Clearly organized instructions provide not only the know-how but ideas on how to make prints from easily found materials. As children craft their own artwork, they may just want to reread other books which use comparable techniques (such as Eric Carle). Also in the 1 2 3 series are the equally doable I Can Sculpt! and I Can Paint!
1 2 3: I Can Make Prints!
Take a walk outdoors with the popular mouse, Maisy. Help Maisy find a duckling, a bee inside a flower, and more as young hands pull sturdy tabs to reveal the hidden treasure, guided by short text which also encourages children to look for additional related things on each double-page spread.
Maisy’s Nature Walk: A Maisy First Science Book
Full-color illustrations combine with clear instructions organized into four sections drawn from nature to present possible activities with generally easy-to-locate materials. Some activities are sophisticated, but children (with an adult) will find something to create in the great outdoors.
The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art
Dozens of how-to topics can be found in this browsable “instruction manual.” Easy-to-follow directions and helpful illustrations show you how to do things as varied as make your own lip gloss, eat with chop sticks, and juggle one-handed. The book opens with a disclaimer and reminds readers to use common sense at all times!
How to Be the Best at Everything: The Girls’ Book
This book opens with a disclaimer and reminds readers to use common sense at all times — especially as boys consider doing things like skateboard “ollies,” fighting off a crocodile, or escaping quicksand. The book is fun and full of suggestions for real and absolutely outrageously undoable activities. Not just for boys!
How to Be the Best at Everything: The Boys’ Book
Make a special card or gift that really stands out — or pops up, literally! Easy to follow instructions and ideas are generously illustrated to allow even the neophyte to make eye-catching pop-ups with easily found materials.
Easy-to-Make Pop-Ups
Join Danny and his friend, Ettie, as they visit the zoo on a snowy afternoon — and then on a trip to a sunny place in Africa with the elephants and aardvarks…all with the help of Danny’s yellow drawing book, of course! This imaginative, playful jaunt may inspire other armchair adventures.
Danny’s Drawing Book
Each lively rhyme or riddle about everyday things actually asks a math question; some easy, some more difficult, all playfully involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Humorous spins on recognizable situations are enhanced by comical illustrations.
Arithme-Tickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle-Rhymes
In this celebration of dads, heartwarming illustrations of baby animals and their fathers remind us of the many reasons why dads are so special.
I Love My Daddy Because…
Have you ever wondered why there is thunder and lightning? Hear this Nigerian folktale and other tales (as well as original poems) retold and shared by a master storyteller, artist, and writer. Ashley Bryan’s distinctive style and resonant voice echo the techniques of traditional griots.
Poems and Folktales
Arthur’s everyday world, both real and daydreamed, is presented through a lively narration of four books: Arthur’s Mystery Envelope, Arthur Makes the Team, Arthur Accused!, and Arthur and the Lost Diary. Children and adults alike will recognize the concerns and the humor in these gentle sagas.
Arthur: Anniversary Collection
Many creatures have wings: birds, bats, insects. How these amazing appendages work and how they are used are presented with brief text and stunning collage illustrations for a memorable look at flight.
Wings
Sophisticated readers (and fans of Lemony Snicket) will appreciate the sly humor and word play in this outrageously funny take-off on novels of yesteryear. Here, the Willoughby children must overcome their self-centered parents who ultimately meet their rightful — and very satisfying — end.
The Willoughbys
Something, someone was just here/Now there’s barely a trace… begins the elegantly illustrated, lyrical poem. From a pond to the sand at water’s edge to the forest and beyond, what has been there “…can only be seen/in/its/traces.”
Traces
Science is all around! And summer is a great time to dip into it — especially when it’s presented with such energy. Just do some “navel gazing” and get the “lowdown on lint” or find out which is more common — the “innie” or “outie.” Information and experiments are playfully presented and illustrated.
Science on the Loose: Amazing Activities and Science Facts You’ll Never Believe
The Whydah Galley was a real, fast-moving ship that was involved in 18th century slave trade, transporting people from Africa to the Caribbean until captured by pirates. How the Whydah and her treasures were discovered by underwater archaeologists is revealed in informal text and dramatic illustrations. Additional resources are included.
Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship
Information about the symbols, emblems, and gods from Ancient Egypt is included with step-by-step instructions on how to draw them. A guide to pronunciation and where to go for more information on Egyptian antiquities is also included.
Ralph Masiello’s Ancient Egypt Drawing Book
We all know that Goldilocks met the three bears, but what did she do before? Well, she met a boy named Jack, who before he climbed up the beanstalk had a fight with his little sister, Jill … Familiar folktales and rhymes are cleverly woven together to create an entirely new tale.
Previously
Stunning watercolors evoke the height and breadth of New York City while a dramatic text relates the true story of a now-famous feathered resident, a hawk named Pale Male. The tension between the lifestyle of Pale Male and human residents as well as the fate of Pale Male’s mates and offspring create riveting reading.
Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City
People have kept old and interesting things for a long, long time — in fact, Princess Bel-Shati Nannar in 550 BC kept her collections in what she called a museum. Read about unusual and interesting collections housed in museums in this gripping, informative, and highly readable book.
The Museum Book: A Guide to Strange and Wonderful Collections
Regardless of where they are found, mazes are amazing! Visit mazes that can be found around the world in this brief, informative, and intriguing look at these mysterious labyrinths.
Mazes Around the World
Cassie loved to dance and aspired to grow up to dance in a troupe. The only problem was her fear of performing in front of people. Even Jake, a real dance show-off, is afraid to dance in front of his father. The satisfying resolution will encourage many young dancers, performers, and readers.
If the Shoe Fits
A nearsighted greyhound? False teeth for an elephant? Strange-but-true animal stories on bright pages (with sources noted) make fascinating and entertaining reading, definitely proving that truth is stranger than fiction!
A Horse in the House and Other Strange but True Animal Stories
Could the chicken’s dream of buried treasure — a treasure of cracked corn under a great pink pig — be true? His friend George thought so. And so Chicken and George set out to follow the dream. Corny jokes abound in this funny, fast fable sure to delight (as well elicit groans!).