African Crafts: Fun Things to Make and Do from West Africa [Hardcover]

Lynne Garner (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

From spectacular clothing and masks to pottery and music of Ghana and West Africa, this guide inspires children to try these easy-to-make crafts for themselves.  A great way to connect children to their African roots or expose them to new cultures around the world, this fully illustrated guide features step-by-step instructions and contemporary color photos that teach kids how to make their own creations.  Projects include how to design and wear Adinkra block-printed clothing, coil and decorate  unique pottery, create masks for special occasions, craft and play musical instruments, and weave decorative Kente cloth.  It includes a brief history of Ghana and West Africa and the traditions and history behind each craft, how they are made and used today, and their importance in West African society. A resource section listing books, Web sites, and museums for further exploration rounds out this fascinating reference.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–6—This combination travel memoir/craft book helps children to understand the meaning of the crafts and their importance to West African culture. Color photos, most of which were taken by the author during her visit to Ghana, appear on every page. A brief history of West Africa and Ghana is included. Children will learn that Adinkra printing (done with blocks carved from a gourd) has 53 designs, each with its own meaning and name. Kids can print their own Adinkra cloth using a potato stamp, and they'll see how to wear it and on what occasion. Adult help may be needed for some projects and steps. Other projects include pot coiling, making masks, and weaving kente strips. Children will also learn how to make and play a drum and about the role of music in Ghana today. With its combination of history, culture, and activities, this beautifully designed book will be a useful and popular addition to most collections.—Augusta R. Malvagno, Queens Borough Public Library, NY
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From Booklist

Despite the generic title, the focus is on one country, Ghana, and that is the strength of this hands-on crafts book, illustrated with clear step-by-step instructions and lots of color photos. The author, an art teacher who works with crafts, draws on her own research trip to Ghana, including her photos and personal observations from her visit. Written in chatty style, the spaciously laid out chapters cover adinkra block printing, pot coiling, mask making, music makers, and kente strip weaving. In each section, she offers bits of history and tradition, but mostly the book is about about how to make your own. Extensive backmatter about crafts, myths, people, and stories is a bonus, as are Web sites and museum references. An excellent resource for school and home. A reference to a South African mountain range is misspelled as Drackensburg, but this is otherwise an fine crafts book, useful  both at school and for children making crafts at home. Grades 4-6. --Hazel Rochman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556527489
• ISBN-13: 978-1556527487
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #403,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2 Thumbs Up from this Mom, April 1, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African Crafts: Fun Things to Make and Do from West Africa (Hardcover)

Most children love a good hand's-on project, especially when that project produces something they can display proudly. In African Crafts: Fun Thing to Make and Do from West Africa, you get this and much more.

Author Lynne Garner traveled to West Africa to see how the crafts of the West African people fit into their everyday lives. She shares this culture with you as well as extra little side notes of interest. She then goes on to provide detailed instructions for children to re-create the craftsmanship at home and use it appropriately.

This is a great book for crafty children and probably their crafty parents. I want to go buy some clay to make a coiled pot and some fabric to try my hand at Adinkra block printing, too. The culture and the craft directions are accompanied by many full color photographs to give you a feeling for what the process entails.

I also really appreciate the history and culture shared in bite-sized pieces. Children will learn about another culture without feeling force-fed. It is really fascinating stuff! This book seems to be well made, and its binding sturdier than many I come across these days.

I give this book an A+ for craftsmanship.

Armchair Interviews agrees.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good examples of African crafts, February 2, 2011

By 

Marsha A. Smith "Grannie of 4" (Pickerington OH USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: African Crafts: Fun Things to Make and Do from West Africa (Hardcover)

Purchased this book for our church Vacation Bible school. Had many useful and easy for the grade school child to do. Weaving, masks, bowls, etc. Highly recommended.