Sandcastles: Great Projects: From Mermaids to Monuments [Spiral-bound]

Patti Mitchell (Author), Frankie Frankeny (Photographer), Living Earth Foundation (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

Sandcastles is the ultimate guide to the ultimate summer pastime--playing in the sand. Featuring the wonderful photographs of Frankie Frankeny (Snowmen), Sandcastles includes over 30 sand sculptures from the whimsical to the majestic, complete with easy-to-follow instructions. Adults and kids can work together to create gloriously impermanent structures by the sea--or even in a backyard sandbox. Pass the time with an ancient sundial. Sail alongside the seas in a sand schooner. Sunbathe with a mermaid. Put up a beach house for your lazy pup. Or for the truly ambitious, recreate some northern Spanish architecture with a rendition of the Gehry Bilbao Guggenheim. For sand sculptors young and old, this delightful volume is filled with the joys found in a summer day in the sand. Sandcastles is a joint project with the non-profit Leap Foundation, which hosts a sandcastle extravaganza each summer, where artists, architects, and kids of all ages construct inspiring sand creations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Life's a sun-dappled, low-tide beach in this whimsical guide to building castles (and pyramids and marine animals) in the sand. Featuring such practical tips as the "flat-mountain" construction method and the ever-important water-to-sand ratio, author Mitchell provides step-by-step instructions on how to fashion everything from an octopus ("[have] one of the tentacles grabbing something like a fish or maybe your baby brother") to a wild-haired mermaid rising from the sea. Frankie Frankeny's gorgeous photos are reason enough to flip through this book whether or not you have any intention of actually picking up a shovel and pail.

About the Author

Patti Mitchell is an architect living in Northern California. She has been involved with Leap for the past four years.

Frankie Frankeny is a San Francisco-based photographer whose work has illustrated many books, including Wookiee Cookies (0-8118-2184-6) and The Christmas Cookie Book (0-8118-3095-0).

The Living Earth Foundation is an organization committed to conservation and environmental education as the main focus of its work. The Foundation's projects enable local communities in developing countries to understand and value the rainforests and to ma

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 80 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811826201
• ISBN-13: 978-0811826204
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,160,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wide variety of great projects, June 5, 2000

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sandcastles: Great Projects: From Mermaids to Monuments (Spiral-bound)

This is a wonderful book for all ages. It is packed with creative and inspirational artwork, useful tips, and great techniques for making the sandcastle of your dreams. I really like that the book is spiral bond and the pages are laminated. This makes it easy to take it to the beach with you, without destroying the book in the process.

The book starts out describing various construction methods, some accompanied by small photos. Then there are instructions for using and caring for your building tools. Conveniently, there is also a recipe for making a permanent waterproof castle. I think this is worth the price of the book alone if you're interested in making everlasting sand art sculptures and it is also great for those who don't have access to a beach. Instructions for creating over 25 different sandcastles follow. These encompass a wide variety of animals, architecture and transportation vehicles. They vary in difficulty from an easier two-hour long grass hut to the magnificent and possibly all-day long project such as the medieval style castle with dragon show on the cover. Some of my favorite projects include a cornucopia, an Inca house and a rocket ship.

Though a complete materials list and clear written instructions are included, in most cases there are no step-by-step building illustrations. However, almost all include a nice photo of the fished piece. At such a reasonable price, it makes a great inexpensive gift for any beach lover or older child.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book for begginers, June 2, 2000

By 

C. G. Finney (West coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sandcastles: Great Projects: From Mermaids to Monuments (Spiral-bound)

This is a good book for beginners and families. It is fairly well organized and is spiral-bound to lay flat on the beach. The pages are also heavy and coated to resist water. It is probably the only sandcastle book that the family can take right to the beach and follow along with each project described. Despite its few flaws (incorrect or poor advice), it has many ideas for those who have never done anything in the sand other than dribble and dig holes.

The book starts with a general introduction to sand and sandcastling and then explains different methods of building up the sand and tools used to sculpt it. Some of the methods are flawed and some of the tools mentioned are not the best, but anyone serious will find out more on the internet (there are very few books on the subject for the serious sandcastler or sculpter- one is out-of-print).

The book gives incorrct advice when using a form such as an inverted garbage can with the bottom cut out. The book states that if too much water is used, the sand will slump upon removal of the form. This is just not true. When using any kind of form, the more water the better. One must wait for the water to perculate down through the form before the form is removed. This will eleviate any slumping. Water and sand is best alternated while tamping the sand with a heavy tamper on each layer (the book suggests a brick-- quite difficult if you're using an inverted garbage can and tamping at the very bottom-- you'll need very long arms indeed!)

Other than this and a few other items, the book is still a good starting point for anyone wanting to learn more about the wonderfull world of sandsculpting.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For the novice, August 25, 2000

By 

IBuyBooks4U - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sandcastles: Great Projects: From Mermaids to Monuments (Spiral-bound)

If you have very little experience of building in the sand, then this book is for you! The size and sturdiness of the book is great for taking on the beach with you. The projects are pretty basic, so even young children can join in on the fun.

If you have "dabbled" in the sand before and are looking for some new inspirations, then I think this book will be a disappointment. Though there are a few good suggestions, most of what's in it I've learned from experimenting on my own.

If you want a book for taking to the beach and for the entire family to have fun with, then this is the book! Otherwise, I wouldn't waste my money!! (Even tho I did!! :>)