The Craft-a-Day Book

February 1, 2018

Gr 6 Up-Designed to be visually appealing with colorful fonts and bold and vibrant photographs on almost every spread, this how-to book contains 30 different activities to keep tweens and teens busy. Cornell's introduction lists how to find materials for free or very cheaply and describes what tools will be needed to complete the crafts. She also gives safety tips on using a drill, a craft knife, or a sewing machine. The six chapters are organized by the types of materials needed for the activities within the chapter, which include candles, paper, T-shirts, socks, and sweaters. The instructions are given through the text only. Some readers will have difficulty imagining how to complete some of the projects because all of the photos display finished pieces and do not show any of the steps along the way. VERDICT Though crafters who are looking for inspiration may find some treasures within, those who need to see visuals with step-by-step instructions will be disappointed.-Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, LA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
Grades 7-11 Cornell challenges crafters to play with materials, particularly recycled ones, to create practical art that focuses more on the process than the product. Her introduction is aptly titled, Finding Inspiration, and offers many tips on doing so along with suggestions for where to find supplies, what supplies should be staples of any crafter, and safety tips for working with anything from candles to hammers to power tools. Unfortunately, after that strong start, the book only offers projects that have been seen in many other craft books: origami, tin-can luminaries, decorated t-shirts, felted fingerless gloves, etc. Additionally, while there are many beautiful, glossy photos of finished projects, there are few step-by-step pictures. The numbered directions are clear, but visual learners are likely to get frustrated quickly. Finally, at least one of the projects requires fairly specific supplies, going against the reduce, reuse, recycle mantra. Cornell's light, supportive tone, though, makes readers feel as if any craft is in their grasp. An alternative purchase for larger collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)