travel, as the cover is very sturdy. Mary Engelbreit fans will not be disappointed!

Loved it
I found this to be a very entertaining book. I am an adult who loves to color. I had so much fun coloring in this book that I just purchased another one. This time I think I will take more time and even frame some of the pictures. I recommend this book to anyone.

Wonderful coloring book
I fell in love with this coloring book the first time I saw it. Every page is nicely & fully detailed. It's great for kids and also adults.

the zen of coloring
Just tonight, my 6 1/2 year old daughter, who was filling in the cheerful line drawings of this coloring calendar, said to me, "I feel like a Buddhist monk working on a mandala when I color these pictures" (she had just been on a field trip to a museum where monks were working on gorgeous sand designs). I would highly recommend this calendar: my daughter and I have had a wonderful, meditative time, coloring the pictures (each of which has an insprirational message, not too hokey for a little kid) and looking back over the events of the year. It's a wonderful way to introduce simple journal writing to a child, getting them to think about what important things, large or small, have happened to them, and writing them into the calendar spaces. The stickers are an engaging addition to the activity. Mary Engelbreit's drawings are perfect for my daughter, but I find that I enjoy filling them in with her as well -- as I think any reformed doodler might. I can't quite imagine a boy getting as into the cute -- verging on cutesy -- drawings, but that's my only hesitation about it. The calendar has really been the occasion for some wonderful parent-child bonding time.

Something to Color the Whole Year Through
What a wonderful coloring book for the young and young atheart. The detail is wonderful. It helps pass many a "nothing todo right now moment" ... Read more

Reviews (4)

So wonderful it's coming out in Spanish too!
I have loved this book for a long time - TONS of great activities and kids really love getting squishy. The Peanut Butter Playdough recipe is worth it alone! Now I heard that Bright Ring Publishing is putting this book out in a Bilingual Spanish Edition! I can't wait to use it in the classroom! What a wonderful resource and bold move! Bravo! And thank you from all of my Spanish-speaking students! They will love to see projects in their own language!

Great fun! Who knew there were this many doughs to play with
This book is far better organized than some activity books by other authors. Every activity has a symbol in the corner of the page indicating the age range for each project. Additional symbols for cooking, no cooking, air dry, bake dry, edible, caution, and "adult supervision always necessary" are used when applicable. These symbols make it very easy to flip through the book to find a good project for your child(ren). It is especially useful when trying to find projects for children of mixed ages. The layout of the directions is excellent with one project per page, materials clearly listed, mixture process easily explained, and then many optional variations and ideas to further change or expand on the basic project.

Lots of dough's, modeling compounds, homemade beads, plaster and papier mache projects. A section with edible items such as dog biscuits, pie crust, gingerbread and pretzels. At 150 pages you can imagine there is a lot here to keep you busy for a long time. Many of the projects can be made with ingredients most people have on hand at home. Some projects are fast and easy and others are more complex.

I would highly recommend this for every parent, teachers of young children, and even babysitters. This would make a great birthday gift as an alternative to toys, for 2 year-olds and up. I have found this very helpful on days when my children seem bored with our usual daily routine and on rainy days. As a homeschooling mother I have a lot of projects to do with my children, many of which I know are usually done in preschool or kindergarten.

WONDERFUL!

31 playdoughs?
Yep, 31 playdough recipes alone in chapter one ... some bake, some air dry, some handmix, some cook on the stove. Where to begin? Anything squishy and clay-like is found in these pages, from plaster of Paris, to papier-mache, to mud, to flour and salt clay, and more. This book is a basic for any home with kids, and that includes grandparents!

Great fun!
Mudworks has it all. All of the recipes are easy to follow and most ingredients are right in the home. Doing home education with my 8 and 10 year old, this book allows them to cover art in a truly unique way and practice with measurements at the same time. The recipes for doughs really open their creative nature. Many textures and medians are used to offer a variety from basic clay for young children to sand and marble types for older kids. Most are one bowl recipes, making clean-up very easy. Even paper mache is covered in a varity of ways. Those creative juices kick in as soon as the book comes off the shelf. Mine (children)have gone from "pastry chef" to "pizza maker" to sculpture for the 22nd century. Let the imagining begin!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Practical, fun, well-illustrated crafts for 4 to 8 year olds
I have purchased several craft books but this is the best one I have seen so far. It has very practical, cute crafts to make with things you have around the house. My children, ages 4 and 6, love to look through the book and pick something out. My 6 year old can do most of the work herself and the 4 year old needs only a little help. I strongly recommend this craft book and cannot wait to get the rest of them! ... Read more