Recommended Reading:

The Toddler's Busy Book by Trish Kuffner; Paperback - 508 pages - published July 2000 by Meadowbrook Press Synopsis: 365 fun, creative activities to stimulate your toddler every day of the year. This book contains 365 activities (one for each day of the year) for one-and-a-half to three-year-olds using things found around the home. The Toddler's Busy Book is written with warmth and sprinkled with humor and insight. It should be required reading for anyone raising or teaching toddlers. The Preschooler's Busy Book by Trish Kuffner; Paperback - 384 pages - published November 1998 by Meadowbrook Press Synopsis: This book contains 365 activities (one for each day of the year) for three- to six-year-olds using things found around the home. The Preschooler's Busy Book is written with warmth and sprinkled with humor and insight. It should be required reading for anyone raising or teaching preschool-age children. Things to Do with Toddlers and Twos by Karen Miller; Paperback Revised edition - published July 2000 by Telshare Publishing Co. Synopsis: Toddlers explore the world using their senses with over 400 exciting hands-on activities. The suggested activities help children develop cognitive skills, language, sensory awareness, gross and fine motor skills, self-image, sociability, imagination, and more. More Things to Do with Toddlers and Twos by Karen Miller; Paperback, published October 1990 by Telshare Publishing Co. Synopsis: These easy-to-do activities lead toddlers to many magical discoveries and experiences, and evoke their innate curiosity about their environment. Explores strategies to help you develop social competency in young children: how to stop "hurting" behaviors, as well as handling discipline and aggression. The Little Hands Art Book by Judy Press; Paperback - 156 pages - published October 1994 by Williamson Publishing Synopsis: The ideal beginning art book for little hands with lots to express! Judy Press has an uncanny understanding of how to inspire preschoolers' creative spirits. Instructions are bare minimum, and resulting art is very clever as kids' imaginations take flight with simple materials and only a hint of direction. The Kids' Multicultural Art Book by Alexandra M. Terzian; Paperback - 160 pages - published May 1993 by Williamson Publishing Synopsis: An exciting hands-on feast of multicultural art and craft experiences. With this book, children learn by doing--reaching across continents with paper, paste, and paints, while developing basic sensibilities about the wondrous cultures of others. Over 400 outstanding how-to illustrations. Kids Create!: Art & Craft Experiences for 3- To 9-Year-Olds by Laurie Carlson; Paperback - 158 pages - published September 1990 by Williamson Publishing Synopsis: Over 150 creative craft and art activities for children ages three to nine years old. Laurie Carlson has captured the joy of creating while introducing the basics of working with paper and paste, clay and dough, printmaking, sculpture, and various other techniques. Includes time guides and degree of difficulty levels. Ecoart!: Earth-Friendly Art and Craft Experiences for 3- To 9-Year-Olds by Laurie Carlson; Paperback - 160 pages - published November 1992 by Williamson Publishing Synopsis: The bestselling author of Kids Create! combines her intuitive sense of each child's need for self-expression and interaction with nature with her wealth of imaginative experiences. All the projects use recyclable, reusable, household materials and/or items found in nature. The Children's Year: Crafts & Clothes for Children and Parents to Make by Stephanie Cooper; Paperback - 192 pages - published 1986 by Bell Pond Books Synopsis: This book takes us through the seasons with clothing, dolls, gifts, and imaginative toys to create. It includes clear instructions and illustrations for over 100 projects. All Year Round by Ann Druitt; Paperback - 288 pages - published August 1997 by Gryphon House Synopsis: Brimming with stories, poems, activities, songs, and things to make, All Year Round offers a friendly guide to the seasonal round of festivals. Helpful drawings and diagrams illustrate this practical book. Festivals, Family and Food by Diana Carey and Judy Large; Paperback - 216 pages - published December 1996 by Hawthorn Press Synopsis: Packed full of ideas, things to do, recipes, songs and games to help you and your family celebrate the various festival days throughout the year. Earthways by Carol Petrash; Paperback - 206 pages - published August 1992 by Gryphon House Synopsis: Earthways is filled with hands-on nature crafts and seasonal activities to enhance environmental awareness. The activities are carefully written and beautifully illustrated. Children play with the elements of earth, air, and water. They develop a respect for nature, for the earth and for all living creatures. They experience the awe and wonder of the world around them. The Little Big Book for Moms by Lena Tabori and Alice Wong; Hardcover - 352 pages - published April 2000 by Welcome Enterprises Synopsis: The Little Big Book for Moms is packed with all the fun, magic, and wonder of early childhood in a beautifully designed, chunky little package. Mother and child will delight in activities like finger games and hand shadows. There are recipes for making play dough, soap bubbles, chicken soup, and applesauce. And, when the little ones are finally asleep and mom needs reminding of how adorable they really are, there are excerpts celebrating children and motherhood by such authors as Susan Cheever and Anne Lamott return to Crafts for Kids home page