Make It! - Hardcover

Grade 1–4—From its unique cardboard cutout "picture-frame" cover to its 3 "Rs" to recycling, this craft book lives up to its motto: "Don't trash it—treasure it!" As good for its ideas in suggesting alternate materials as for its instructions, it will be sheer joy for young crafters, as well as for older artists. Projects are divided by basic type of material. The paper section has instructions for making boxes, an airplane, bowls, "junk mail mâché" bowls and jewelry, and woven pictures and collages. The plastic section uses discarded small toys to make a picture frame, various items from bottles, bottle-top art, party streamers, bubble-wrap cushions, and a candy-wrap screen. The metal section includes a fishing game and refrigerator magnets, a dancing-cat picture, mobile, and robots. The fabric section shows how to create glove and hat puppets, woven mats, change purses from old garment pockets, larger totes from old pants and skirts, and cushions from T-shirts. The projects are easy and clever, and all of the pages are profusely illustrated with large, colorful photos of a boy and girl working on the crafts.—Lynda Ritterman, formerly at Atco Elementary School, NJ
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