From School Library Journal
Gr 4-6-Three books that describe customs, traditions, and celebrations from around the world and then offer related craft ideas. However, the cultural information is sketchy at best, and the craft directions are often vague and assume a lot. Festival highlights well-known celebrations such as Easter and Hanukkah as well as lesser-known holidays like Islam's Eid ul-Fitr and Holi, a Hindu event. It contains instructions for egg and candle decorating, greeting cards, flower garlands, jewelry, and ``God's eyes.'' Animal features real and imaginary beasts such as the lion of Africa, the dragon of China, and the flying fish of Japan and then presents masks, puppets, paper crafts, button designs, kites, and toys based on these creatures. Costume, the weakest of the tie-ins, features hats, silhouettes, masks, jewelry, T-shirt decorating, puppets, hair designs, etc. In each volume, a full-color double-page spread attractively displays each finished product, with insets on each side for the text. While pretty, these are not strong offerings. Jo Schuman's Art from Many Hands (Davis Mass, 1984) or Alexandra Terzian's The Kids' Multicultural Art Book (Williamson, 1993) are much better choices.-Dot Minzer, North Barrington School, Barrington, IL
Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
