Enjoy Hours of Fun with Modeling Clay!

Modeling Clay with 3 Basic Shapes

Model More than 40 Animals with Teardrops, Balls, and Worms

Bernadette Cuxart

PUB. DATE: SEPTEMBER 2016

Paperback, 96 pp., 8 7/8" x 10 1/2"

ISBN 978-1-4380-0908-7

$11.99, Can $14.50 

Teachers, parents, and kids will adore this book that's bursting with fun-filled projects. With three basic shapes (ball, worm, and teardrop), children will learn how to create personality-filled critters. All techniques described are easy for children to master, and kids will be delighted by the wonderful array of animals they can make with a little bit of clay and a whole lot of imagination.

A step-by-step guide to creating more than 40 clay animals.

Cute photos, numbered steps, helpful illustrations, crystal-clear directions, and some funny text help kids unleash their creativity and artistic talents. Projects include everything from pandas, owls, rhinos, kittens, puppies, snakes, koala bears, raccoons, snails, turtles, fish, and more. 

They'll look forward to rainy days!

A summary of projects and a helpful guide to techniques at the beginning of the book will help you create dozens of different, fun, and original clay figures. Perfect for a rainy day or art class project, or as a fun way to foster and encourage creativity. (Ages 4–8). 

My Thoughts:

As an assistant art teacher, I am always looking for fun ideas for my students. They love doing projects where they can have fun with clay. It was one of the main activities they all asked for during the summer and fall season of our camp. Nothing beats getting to craft their favorite animals. With ages ranging from around 8 and up, each child was able to find a fun idea that worked for them. 

Author Bernadette Cuxart, creates a step by step guide in her book. Each animal has it's own section in the book with instructions on how to create each shape, as well as detailed features. Any additional crafting tools are also shown as well. The instructions are very user friendly for learners of all ages, as well as parents, grandparents and/or teachers who are overlooking the projects. I enjoyed how intricate the animals come out. Although they are all made from three basic shapes, ball, worm, and teardrop, each creation had it's own flare.

For those that are teaching groups, it is nice that each student will generally be starting with the same basics. It makes it nice for the teachers, but also fun for the kids who can work together to help one another make something that is alike, yet they get to incorporate their own unique creativity with through the projects in this book.

I would highly recommend, Modeling Clay with 3 Basic Shapes, for anyone looking for activities that will lead to hours of fun for kids and adults alike! 

Connect with Barron's:

Website  Facebook  Twitter

The Paper Playhouse: Awesome Art Projects for Kids Using Paper, Boxes, and Books

Artist Katrina Rodabaugh shares her artistic training and up-cycling sensibility in this unique and inspired book, The Paper Playhouse. With simple techniques including sculpture, printmaking, bookbinding, collage, and even ideas for public art, families work through step-by-step instructions while using imagination and budding aesthetics. This book goes beyond the typical paper craft project to include contemporary design references like Mid-Century Modern dollhouses, VW buses, paper monsters, costumes and masks, and the classic lemonade stand--all made with unique style and flair! Focused around surprising and easily accessibly materials like shipping boxes, shoeboxes, junk mail envelopes, newspapers, maps, found books, and other paper ephemera, and with stunning photography by Leslie Sophia Lindell, The Paper Playhouse has 22 projects aimed at inspiring children to create amazing paper crafts


My thoughts:

This is such a great craft book.  So much of things you need to make these great crafts can be found in your own home. My seven year old and ten year old and myself have had many hours of crafting out of this book.

 There are twenty two different great  crafting projects in this book.  Each paper craft has a list of the items you need to complete the craft as well as easy step by step instructions. The papers are also colorful, and have a picture of what each craft looks like.  Some adult supervision is required.  Especially with younger children.

One of my kids favorite was making the Mail Art Postcards so they could mail them to their grandmom.  Another of my daughter's favorites was the Dreamy Modern Dollhouse. With twenty two different paper crafts, there is something for every child to enjoy creating.  Especially on a cold or rainy day.