Mary Wallace

When I first flipped through this, I thought "eh, another craft book that could be easily replaced by Pinterest." But a closer look proved me wrong (and inspired me to keep this until it's....extremely overdue...whilst mulling over it).

The book is divided into Costumes, Puppets, Nature Crafts, Toys and Games. There is a simple "Getting Started" section that has a list of ideas for decoration - paint, markers, tape, etc. At the end there are several pages of patterns and an index for show more materials.

The projects are very simple with bright colors, helpful lists of supplies, reminders about safety and asking first, and clear directions. What sets this apart from other craft books is that everything is geared towards kids being able to do the projects themselves with minimal to no help and the organization of the book. If you or your kids have ever been frustrated by complicated directions, scrolling through a gazillion ideas on Pinterest without finding the right one, or projects that lay out every step without leaving room for children's own imagination and creativity, this is the perfect solution.

It includes instructions on making a puppet theater and getting started making your own puppets, but the puppets shown are clearly hand-made and won't discourage kids from branching out into their own creations. Furniture made out of sponges and people out of twist ties, a dollhouse out of cardboard - sophisticated kids used to a more consumerist culture may turn up their noses at these projects, but leave a few basic supplies and the instruction book lying around and direct them to it when they get bored. Making will result!

Verdict: A great selection for inspiring kids to make their own creations and develop basic making skills like using scissors, following a pattern, and waiting for glue to dry. Highly recommended if these are areas of concentration for your library programs.

ISBN: 9781926973975; Published 2014 by Owlkids; Purchased for the library show less

Inuksuk Journey, a non-fiction book for older children, is about artist Mary Wallace's summer trip in Nunavut. It is written as a series of journal entries and includes numerous photographs and sketches. Additionally, each section opens with a painting representing some aspect of her journey. A common element in all the sections is the inuksuk. Wallace describes different ones she encounters on her journey and explains their significance in Inuit culture.

This is a beautiful book that has won show more several awards, and the detailed narrative provides a good sense of what Wallace's journey through the north was like. However, it may be the case that the artwork and recurring inuksuk theme appeal more to adults than children. My 10-year-old daughter told me that this book did not hold her attention as much as other non-fiction books she'd read recently. Nevertheless, she did say she felt she learned a lot about life in Nunavut. show less

An inuksuk, “the stone messenger that stands at the top of the world” (unp.), is a stone tower to guide the Arctic people and welcome them home, Using the letters of inuksuk, the book introduces seven words from the Inuktitut language: nanuq or polar bear, umiaq or the family’s summer boat, kamik, or the waterproof boot, siku or sea ice, umimmat or muskoxen and kunik or kiss “that says we’re family” (unp). Providing pronunciation, a brief description of the word, and the word show more spelled in the Inuktitut language, each word is accompanied by a two-page illustration that embraces traditions and customs of Inuit life. Wallace uses broad brush strokes with a colorful palette of mostly cold blues and shadowed white to striking effect. show less

Illustrated with visually-appealing paintings, this acrostic poem celebrates the beauty and uniqueness of the Arctic from its heritage and landscape to its structures, people and wildlife. The book uses and explains a Inuktitut word for each letter of Inukshuk (I is for Inukshuk..., N is for Nanuk..., etc.). Wallace has cleverly hidden an inukshuk in every painting and includes a list of the different inukshuk types with an explanation of what each one symbolizes.

Recommended for ages 5 and up.