Finger Strings: A Book of Cats Cradles and String Figures [Spiral-bound]

Michael Taylor (Author), Ann Swain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2008

Finger string games are a wonderful opportunity for today's children to practise meaningful movement, explore space, interact with others, and exercise their creative spirits. They're also great fun! String games can be particularly useful with children who struggle at school, are dyslexic or who are learning concepts such as 'left and right', 'up and down'. This book contains games that will delight all children, from the very young to those with greater dexterity. Michael Taylor has many years of experience in working with children and has shared his string figures at schools and camps throughout the world. This book contains over 80 inventive and imaginative string games and stories, all clearly illustrated with step-by-step colour diagrams. The book is particularly designed to require as little page-turning as possible in the middle of making a string shape! It includes two brightly coloured strings to get you started.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The cat's cradle craze keeps popping up and this is the whole works. We start with a simple flag across our fingers and end up with wearable art. It can be an individual or a group activity - see the Five Person Star! There are even rhymes and stories to tell as you illustrate them in string. There are some scholarly notes which show how string games are part of many different cultures. An excellent 'cross-generational' book.' -- Carousel Christmas Guide to Children's Books 2008 'Children today sometimes miss out on traditional pursuits so it is always good to find a book that offers something a little different. This project book, complete with colourful string, is a great resource giving readers the chance to play games, make pictures and act out stories - all using string. Diagrams for over 80 activities are fairly easy to follow, even for an instruction phobic parent!' -- The Green Parent, Oct/Nov 2008 'Do you remember playing Cat's Cradle as a child? A new book - Finger Strings by Michael Taylor - offers step by step instructions for finger string games and comes with two strings. Why not relearn your skills and teach them to your children or grandchildren - or use them as an ice-breaker at a party?' -- Woman Alive, October 2008 'These are very clearly described and pictured, and there are examples of simple figures and some quite complicated. Some can be used in the telling of a story and others have a poem accompanying them; there is much potential for use across a wide range from playgroup to adult, and indeed some shapes have been invented by children themselves. The sense of achievement when the desired result is reached is very satisfying! ... It can be addictive: back to Jacob's Ladder ...' -- Diana Barnes, The School Librarian

About the Author

Michael Taylor is a teacher at Philpots Manor School in the UK who promotes traditional childhood games of movement and agility for the classroom, playground and gym. As well as string figures he collects and teaches clapping games, finger-games, jump-rope activities, ball-bouncing and bean-bag games. He always carries a string with him, and has been known to share string patterns with strangers on tube trains and aeroplanes. He is the author of Pull the Other One and Now You See It.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 144 pages
• Publisher: Floris Books; Spi edition (September 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863156657
• ISBN-13: 978-0863156656
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very special book, May 14, 2009

By 

Myriam Namolaru (Haifa, ISRAEL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finger Strings: A Book of Cats Cradles and String Figures (Spiral-bound)

I have many string figure books, but this one is special.

First, the illustrations. The use of the colour is so good.

There are green arrows to show the movement of the strings,

and other green arrows that change to red to mean that a new string has been picked by a finger.

The final illustrations are multicoloured.

Secondly, the choice of the figures:

even the simple figures will interest everybody. The author knows how to introduce a story (flag and girl) or a little magic (necklace link) into the making of the string game.

There are many stars, not only made with strings (five-pointed stars) but also with elastic band (star in a star) and stars for two or five persons (big star)!

The figures that going so well with little stories (the sealskin house) ) or rhymes (nibble fish) (by Jaimen McMillan and Milly Reynolds).

All the people loves 3D figures and Michael Taylor puts also some.

The Eiffel Tower on four feet is fantastic and so simple.

I have kids and I know that they are always impressed by the

moving figures. The growing sunflower that changes into two men

(one with a big belly!) is the best.

You have as well what I call special figures:

the ringing bell and the Olympic flag.

Thirdly, the chapters: partner games (tortoise shell), tricks (thumb jump), string things (wrist watch), children inventions (trampoline), the very simple figures (dewdrops) include many figures old and new

that will enchant you.

Last but not least, the last chapter Stringing stories together.

Two long stories (The dragon, the Princess and Jack/Two brothers find treasure), a gift that will delight you.

Don't forget to read ideas for making stories and as well

the sources of the figures.

The most important feature of this book is the binding.

The spiral binding allows the book to lay flat and it is encased with a wrap-around hard cover. Inside you will find two strings.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great game and fun developing brain for kids, February 6, 2010

By 

K. L. Bridge - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Finger Strings: A Book of Cats Cradles and String Figures (Spiral-bound)

My daughter (7 years) has very much hooked onto this... and I really like how she can engage her little sister, adults and her own peers to play the finger strings. I remember doing it as a kid! It is also something that can travel-- bring the string and keep occupied anywhere. The book is laid out with very clear and easy pictures - and even better: stories and songs that go with the string that are easy to remember. My 4 year old likes to copy the stories... It is always amazing to remember and feel the beauty of storytelling with movements.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent when you're ready for the "next level.", December 3, 2011

By 

The Big E (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Finger Strings: A Book of Cats Cradles and String Figures (Spiral-bound)

I love to do string figures, and this is a book I return to over and over. It has just the right blend of beginner and advanced figures. The illustrations are clear and easy to follow. If you're just learning or if it's for a younger child, then the Klutz book is best. But this book is wonderful if you already know some basics and want to do more (both for older children and adults). I have had great fun using this with nieces and nephews ages 9-14.