Reading is fundamental. Do you know what else is fundamental? Having fun. And do you know what else is fundamental? Crafting – learning to create something you’re proud of. And do you know where you can have all of these experiences at once?
Craft Time!
As of January 2025, with the support of the marvelous and talented Youth Services Department, I have been hosting Craft Time after the last Preschool Story Time of each month. We had so much fun making bear puppets in January and paper butterflies in February. Come join us for our next craft on Tuesday, March 25! Crafts correlate with the story time books read by Miss Pamela and will be suited to the skills of 4-6 year olds, whose creativity we have found impressive and inspiring. Here are a few books that are available to check out in the Young Readers’ Room that will help you and/or your kids get creative in the meantime.
You know when a book lives in the back of your head because it’s just so delightful? Ed Emberley’s Fingerprint Drawing Book is one of those books. Requiring nothing more than paper, an inkpad, a marker, and your own thumb; this is a book that you will enjoy and learn from even if you don’t have a creative bone in your body. It guides you through each step of the process to make everything from a snail to a watermelon to a knight in fingerprinted armor – all smiling, of course. These mini artworks are so easy and so much fun. Once you’ve made one, it’s hard to stop.
If you’re looking for a craft that’s a bit more complicated and a lot more unique, look no further than The Usborne Book of Masks. It’s complete with instructions and templates for creating funny, cute, or scary masks. While some of the masks require more patience (the genuinely freaky Sea Witch, with glitter eyebrows and fish in her hair), there are simpler options as well (Hovering Bees, a face full of flowers surrounded by bees on wires). The diverse options of this book make it the perfect guide for a family craft night.
When I was younger, the American Girl book series changed my life – I was finally able to connect with history by seeing it through the eyes of girls my age. The American Girl craft books and cookbooks are wonderful for having tactile experiences that connect you with the past. Addy’s Craft Book begins each section with a short summary about an area of Addy Walker’s fictional life in 1864, and details how to create a related range of paper and fabric crafts that a girl like Addy would have learned. If you’ve ever wanted to try cross stitch or wondered what a Jacob’s Ladder is, this book can answer your questions.
Star Wars Origami rules the craft section of the Young Readers’ Room – it’s so popular that we have three copies. So much fun, even if you’re not a Star Wars fan – the intricate character designs will keep you busy and engaged. The way this book is formatted, it teaches you the basic paper folds and terms of origami before launching into the projects, which include a wide variety of characters and ships. It’s a great introduction to origami and, of course, to Star Wars origami.
Come by the Young Readers’ Room to check out any or all of these books, or spend some time perusing more options in our delightful craft book section. If you’ve gotten the itch for crafting something fun and book-inspired, don’t miss Story Time on March 25 at the Contemporary Club!
