All Around Town!: Exploring Your Community Through Craft Fun

Publishers Weekly

Origami's just the beginning in Paper-Folding Fun! 50 Awesome Crafts to Weave, Twist & Curl by Ginger Johnson, illus. by Betsy Day. Starting with "four steps to a perfect fold," the author leads readers on a crafting odyssey with instructions for making masterpieces such as a "Quilled Flower Mobile," "Pop-Up Birthday-Cake Card" and "Stacked Boxes with Bead Knobs." Also available: All Around Town: Exploring Your Community Through Craft Fun by Judy Press.

Children's Literature

This is a fun filled, hands-on activity book for young children and it will take them on a trip around their community. A child can make an animal puppet while learning about the Animal Shelter, a magical memory album when introducing them to a senior center, a soaring paper airplane when traveling to an airport and a cruise-around car when stopping at a gas station. Each project starts with a description of the community site and ends with a possible career section called, When I Grow Up. The projects are fun to do, easy to make, and use items easily found around the house. This book can be saved for rainy days, family time, when a child is home from school, or just when you want to have fun together. Judy Press thoughtfully included a Be a Good Neighbor section. The information found here is for actual volunteer projects. Moms, Dads, and early childhood teachers will find this an absolute treasure to have on hand. 2002, Williamson Publishing,
— Kathie M. Josephs

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-From the home to the firehouse, the library to the senior-citizen center, this title offers information, crafts, activities, and related books to read. Each project begins with a description of the community site, e.g., post office, airport, or animal shelter, and then suggests one or more simple projects with lists of materials and easy-to-follow instructions. The projects incorporate readily available supplies: cereal boxes, sponges, egg cartons, paper bags, glue, and other basics. Icons indicate the difficulty level for each craft, which can be simplified or embellished upon depending on the age and/or ability of the child. "When I grow up-" sections list a job related to the facility or institution, its responsibilities, and an activity or two. Song lyrics and finger plays are included for some of the themes. Simple, black-and-white cartoons appear throughout. The wide range of activities and agencies covered makes this title particularly useful, especially in the popular curriculum unit of "my community."-Genevieve Gallagher, Orange County Public Library, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.