Crafts for Kids Who Are Wild About Oceans

May 1, 1998
Gr 2-5-Ross opens both of these craft books by encouraging readers to learn more about the topics by visiting the library and closes them with lists for further reading. Each activity begins with a tantalizing snippet of information about the creature coupled with a realistic drawing; e.g., "The sea urchin comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, but always with spines." Directions for making sea urchins using Styrofoam balls, toothpicks, and paint and glitter are presented in one easy step. Unfortunately, not all of the information and instructions are this straightforward. For instance, it is unclear from the illustration of the crab which claws are referenced in the accompanying statement: "Only the top claw of the crab, called the moveable finger, opens. The bottom claw, or fixed finger, does not move." The creation of a crab puppet takes three pages of text and illustration to describe. Page design sometimes impedes clarity of presentation. Many suggestions are unique, however, such as creating a snake that sheds its skin, a red-eared terrapin with a retractable head, and a dolphin puppet that leaps. The activities vary in difficulty though most are made with easily found materials. They will most likely be useful to teachers as an adjunct to science studies and where more complex, longer term projects are possible.-Maria B. Salvadore, District of Columbia Public Library