Make Your Own Creative Cards Make Your Own Toys

Gr 4—6— In each book, Storey demonstrates eight creative projects. The first one includes pop-up, pull-tab, and sewn cards. The toys in the second title are old-fashioned, like a yo-yo and a beanbag. The author assumes that crafters can manage a sewing needle or wire a simple circuit. The activities all include step-by-step instructions with color photographs, including one of a child holding the final product, and a paragraph with interesting facts about the card or toy. Directions are fairly clear, but at times the pictures are a little confusing. For example, in the yo-yo project, the instructions say to cut circles out of stiff cardboard, but the picture doesn't seem to show the paper as cardboard. Some of the materials in Toys might be difficult to find, like a small motor or plastic mirrors. The books are good choices for collections needing new craft titles, but the analogous ones in the "Design and Make" series (Watts) have 10 and 11 projects, respectively, and use more readily available supplies.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT