Customer Reviews

My Little House Crafts Book: 18 Projects from Laura Ingalls Wilder's

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

 

 

I'd hoped for a nice selection of crafts. While a few of the items listed are interesting and "crafty" (the quilt, bead crafts, straw hat, hood), most are defintely stretching the definition. I wouldn't consider a garden or a loaf of bread to be a 'craft'... and does anyone REALLY need instructions to figure out how to make a button string? The original Little House books explain quite well how to make the orange flower and button lamp. (And what you'd do with a decorative button lamp is a puzzle to me anyway.) We learn how to make the tassles for Mary's bedshoes, but there are no instructions for making the shoes themselves.

I know that Carolyn Collins and Mary Collier wanted to keep their craft projects as simple as possible, so that they would be fun for our TV-glutted, skill-deprived youngsters. But in doing so, they curtailled themselves from creating a masterpiece of historical analysis like The Little House Cookbook.
How about showing some of the REAL projects that we read about in the Little House books, like the dresses that Laura and Mary laid out by drafting patterns on old newspaper, or the cabinetry that Almanzo built to delight his wife?
Aside from very young children, the handy people described in the Little House books manufactured items that were more useful and complex than Brownie Scout camp crafts. That it bears the "Little House" brand name does not separate this book from the pack.

This book is a great opportunity to learn about crafts and stories through the eyes and hands of a pioneer child. Children will enjoy the stories from Laura Ingles Wilder. With each story, a craft is illustrated with colorful pictures and detailed step by step instructions that are very easy to follow. A great teaching tool and a good book to add to your shelf.

...but we only really were able to do the button string as far as a kid activity. I have a 7 year old daughter who is crazy about the Little House books and I was searching for ideas of things to do at a Little House party. We made the bread from the book before the party for a decoration (which was difficult with a two year-old constantly needing attention), and it ended up beautiful and delicious.

We did the button string project with the kids at the party because we already had a lot of buttons around the house. The girls had fun stringing the buttons, but the end product isn't that impressive -- just buttons on a string. I think the corn cob doll could have been another possibility to try, but I didn't know that I would have enough adult help to get that to work. Wished that there were more crafts in the book suitable for my daughter's age. But I see other reviews where people wanted to have more difficult crafts. You can't please everyone.

Asa teacher I am always looking for books that enrich my students...very practical ideas (and fun too) are included in this book. I purchased this several years back (and have used the ideas) and wanted to share it with our teaching team. I would recommend this book.

This has many easy to follow craft ideas that could be done with young children and enjoyed by all including Laura's "corncob" doll.

I actually bought this for myself, because I am the anti-crafty lady. I hope to start with easy stuff to train my hands to do something. I think the projects in the book sound perfect for a beginner like myself!

We are very pleased with the book. It was a gift for my granddaughter. She is very happy with the book. It has given her insight to the times of old.

There were more crafts than I expected, my seven year old is busy creating the crafts from the book. We are also reading the Little House book series, so this craft book ties in nicely.