Product Description

Early settlers made the things they needed for everyday life. They wove reeds and grasses into baskets, pieced together scraps of fabric for quilts, and made candles and lanterns to light their way. Pioneers also made toys -- balancing acrobats, whimmy diddles and rag dolls, to name a few. Kids today can dye fabric, weave gift baskets, or turn a piece of felt into a pair of cozy moccasins and make crafts the pioneer way.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #253521 in Books
• Published on: 1997-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 40 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8. An uneven collection of early American craft ideas. Directions for making each item are presented on two-page spreads; brief summaries explain how early settlers might have used these processes and objects. Spatter painting, moulded candles, rug braiding, silhouette painting, and punched-tin lanterns are all clearly explained. The illustrations are helpful, and well-done; however, the basket-weaving project includes no picture of the final product. The creation of a simple loom and weaving activity seems overly ambitious when compared with the other crafts. General instructions for carving with a knife, a procedure necessary for several of the activities, comes with safety tips but no suggestion for obtaining parental permission except to ask an adult to sharpen the blade. Supplies used in some projects are not the type normally found around the house (e.g., Plasticine, skewers, embroidery floss, etc.). Add to collections only where a large selection of pioneer crafts books is needed.?Rosie Peasley, Empire Union School District, Modesto, CA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Adults or children who have an interest in folk art or pioneer crafting will want this book, which lives up to the promise of its title beautifully in a gentle, thoughtful, ungimmicky manner. Author Barbara Greenwood has done her homework, researching pioneer crafts that are authentic, yet timely enough that today’s kids will want to make them. Clear, concise, easy-to-follow text gives just enough information and cautions where necessary. This book is a real pleasure.

Classes studying pioneers are the obvious audience, but scout leaders and others looking for craft ideas will find this a useful offering.

About the Author
Barbara Greenwood is an award-winning author whose books include Gold Rush Fever, The Last Safe House and A Pioneer Thanksgiving. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Heather Collins has illustrated more than 50 children’s books, including the My First Look at Nature series and Gold Rush Fever. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Customer Reviews

Great supplemental activities!
This wonderful book is a great addition to your study of Pioneer days! All of the activities can be used to reinforce the daily life of the Pioneer families. There are activities and instructions for hand sewing a doll and her clothing; making useful, everyday things such as punched tin lanterns from tin cans and votive candles; or even molded candles. This is a great book for those hands on activities you need for history. It would even be good for studying the lives of children throughout history.

excellent book but too thin
This is an excellent book full of great activities for connecting to lessons. The only problem I have with it is that it is too thin! There are just not enough projects in it. It really could use more things to do and a few more historical tidbits.