Books to Boost Your Child's Creativity
By Rachel Baker
Arts and crafts are both fun and useful. Children can tap their imaginations when they draw a picture or stitch a beach bag. At the same time, they increase their hand-eye coordination, perseverance, and problem-solving skills. With this list of books, you can boost your child’s creativity and sense of accomplishment.
How to Draw a Sailing Cat and 99 Other Adventurous Things
by Joy Sikorski
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2009
$7.95; ages 5 and up
Little Man the cat ventures outside after a rainstorm and naps in a toy sailboat. Discover tips and advice about drawing and painting tools while learning how to draw Little Man and everything he encounters: his reflection, a hungry goat, wallowing pigs, and more.
Jelly Yarn: 20 Cool Projects for Girls to Knit and Crochet
by Kathleen Greco and Nick Greco
Krause Publications, 2008
$19.99; ages 8 and up
Learn how to knit and crochet with Jelly Yarn, a vinyl material that’s glossy, strong, and waterproof. Projects include purses, a diary cover, and a flying disk. Instructions also show how to block and finish pieces.
What Can You Do with an Old Red Shoe?
by Anna Alter
Henry Holt and Company, 2009
$16.95; ages 4–7
In this how-to book, families explore ways to recycle old flip-flops, tin cans, little odds and ends, and other used or broken household objects. A short poem introduces each project, and illustrations accompany the directions and lists of materials.
Woodcarving
by Everett Ellenwood
Fox Chapel Publishing, 2008
$14.95; ages 9–12
Safety comes first in this book: a soap-boat test project uses the same techniques as the wood projects but without the sharp tools. Chapters teach about trees, tools of the trade, and safety precautions; step-by-step photos demonstrate proper carving.
Funky Felt Crafts: Create Jewelry, Gifts, Room Décor & More
edited by Carrie Anton
American Girl Publishing, Inc., 2009
$9.95; ages 8 and up
Turn simple pieces of felt into accessories to wear, gifts to give, and animal critters to cuddle. Included patterns give guidelines for shapes to trace for the projects, and photos give ideas for embellishing creations.
Rachel Baker is the calendar editor at family.
August 2009
