Jazzy Jewelry, Pretty Purses, and More! »

Kathy Ross is the author of more than 50 craft books that have sold well over 1.5 million copies. A former pre-school teacher and curriculum developer, she consults for Highlights magazine, Highsmith, and Nickelodeon on early elementary school matters. Nicole in den Bosch lives and works with her artist husband and child in a Civil-War-era general store and schoolhouse on the eastern shore of Maryland. She has illustrated numerous books and all kinds of cool stuff, such as greeting cards, magazine illustrations, and children's products.

Accessorize your life with easy-to-make necklaces, bracelets, headbands, purses, and much more! This book is bursting with 21 fun accessories. Using low-cost or no-cost materials, you can customize these accessories to match your own personal style. From the Flower Cuff Bracelet to the Superspecial Sunglasses, these crafts are perfect for making alone or with friends.

Children's Literature

Young girls will find a wide variety of fun accessories in this latest volume from the "All-Girl Crafts" series. Readers can make a key cover from an old glove, a bracelet from a sock cuff, a pocket purse from a shirt cuff, and eighteen other clever, easy-to-make objects. The crafts use recyclables, as well as readily-available craft supplies like beads, yarn, paint, and white glue. Brightly-colored cartoon illustrations accompany each project and show materials, steps, and finished products. Simply-worded, numbered directions and plenty of white space make this book easy reading for young crafters, and the general nature of the instructions allows for plenty of creativity. Most of the crafts can be made with minimal adult supervision. There is no index, but a detailed table of contents will help readers find their perfect craft. Parents, teachers, and librarians looking for simple, inexpensive crafts for groups of girls will find this book most helpful, as will young crafters looking for new projects. Reviewer: Heather Christensen