John Hawkinson (1912–1994)

ISBN 0807505579 - A Ball of Clay is a fairly simple, instructional book about making things with clay. While it appears to be a children's book, I think it works better as a book for a teacher or other adult who will be working with children.

Beginning with where to find clay - a creek bed is best but if you have to buy it, there's information about the kind of clay that's best - the book explains how to handle clay. In some detail, the reader learns how to make everything from basic shapes show more to various animals. Most directions are accompanied by a photograph that aids in clarifying them.

Hawkinson, particularly in the introduction, seems to have a good understanding of children and their fascination with clay. This made me confident that the book would be far less dry than a lot of instructional books. That the book IS a bit dry was a surprise. The instruction is simple to follow, with suggestions that really help a child get the idea - to help make a nose for a mask, the artist is told to feel his or her own nose for an idea of shape, for example. The problem I have with the book becomes obvious pretty early: with hands full of clay, referring to the book, turning the pages and reading, is difficult. This makes it better as a teacher's book but negates most of the value of the photos.

- AnnaLovesBooks show less

This book has easy to follow instructions how to make drums, panpipes, metallophone, pocket glockenspiel, xylophone, and many stringed instruments as well as instructions and the words to several songs. Easy enough for children to make.

A tree endures a long lifetime and is finally cut down