Customer Reviews

Chicken Socks The Foam Book

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is great! It comes with a packet of zillions (over 200, it says) of precut foam pieces in a wide variety of colors and shapes, and a glue stick. The book has very little text, so it's fine for pre-readers. It's all colorful illustrations of different pictures a kid can make with the foam cutouts, sparking their imagination and showing them how to do it. Some of the illustrations are numbered steps showing how to make a particular picture, such as a simple car or a face. Most show a completed critter, vehicle, or whatever, but the illustrations are so clear that you can see what shapes were used to make each item.

On the child development front, it develops art intelligence - the ability to see how to portray a 3-dimensional object with a 2-dimensional picture; spatial reasoning (like Legos or jigsaw puzzles - how do parts fit together?); fine motor skills manipulating the small pieces; and the usual benefits of preschool crafts - the kid learns to use standard tools such as glue stick and paper. What I especially like, though, is that a preschooler can learn from it that books can teach us how to do something. He (she) can figure out for himself (herself) how to do something by looking at the illustrations even if (s)he's too young to read. If (s)he asks you how to make a lion, tell him (her) to go look it up in the book!

The age range is 4 and up, per the publisher. Amazon.com says 4-8. That looks right. The small pieces are a choking hazard for children under 3. A kid needs the intelligence and finger skills of a 4-year-old to fully enjoy this book, counting skills to follow numbered steps. Somewhat older kids would enjoy it, too, as long as they're at an age where they still enjoy this sort of arts and crafts - elementary school age - and don't mind a preschool book. I bought it for a Christmas gift for a 4 yr. old. Waiting for Christmas ....

I love all the Klutz books. This one is great because my 2nd graders like it as well as my 3 year old. They all just love making different scenes and figures with the foam shapes. There are lots of different shapes, some that you don't normally see in foam shape varieties. You can order more from Klutz too! You can even add googly eyes and draw extra things with a pen. The possibilities are endless! Using a glue stick is great because it isn't all that messy. Overall, a great product!

I like Chicken Socks products. I got this as a rainy day project. It came with so many pieces that when opened we had pieces all over the place. I like the samples that came with the book but my kids wanted to make their own stuff, which is fine. The only thing is they were looking to remove a paper backing instead using the glue stick. Very nice toy.

I bought this to do craft activities with my kids. They love to put things together. This has been awesome for that. We have had a lot of fun putting together some of the ideas they suggest as well as trying to make up our own. It has been well worth it to me. :-)

Grandaughter made some super pictures with these shapes. Easy to follow directions. Great book.