115. Catside Up, Catside Down

Catside Up, Catside Down. Anna Hrachovec. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, concept book] [5 stars]

First sentence: Catside up,
catside down,
cat on a turntable, spinning around.
Under a piano,
over the moon,
swept high and away
by a cat-shaped balloon.
Inside a sock,
surrounding a pie,
lolling about on some catnip nearby.

Premise/plot: Catside Up, Catside down is a book of prepositions. It is a concept book--technically, definitely. I mean there is a grammar lesson there for elementary-aged students. (Or for readers of all ages who need a bit of a refresher course). But it is also a super-adorable cat-themed, arts-and-craft themed picture book for readers of all ages to enjoy. The illustrations--are PRECIOUS, ADORABLE, SWEET, AMAZING.

My thoughts: I loved this one so much. I love, love, love, love, love all the crafted items. The cover is adorable--no doubt, no question--but each page only gets better and better. I love the art. I love the narration. I love the concept-lesson. I love the rhyming.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Princess Tea: Parties and Treats for Little Girls

Sarlin, Janeen A. with Noelle Shipley. 2009. Princess Tea: Parties and Treats for Little Girls. Photographs by Sheri Giblin. Chronicle Books. (Cook and craft book)

Technically, this one is more for parents than young readers. But it's for parents of young readers, so I'm going to share it with you here. What is it about? Creating parties for young girls. In this case, themed-tea parties. The themes are "Lotus Princess Tea" (China), "Underwater Princess Tea" (South Sea Islands), "Cowgirl Princess Tea (Southwest United States), "Fiesta Princess Tea" (Mexico), "Country Garden Lavender Princess Tea" (France), "Indian Princess Tea" (India), "African Princess Tea" (Africa), and "Fairy Princess Tea" (fairyland). Each theme offers suggestions on how to decorate, suggestions on dressing up, recipe suggestions, and craft and activity suggestions/instructions. Some activities are more complex than others.

I probably would have enjoyed this one more if there had been more photographs. I'd have liked to seen photographs for each recipe and each craft. (That could be me, but I like to see what it is supposed to look like. That way I can judge how I'm doing. Also for recipes, food almost always looks more appetizing, more appealing, if you can see it. Exceptions for this rule do exist, however.)

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

100% Pure Fake

Thomas, Lyn. 2009. 100% Pure Fake: Gross Out Your Friends and Family With 25 Great Special Effects. Kids Can Press. Available in August 2009.

This book--in a way--is the literary equivalent to a noisy, obnoxious toy. The kind of toy that kids love to play with--at least until they get tired of it--but is prone to driving parents crazy. This book has boy written all over it. (Not that it would be impossible for girls to want to make fake poop, but more likely this one will appeal to boys over girls.) Included in this craft book (yes, it's a craft book) are instructions for making 'fake' vomit, blood, poop, scars, snot, moles, road kill, etc. It's illustrated with photographs and cartoon-like illustrations.

Your basic blood:
This basic blood is thin and drippy, like blood from a finger cut or scratch. Pour a small amount on your hand or arm and watch it dribble down. Moan a bit and ask for a Band-Aid.

Stuff you'll need
125 mL (1/2 c.) corn syrup
5 mL (1 tsp) red food coloring
3 to 4 drops of blue food coloring.

Pour the corn syrup into a bowl. Add the food coloring. Mix well. Ta-da! Fake blood.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

1, 2, 3 I can collage!

Luxbacher, Irene. 2009. 1 2 3 I Can Collage! (Starting Art series). Kids Can Press.

This book is part of a series, the Starting Art series. Earlier titles include 1 2 3 I Can Draw, 1 2 3 I Can Paint, 1 2 3 I Can Sculpt. Granted I've only read this title--1 2 3 I Can Collage--but if the other titles are anything like this one, I must say that they'd all be must-haves for the classroom, the library, and the home.

(I think they'd be great to have if you homeschool your children. They might make you feel more comfortable, more confident, in introducing art to your children's day without feeling overwhelmed because you yourself are not an expert.)

We have within the book step-by-step projects. Everything sounds so simple, so straightforward, so direct...and so fun.

I love the note she includes for parents and teachers:

3 Tips to ensure a good collage experience every time

1. Use inexpensive materials and make sure your young artist's clothes and the work area are protected from spills. This way it's all about the fun, not the waste and the mess.
2. Focus on the process rather than the end product. Make sure your young artist is relaxed and having fun with the information instead of expecting perfection every time.
3. Remind your young artist that mistakes are an artist's best friend. The most interesting collage ideas and paper combinations are often discovered by mistake.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The New Jumbo Book of Easy Crafts

Sadler, Judy Ann. 2009. (Released March 1, 2009) The New Jumbo Book of Easy Crafts. Kids Can Press. 176 pages.

Though I've never had a crafty bone in my body, I thought some of you might be interested in this one. (It's not that I didn't want to be uncrafty. But I've always made such a mess of things I spent much of my life banned from glue and tape.)

There are over 150 crafts within The New Jumbo Book of Easy Crafts. Each craft uses both text and illustrations to show readers how to make the craft in question. The crafts are organized into four themes: imagine and create (play dough, clay, fold-a-book, egg-cup chick, acorn-head doll, etc.); wear and use (pasta jewelry, fleecy fringed poncho, tin-can stilts, braided bookmark, etc.); make and play (tissue-box dollhouse, bead buddies, paper-plate shaker, sock sack, bead-toss game, etc.); and decorate and celebrate (decorating eggs, fuzzy flowers, valentine doily, greeting cards, snowflakes, party favors, etc.).


© Becky Laney of Young Readers