Origami first hooked me into its mysterious web at the age of seven, and I haven’t stopped folding yet! If you are wondering what the fuss is all about, then look no further than this useful primer.

Firstly, having a book that obligingly stays open, flat, is a wonderful thing when doing origami, as those diagrams need to be carefully studied. They are good, clear diagrams too, outlining every fold in words and plain, no-nonsense drawings using the correct symbols. The handsome photographs serve to show what the finished models look like, and handy symbols show whether a model is suitable for a beginning folder, or somebody more experienced. There is a guide showing all the different types of papers around, and what else can be folded, as well as the story about Sadako Sasaki and her thousand cranes. Select the model of your choice from the selector—four pages of thumbnail pictures of everything in the book—and turn to the page number for the instructions. The models are grouped in several sections, from useful containers to things to appeal to children, ways of folding napkins to Christmas subjects, animals, birds, flowers and those models which have something special about them that makes folding such a pleasure. This last section surely sums up brilliantly the appeal of this timeless hobby. This is a user friendly book suitable for most ages, including perhaps another seven year old about to go on a long journey!