Publisher Description

Dolls have a unique place in childhood. They are about play, empathy, and developing communication and socialization skills. Dolls are important symbols to children of what adults value, and handmade dolls convey that the individual is important and that to be unique--less than perfect--is just fine. These concepts guide award-winning children's author Laurie Carlson's Doll Crafts, which opens up the world of doll making to children. The emphasis is on following basic instructions that are clearly illustrated with line drawings in order to help children develop creative, open-ended projects that result in unique dolls and doll play. Using inexpensive, everyday, or even recycled materials, children make clever paper dolls, simple folk art dolls, soft cuddle pals, or 18-inch felt dolls as well as cute and easy doll clothing, accessories, and basic houses. Short, informative sidebars throughout explore dolls in various cultures and religions, relate doll trivia and fun facts, and expand readers' ideas about what constitutes a doll by examining the history of action figures, scarecrows, robots, and more.

Author Biography

Laurie Carlson is the author of Colonial Kids, Westward Ho!, More Than Moccasins, Green Thumbs, and Kids Camp! She has taught preschool, primary grades, and children's art classes. She lives in Cheney, Washington.

Review

"Carlson provides a straightforward introduction to creating dolls..." Publishers Weekly
"I wish I had had this book when I was little." Cracking the Cover
"Doll Crafts is enthusiastically and unreservedly recommended." Midwest Book Review

Long Description

Dolls have a unique place in childhood. They are about play, empathy, and developing communication and socialization skills. Dolls are important symbols to children of what adults value, and handmade dolls convey that the individual is important and that to be unique--less than perfect--is just fine. These concepts guide award-winning children's author Laurie Carlson's Doll Crafts, which opens up the world of doll making to children. The emphasis is on following basic instructions that are clearly illustrated with line drawings in order to help children develop creative, open-ended projects that result in unique dolls and doll play. Using inexpensive, everyday, or even recycled materials, children make clever paper dolls, simple folk art dolls, soft cuddle pals, or 18-inch felt dolls as well as cute and easy doll clothing, accessories, and basic houses. Short, informative sidebars throughout explore dolls in various cultures and religions, relate doll trivia and fun facts, and expand readers' ideas about what constitutes a doll by examining the history of action figures, scarecrows, robots, and more.

Review Quote

"I wish I had had this book when I was little."-- Cracking the Cover

Details