Christmas Book Review- The Toymaker's Christmas: Paper Toys You Can Make Yourself by Marilyn Scott- Waters

Details: Paperback, 48 pgs.
Published: Oct. 5, 2010 by Sterling

isbn: 1402768524 (ISBN13: 9781402768521)

Reading Level: ALL ages!

Received from: Sterling for review

Description:

The Toymaker spreads Christmas joy with 11 paper toys to pop out, fold, glue together, and play with! With their beautiful, antique style, these toys are sure to enchant both children and adults. Leave St. Nick his milk and cookies in “Santa's Treat Box.” Decorate the Christmas tree with the four lovely “Little Angels.” Create a magical “Winter Wonderland,” complete with moving parts-like an ice skating penguin. And no Christmas would be complete without a handsome paper “Nutcracker,” with arms and a jaw that move. 

My Thoughts:

I have a problem.  I like to do crafts but my crafts look like crap!  My daughter LOVES to do crafts, but I'm too short on patience!  My baby- well, he likes to get into the crafts we're doing and ruin them!  

So to be honest I was a bit worried when I got this book.  I've just been avoiding crafts and the crazy that ensues when we try to do them.  But my daughter wanted to do something so I pulled this book out (I knew I needed to review it anyway...).  And boy, oh boy was I surprised!  This is something we can do together that makes us feel like we're making something but it's simple enough we can do each project together without things getting too out of hand with the baby.  And the things we make actually look good!  

We started with the first project and we just had to punch it out of the book, fold the edges that it says to fold and glue it together.  VERY easy!  And it's good enough to be a gift!  I think we'll just stick a candle in there and it's ready to go!  The next one we did was the star people.  This one we punched each star person out and then my daughter (age 5) was able to stack them herself with the slits in the hands, hats and feet.  It took only a few minutes and it's something that looks good enough to actually display for the holiday season!  

Now there are a few more difficult ones in there, like Santas sleigh, that have a lot more pieces and more steps to it, but everything is clearly laid out directions and we don't have to go to the store to actually buy supplies.  All we've needed so far is just some glue!  

I definitely recommend this book if you need some simple craft projects to do.  Another idea I had was it's something that would be great for older people who may not be able to do more difficult projects anymore.  I've thought of buying one for the nursing home because I think the residents could definitely do some of the more simple projects.

I give this 5/5 moons!

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Disclosure: Sterling sent me this book for review purposes.  The opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.