Book In Review

         This book Step-by-Step Crafts for Summer written by Kathy Ross and illustrated by Jennifer Emery is the type of book i longed for as a child.  The crafts are fun and easy to make.  They are made with everyday items laying around the house; you dont have to go out and buy some expensive or hard to find items to make the projects.

         There is a wonderful project that kids will absolutely love it is a covered/insulated water bottle.  It is easily made from a discarded sock and some craft beads.  The only suggestion i have for this project is to use plastic lanyard in place of the string that they suggest. I think it would be stronger and more supportive for carrying the water bottle when it was filled.  This project and many of the others are easy to do with or without adult  help.

       The creativity in the book is wonderful and may trigger hours of busy time for kids with nothing but time on their hands this summer.  I liked the project for gift giving as well.  They have a wonderfully useful and fun gift to give away to a school graduate.  It is a small film canister decorated to look like a graduate and it is filled when completed with quarters to be used like for laundry or something equally needed when the graduate goes off to college on their own for the first time!

        I love that the illustrations are colorful and eye catching.  Kids will make good use of this book giving parents some much needed down time during the summer.  Parents will love having this book around for those moments when the comment ”there is NOTHING to do” is spoken.

          This book was copyrighted in 2007 by Boyds Mills Press.  Their website is:  www.boydsmillspress.com.