The Organic Artist for Kids

February 21, 2020

Gr 6 Up-Neddo has designed a beautiful book that teaches budding crafters how to make one's own paint, brushes, charcoal, and crayons. However, his assumption that most young readers are adept at using a knife, working with fire, and finding suitable plants, rocks, and trees for each of the projects is overly ambitious and not very practical, especially for most city dwellers. Making charcoal requires finding the right wood and cutting it to fit into a tin can with a lid so that it can be burned in a fire. Crayons are made with crushed stone for pigment and beeswax, which is heated and poured into knotweed molds. There are 36 different projects; some require much more skill than others. Photos illustrate the steps and examples of final products, and little illustrations decorate the pages for added whimsy. The level of difficulty is listed in a sidebar along with the materials and tools needed. An index is included. VERDICT Due to the very esoteric nature of the activities in this work, many may want to pass on this volume and find something more DIY-friendly for this age group.-Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, LA

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