Making Make-Believe: Fun Props, Costumes, and Creative Play Ideas (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 4-"Play is learning; learning is play" and play readers will, with these 138 ideas/recipes for stimulating make-believe or dramatic play. The activities are open-ended, allowing for creative responses from participants. The directions include lists of supplies and the activities will appeal to children of varying abilities. Many ideas involve new uses of familiar materials; others are tried-and-trues with intriguing variations. A chapter entitled "Storybook Make-Believe" offers more than 20 activities related to popular children's books, e.g., a "Hungry Sock Puppet" to go with Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Philomel, 1969). While the stories are primarily older classics, the ideas can effectively be paired with newer books. Each activity has prominently displayed icons indicating the degree of difficulty of the craft, accessibility of materials, and the medium used, e.g., paint, scissors, cooking, etc. There are many books of crafts or theater games for young people, but most of them concentrate on skill building or curriculum themes. The excitement in this book about creative play with no planned outcome and the wide variety of activities, combined with the ease of use, make this a prime choice.
Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Explore the world of make-believe with fun and easy-to-make props and costumes. 160 line drawings.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Gryphon House (May 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876591985
• ISBN-13: 978-0876591987
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #516,064 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No TV tonight!, June 8, 2000

By A Customer

I think I will try weaving a big yarn web in our tv room tonight (just like the book suggests! ), and turn off that ol' TV. It will be a whole lot better for the kids (and us) than watching Third Rock from the Sun, don't you think? I'm excited about the variety of pretend and play ideas in this book, and am especially interested in the chapter that gives pretending projects and activities to go with favorite children's books like Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things are. Yes, even Curious George is there!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Email Sharing Groups Contribute to Book, May 27, 1999

By A Customer

Many of the ideas in this book were contributed through email sharing groups with MaryAnn, from teachers and parents all over the world.If you like pretending, or think it's important for your kids, you will like this book. All of the 44 people who contributed to it feel the same way!

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HOORAY! Turn off the TV, May 28, 1999

By A Customer

This is the best book I have seen on what kids can make to motivate and enhance their pretend time. Let's turn off more tv's and get kids busy with their imagainations! Excellent book.