The Natural Beauty Book (Klutz) by Anne Akers Johnson
Ages 12+
Klutz - September 1, 2009
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Klutz books are definitely my go-to for kid birthday and holiday gifts. I feel good because they’re getting a book which inspires creativity, but the kids are always pleased to break open the craft supplies and kick it into high gear. The Natural Beauty Book has wonderful recipes for pampering a girl from head to toe, using natural ingredients like apples (the apple mask is amazing) and oatmeal. Can you just picture a bunch of girls taking over your bathroom and kitchen to create a special spa night? Good, clean fun!!

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The Perfect Handmade Bag by Clare Youngs
Cico (August 2009)
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
It is taking every last iota of discipline not to jump off the computer and yank out the sewing machine and fabric to start creating the perfect handmade bag (or 20). The designs are fabulous and range from simple to slightly more complex (but well within the reach of a beginner. Through the magic of no-sew products, I also have many people convinced that I sew expertly. Grab your stash of fabric and start creating!

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Home-Made Christmas: With 35 Beautiful Easy-to-make Projects by Tessa Evelegh
Cico (13 Aug 2009)
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Reduce, reuse, recycle…rejoice! For once, I didn’t feel intimidated by the level or complexity of the projects. Although the book title says Christmas, the projects are adaptable and the author uses organic, recycled and natural materials for most of the projects. I can’t wait to get started.

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Product Description
Unpacking the Christmas decorations, putting up the tree, and decorating the house is always an exciting time. And nestling, hidden somewhere in the corner of a box or bottom of a bag, is some forgotten favorite that revives memories of Christmasses past.

Traditionally, decorations were always handmade using materials that could be found around the house and gleaned from nature. And it’s still immensely satisfying to make your own. Children love to help, and making decorations and gifts is a wonderful way to fill the days of anticipation.

You’ll find most of the projects in this book require only the most basic skills, so everyone can have a go with guaranteed success! The joy of Christmas decorations is that they’re not meant to be masterpieces. They’re fun, they’re quick, they can even be kitsch, but en masse, they’re always beautiful. This book has 35 projects and ideas to get you started–use them, adapt them, develop your own. Because when it comes down to it, the best of home-made is that it’s an expression of yourself.

Wildlife Gardening by Martyn Cox
30 Mar 2009 - Dorling Kindersley
Ages 6 - 9 years
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
There are some great projects and planting ideas to bring some beautiful insects and wildlife into your own backyard. There are simple plant guides as well as a visual guide to identify animal tracks. And, as always, DK uses gorgeous photography to illustrate the great earth-friendly ideas.

Book Description:
Great for kids who think green! Wildlife Garden is a fun and informative introduction to gardening and garden wildlife. It’s full of simple, step-by-step gardening activities that can be explored anywhere, from the city to the suburbs. It’s ideal for any family or school that wants to help our environment from the ground up. With the right plants and some dirt and some light, kids can create a habitat for bugs, birds, bees, butterflies, and even bats-and this exciting hands-on guidebook shows them how!

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What Can You Do with an Old Red Shoe?: A Green Activity Book About Reuse by Anna Alter
Henry Holt and Co. - March 31, 2009
Age Range: 4 to 7
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
From donating toys to melting down crayons to make new ones, this book will inspire your little recycler to get creative with things around the house which can be recreated into something new. Just keep an eye on them before they go shopping for materials in your clothes closet!

Book Description:
What can Ruby do with her old red shoe? Use it as a planter for pansies! In this “green” craft book, children can appreciate that recycling is a part of everyday life, and with a little creativity, exciting projects are only a few steps away. Turn a worn flip-flop into an art stamp, a ripped shower curtain into an apron, and an old T-shirt into a pillow. These activities are just a few of the many crafts to be explored.

With easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, this interactive book will challenge kids to come up with clever recycling ideas of their own.
Visit www.OldRedShoe.com to download activity sheets, curriculum guides, classroom tips, and desktop wallpapers.

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Sprout Your Own Sweet Scents
Complete mini-garden kit with seeds, peat, and planters
Ages 4-12
Chronicle Books - March 2009
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I believe it was snowing the day this kit arrived and it was a welcome sign of spring! Everything about this kit is well-planned and would make a perfect gift or even a science fair project. The plastic cups are biodegradable, the packaging is recyclable and the sweet-scented plants will be wonderful organic air filters for any home (through the magic of photosynthesis). This kit will brighten anyone’s window sill. The publisher also offers Leafy Wonders, which is a similar kit with 3 plants: Sensitive plant, Polka-Dot plant and Lamb’s Ear plant.

Product Description:
Sprout Your Own Sweet Scents — This clever kit has everything young gardeners need to grow three plants with sweet-as-candy scents. Easy-to-follow instructions make growing these fragrant plants simple, fun, and fast, as the plants will have scented leaves in as little as two weeks. The book features recipes and herb-drying instructions so kids can make use of their harvests.
Seed packets: Cinnamon Basil, Lemon Balm, and Spearmint

Kit includes:
3 see-through biodegradable planters, so kids can watch roots grow
3 seed packets
3 dried peat pellets (just soak in water to expand)
Stickers to decorate the planters
Book with growing instructions, plant science and history, science-fair experiments, recipes, and more!

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1 2 3 I Can Collage by Irene Luxbacher
Grades: Pre-K to 2
Ages: 4 to 7
Cautions: None

Kids Can Press, 2009

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Budding Eric Carles will embrace this book where recycling is king and artistic creation is queen. The project ideas are original, creative and, well, a little messy and appeal to any kid. Collage and cut paper are very hot in the illustration world, so now is the time to get your little Picasso in training. Or, just have fun getting messy with paper.

This book in the Starting Art series provides an introduction to all the materials kids need to collage. They’ll learn collage techniques, such as cut-paper and torn-paper, decoupages, found objects, patterns and weaving. The seven dazzling sea-creature projects include a flying fish, an octopus and a starfish family. Budding artists will proudly say, “I can collage!”

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The Everything Kids’ Christmas Puzzle & Activity Book Hours of holiday fun!

By Beth L. Blair and Jennifer A. Ericsson

• Wreaths
• Christmas trees
• Gifts
• Christmas traditions
• Santa and the North Pole

The Everything® Kids’ Christmas Puzzle & Activity Book will keep the holidays exciting straight into the New Year!

The Everything Kids’ Hanukkah Puzzle & Activity Book
Games, crafts, trivia, songs, and traditions to celebrate the festival of lights!

Kids love holidays, especially Hanukkah, which is celebrated for eight dazzling nights. From the lighting of the menorah to the blessings and all the tradition in between, kids are mesmerized by the magic of this celebration. With this book, kids will enjoy more than 100 puzzles and activities about: the history of Hanukkah from its roots more than 2,000 years ago; the meaning behind the various rituals, traditions, and prayers; why certain foods are eaten during Hanukkah; Hanukkah crafts, decorations, and gifts they can make; and more! Kids will enjoy watching this fun-filled puzzle and activity book unfold, as each chapter opens with one more candle lit on the menorah. With this book by their side, kids are sure to become dreidle-spinning masters in no time!(144 Pages)

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