Nature Crafts for Kids: 50 Fantastic Things to Make with Mother Nature's Help
Grade 6 Up-- Patience and money for supplies are required for many of the interesting projects presented here. Candied violets, a wormery in a glass jar, and printing cards are among the simpler activities that utilize readily available materials. However, a bird bath formed in cement, a sawdust kiln for firing clay pots in a garbage can, candle-making, and several pieces of carpentry are much more ambitious and at times risky. Arranged seasonally, the instructions are illustrated with attractive, sharp, full-color photographs of children at work and interspersed with short topical essays on facts and principles related to animals, plants, weather, and astronomy. Generally the explanations are clear and include cautionary advice, but occasionally the information is too simplistic--a beginner might have a pretty tough time, for instance, using a hacksaw to cut out the appealing : animal shapes from plywood to make a wind vane. And how did the snow sculptures get their icy sheen? This rather large volume lies flat for ease of use. Children and adults who enjoy making things will find it an inviting collection in spite of some vagaries. --Margaret Bush, Simmons College, BostonCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.