Christmas Crafts from Around the World

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to add a little international
flair to your yuletide celebrations, then this collection of Christmas
crafts from the four corners of the world is exactly what you want. The
book features 17 traditional holiday projects. Some can be made with
materials already found around the home, and the rest require just a few
dollars’ worth of supplies from any department or stationery store.

The book begins with an introduction covering basic craft materials,
from felt cloth to balsa wood. The next section is devoted to building
the crafts. Readers can try their hand at making American Cranberry and
Popcorn Garlands, a Polish First Star, Danish Woven Hearts, Mexican
Party Pinatas, South African Crinkle-Paper Chains, Australian Festive
Pillowcases, British Christmas Fairies, Finnish Straw Ornaments, German
Advent Calendars, Canadian Tree Skirts, and Italian Nativity Scenes.

For each project, Sadler includes a materials list and a set of
easy-to-follow instructions. Some of the projects are well within the
capability of an unsupervised youngster. Others might require the help
of an adult for paper cutting or assembly. The text is given excellent
support from scores of colourful drawings that show the featured craft
as it looks from the early stages through to the finished product. This
is a book that the entire family can enjoy. Highly recommended.