I’ve seen a lot of books on children’s crafts, both now as a reviewer and when I was a child but I haven’t seen many better than this one. This is a great introduction to the fun you can have making things, and children of a variety of ages (but particularly tweenage) can get acquainted with many different techniques and materials. There are six sections, tackling collage, clay modelling, beadwork, decorative painting, papermaking and paperfolding, each written by a different author who is well respected in their chosen field. Projects are spread across two pages, and show real children actually making the items themselves in large photographic stages. Most of the inspiration is taken from history and different cultures, and this is a grand place to start learning about the crafts of other times and nations, as well as plenty about green issues, the wonder of the natural world and even a few famous artists. There are templates to trace off at the end of each section, and simple guides to doing things like transferring a pattern, different paper folds and making a greetings card blank. Some items come free (get your child interested in recycling) or are relatively inexpensive to buy, others might be better reserved for when you are wondering what to buy a child for Christmas or birthday. This excellent book might be one idea!

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