Make Your Own Gifts

Jean Free, formerly an elementary-school teacher-librarian, is currently
a library consultant in Ontario.

This book provides 8- to 10-year-olds with ideas for making useful
handicrafts. Among its 13 projects are brooches, cookie jars, planters,
jewelry boxes, and decorated notepaper. The book’s clear, step-by-step
instructions are coded from easy to more difficult, and there are lists
of materials needed, easy-to-follow-instructions, and large, colorful
photographs of the finished work.

This short book is part of Heritage Jeunesse’s series, which includes
Fantastic Hats, Make-up Magic, and Paper Costumes. The emphasis in the
series is on producing practical and attractive articles with materials
that are available in most homes. Although Make Your Own Gifts is
limited both in ideas (creating book covers or bookmarks is hardly
inspirational) and quantity (most craft books include a greater number
and variety of projects), teachers and librarians will appreciate its
high-quality binding and may consider it to be a worthwhile addition to
a classroom/library craft corner. Recommended with reservations.