Books encourage creativity—October 3, 2008
I enjoy seeing pictures children have draw and crafts they have created. You can encourage kids’ creativity with books from the library.
Drawing books have always been popular with children. We have a new series called “Doodle Books” by Rob Court, and each book in the series provides very simple four-step instructions for drawing many different things. Titles in the series include “How to Draw People,” “How to Draw Underwater Animals,” and “How to Draw Flowers and Trees.”
Irene Luxbacher’s “Starting Art” series provides an introduction to different art experiences. The titles in the series so far are “123 I Can Draw!,” “123 I Can Paint!,” “123 I Can Sculpt!,” and “123 I Can Make Prints!” The author provides information about the materials needed and simple tips on how to get started. She ends each book with a note to parents and teachers with helpful tips to ensure the child has a good art experience.
If you are interested in making something that you can also play with when you are done, try “Asian Kites” by Wayne Hosking. The easy-to-follow instructions in this book will help you to build and fly fifteen different kites from China, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, and Japan.
Whether you want to make something for yourself or create something to give as a gift, you’ll find some great ideas in “Crafts for Girls” by Sally Seamans. Each craft includes a list of the supplies needed, an idea of how much time it will take, and step-by-step instructions, as well as a color photograph of the finished product. Craft ideas include napkin rings, decorative mugs, jewelry, and picture frames.
Scrapbooking is very popular with adults, and there are books available for children also to help them get started. “Cool Scrapbooks” by Pam Price includes information about tools and materials, design basics, cropping and matting, embellishments, and more. You’ll also find some clever projects in “The Scrapbooker’s Idea Book” by Kathy Ross.
“Kids’ Embroidery” by Kristin Nicholas contains directions for more than fifteen projects, including bags, pillows, diary covers, and scarves. The author presents the basics of needlepoint, cross-stitch, and freeform embroidery with step-by-step instructions.
If you enjoy knitting, look for “Chic Knits for Young Chicks” by Sarah Paulin. The author includes patterns for things like scarves, ponchos, belts and caps, purses and handbags, and accessories. Young people wanting to learn how to knit might find a fun project here to try, or adults might discover a good idea for a Christmas gift to make for a special teen.
A handmade gift is always very special, and it’s not too early to start thinking about making things for Christmas! Check out the art and craft books available at the library for ideas.
