(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Ross shows readers how to make accessories for kitchen use in a few easy steps. There's cutting and gluing--but no sewing--involved in turning an old shirt into an apron, for example. Some items seem less useful (e.g., ribbon-decorated rubber gloves, paper napkins with fabric pieces glued to them). Unfussy illustrations perk up the pages.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. No-frills illustrated instructions explain how to create twenty different homemade stamps using inexpensive, readily available materials includes bottle caps, corks, buttons, and craft foam. Rudimentary craft ideas using the stamps--such as decorating invitations or making stickers--are also provided, as are directions for making an ink pad storage shelf and stamp storage box. A clean design makes the information accessible.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. These twenty-one sparkly, flowery projects will appeal to girlie-girl crafters. Step-by-step directions for projects (jeweled necklaces and hats, butterfly sneaker clips, key covers and fobs) requiring easily acquired materials are clearly illustrated. Some crafters may be frustrated by attempts to manipulate the smaller or more fragile components (e.g., separated strands of embroidery floss).

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Céline Malépart. With a focus on recycling, this book features the usual bland assortment of picture frames, message holders, pins, and puppets. The twenty-one simple crafts reuse cardboard boxes, stray gloves, and socks. Somewhat obvious recycling tips are scattered throughout. The step-by-step illustrated directions are clear; supplies can be readily found. Most crafters will probably want to try a few projects. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. This volume shows how straws, "sparkle stems," thin ribbon, and beads can easily be turned into various "girl crafts": necklaces and bracelets, bookmarks, pictures, and small vases. The first five (of twenty-one) projects direct crafters to make the beads on which the other projects are based. The real-life results are somewhat less interesting than the cartoon illustrations appear.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Fairy costumes for girls and dolls, fairy wings, fairies' friends and furniture, and a maze are a few of the twenty-two projects made from pipe cleaners, craft sticks, artificial flowers, pony beads, glue, and other common items. Illustrated step-by-step instructions are clear, but some projects require components so small (cotton swabs, toothpicks) that crafters may be frustrated.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Crafts for Kids Who Are Learning About series. Illustrated by Jan Barger. Kids fascinated with pterodactyls, duck-billed dinosaurs, and pteranodons will dive into these twenty-two crafts. Dinosaur-themed puppets, magnets, toys, and pins generally require easily found materials and minimal equipment beyond scissors and clothespins. Illustrated step-by-step instructions make most of these projects easy to complete; arranging grains of rice to resemble fossils will be difficult for small fingers.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Letter holders, decorations for doorknobs, and dresser-knob flowers are a few of the twenty-two projects made from tissue boxes, socks, artificial flowers, and other easily obtainable materials. Illustrated step-by-step instructions are clear, and most projects have acceptable results (though a table made of cardboard and paper-towel rolls will likely collapse). A short introduction or summary would have been useful.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Crafts for Kids Who Are Learning About series. Illustrated by Jan Barger. Kids can turn common materials into farmyard critters that are puppets, pins, and hats. There are twenty projects, and each step is illustrated. Youngsters who are interested in farm animals will likely lack the manual dexterity to complete many of these crafts (e.g., a mouse made from a thimble, three finger-sized bandages formed into a crow).

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 All New Holiday Crafts for Kids series. Illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm. Illustrated directions for twenty-two gifts--some for Mom, some for Dad, and some appropriate for either--explain how to turn paper, old neckties, cardboard, felt, and ribbon into the usual picture frames, cards, and refrigerator magnets. A few projects are clever, but most are uninspired.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jennifer Emery. Clear instructions supported by watercolor illustrations demonstrate the four to six steps required to complete twenty projects made mostly from common household materials. There's a gift for everyone--even your cat. Some are routine (a picture frame, a pin) while others are more original (e.g., a "gift wrap sleeve" to keep wrapping paper from unrolling).

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jennifer Emery. The book includes an introduction and instructions for twenty simple crafts loosely related to summer. The expected photo and pencil holders and lapel-pin projects are included, as well as a few of the absurd (e.g., a kind of basketball hoop worn like a hat). Fairly clear illustrations accompany each step.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Ross creates twenty-two girlie craft projects (e.g., poodle pins, dolls' bonnets) from discarded jewelry, artificial flowers, clothing, and other items. They can all be done solo, but feel-good introductions explain why they'd be fun to do as a group. While some of the project ideas are creative, others aren't exciting or original. The accompanying illustrated directions are easy to follow.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. Twenty-two projects for children interested in "no-cost and low-cost" scrapbooking encourage the use of common art supplies (pipe cleaners, markers, paper, glue) and a few more obscure materials (blister packs). The simple techniques and straightforward directions are clearly illustrated.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 All New Holiday Crafts for Kids series. Illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm. With felt, construction paper, glue, pipe cleaners, and other common household objects, children can make twenty-two Kwanzaa projects. Many of the projects are variations on familiar school crafts (bookmarks, woven placemats, magnets), but some, like the kikombe cha umoja (unity cup), are unique to this celebration. Ross's directions are easy to follow, and Holm's clear, simple illustrations are equally helpful.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jennifer Emery. Each book includes an introduction and instructions for twenty simple crafts related to holidays or other seasonal occurrences such as changing leaves and snowfall. Most of the materials are easily obtained and the illustrations support the directions. A few of the projects require such fine motor skills (forming a twist tie into a heart shape, for example) that younger crafters may be frustrated. Review covers these titles: Step-by-Step Crafts for Fall and Step-by-Step Crafts for Winter.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jennifer Emery. Each book includes an introduction and instructions for twenty simple crafts related to holidays or other seasonal occurrences such as changing leaves and snowfall. Most of the materials are easily obtained and the illustrations support the directions. A few of the projects require such fine motor skills (forming a twist tie into a heart shape, for example) that younger crafters may be frustrated. Review covers these titles: Step-by-Step Crafts for Fall and Step-by-Step Crafts for Winter.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm. This book consists of step-by-step instructions for making twenty-two craft projects, each with a patriotic motif, including lapel pins, magnets, and various puppets. The crafts are simple and inviting, but unfortunately, the cartoony illustrations don't give the reader an idea of how a completed project should look. The materials and tools needed are easily obtainable; some projects require adult assistance.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 All New Holiday Crafts for Kids series. Illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm & Sharon Lane Holm. Ross explains how to make ghost pins made from puzzle pieces and masks for dolls. Like those in most of Ross's craft instruction books, these projects require a good deal of adult help if young children are to be successful. Some of the projects are clever, others are more mundane, but the instructions are clear and the illustrations serviceable.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Elaine Garvin. Young doll owners will be pleased with this portfolio of instructions to make accessories and very simple no-sew doll clothes. The twenty projects (adaptable for any size doll) include jewelry, a bathing suit made from a sock, and clothes hangers. The book is liberally illustrated with color drawings that give no realistic idea of what a finished product will look like; photos would have been a better choice.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo