Homemade Christmas: Creative Crafts for Santa’s Elves. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books (Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books), 2003. 32 pp., pbk., $14.95. ISBN 0-8118-4015-8. Subject Headings: Christmas cookery-Juvenile literature. Christmas decorations-Juvenile literature. Grades 1-3 / Ages 6-8. Review by Lorraine Douglas. * /4

excerpt:

Work-of-Art Gift Wrap

Spread a work surface with a few sheets of waxed paper, overlapping them by 2 inches. Lay one of the paper squares on the waxed paper. Place cookie cutters of the stencil provided in this book on the paper and trace inside the shapes with a pencil. Make a regular pattern of shapes, or trace them at random around the paper. Pour a little paint into each plate and let your children paint in the outlines. Or, if you are using potato stamps, dip a potato stamp in the paint, blot it on a piece of scrap paper, and press onto the wrapping paper. Let dry completely before using.”

This novelty book is intended for home crafters looking for simple ideas to share with children. The book has a dozen crafts and recipes, including White Christmas Snow, Festive Photo Frame, Yule Log Cake and Celebration Invitations. Each of the ideas has a list of supplies needed and instructions facing a full colour photograph of the project. Some of the projects can be created with materials found around the home – like potatoes for printing, but some of the items listed need more of an explanation. In the section on recycling wrapping papers and decorations to make a “green” gift box, “gesso” is listed as a supply item, and it would have been useful to explain what kind of gesso should be used for the base coating on the box.

     A small envelope attached to the front endpaper contains decorative paper, stickers and a stencil for use with the projects. For library use, the inclusion of the stencil designs in the envelope makes the book unsuitable for circulation. Books like Christmas Crafts by Judy Ann Sadler (Kids Can, 1994) or Santa’s Sackful of Best Christmas Ideas by Deri Robins (Kingfisher, 1993) offer ideas with more child appeal and present the reader with better instructions.

Not Recommended.

Recently retired, Lorraine Douglas was the Coordinator of Children’s Services for the Winnipeg Public Library system.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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