Making Gift Boxes (Kids Can Do It)
Grade 4-8-A winner in the craft category. Meticulous color drawings accurately complement the excellent step-by-step directions for projects that range from simple to challenging. A color photo of the finished product is included. The variety of gift boxes-14 styles in all-will please boys and girls and includes a photo box, a treasure box with false compartments, a garden box to grow seeds, a scary monster box in which to hide things, a box made of fallen twigs for storing CDs, a secret book box made from a discarded book, and many more. The finished crafts are charming and functional. Materials are generally easily obtainable, such as empty cartons and cans, ribbon, felt, yarn, beads, paper, and twigs, though a darning needle, utility knife, bristol board, plastic lace, and sandpaper are also needed. A chapter on decorating techniques covers papier-m?ch?, collage, and paint. Directions include metric and imperial measurements. While Joan Irvine's Build It with Boxes (Morrow, 1993) and Sharon McCoy's 50 Nifty Super Friendship Crafts (Lowell House, 1997) include several small boxes, Hendry's book would make a fine addition because of its attractive presentation, child appeal, and unique ideas.Augusta R. Malvagno, Queens Borough Public Library, NYCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.