Terrific Toys » (US)

Provides instructions for making a variety of simple toys, including spinners, pick-up-sticks, parachutes, cork boats, juggling blocks, bead dolls, and more.

Kristin Harris - Children's Literature

This collection of twenty-one toys for kids to make is packed with a great range of toys made from materials found around the home. There are a number that are fairly predictable, like the tops and spinners; puppets out of felt, and the paper fortuneteller. More imaginative and unexpected are the instructions for making a felt bag for peanut or pasta jacks; making pick-up sticks from ice cream sticks, and making juggler's blocks from felt. Some more elaborate games, like Snap and a memory game, will involve a larger commitment of time to create. Instructions are included for the game of chance, Snakes 'n' Ladders, made with paper, glue and pipe cleaners. Bottle bowling requires bottles, sand, masking tape, paint and a long sock twisted into a ball. My favorite activity, and one I haven't seen in this kind of collection, is making a kaleidoscope. The magic ingredient in this process is acetate that is formed into a prism, easily done with scissors and tape. This one would take some time to complete and probably requires adult involvement, but would be worth the effort. 2001, Gareth Stevens Publishing,