Preschool Art: Clay & Dough, Vol. 1 »

Award-winning author MaryAnn F. Kohl has written 14 books for Gryphon House, and is a regular featured columnist for Parenting Magazine. She has written the best-selling favorites Preschool Art, The Big Messy Art Book, Making Make-Believe, MathArts, and First Art. She is co-author of Global Art and Cooking Art with Jean Potter. MaryAnn lives in Bellingham, Washington.

Sculpt, roll, and kneed your way to fun with these 50 clay & dough activities!

Children's Literature

Anyone who works with young children will want to own this book. Fifty simple-to-follow projects can actually be used with children of all ages. The author states that children should experience art and not feel that the product is important. Children can explore with materials to stimulate the senses. Some activities have a surprise, while others get the wiggles out. Each project includes icons that suggest tips about planning, the help that may be needed and the appropriate ages. Activities include many varieties of dough such as yeast, gak, peanut butter and paint. Clay can be made from items in the kitchen or the lint that comes out of the clothes dryer. Children will have a great time putting feet in the squishy mixture to locate marbles or Koosh balls. Imaging creating your own diamond crystals or putting "fairy dust glitter" on your cheeks. Several activities are edible, others create a three-dimensional product and many are just plain fun. Step-by-step instructions, hints and variations are accompanied by black-and-white drawings. Three indexes list materials alphabetically, by icons or by materials. This book is terrific and is part of the "Preschool Art" series of four books by an award-winning author. 2001, Gryphon House, $7.95. Ages All. Reviewer: Laura Hummel