Kindergarten Arts

1. Little Artist: A Childs Art Book by Bonnie Sose, Hardcover: 36 pages, Publisher: Character Builders for Kids
Little Artist is a wonderful book for preschool thru 2nd grade children. The first half of the book has blank pages titled with specific things for the kids to draw. For example, my house, my family, my best friend, etc. The second half has blank pages for them to draw whatever they'd like. The book is hardbound & a great keepsake for those beautiful creations children this age love to make & look at over & over again.

2. I Made It Myself!: Fantastic Crafts and Recipes (Nick Jr) by Nickelodeon, Spiral-bound: 24 pages, Publisher: Chronicle Books
Children love making things themselves, and this book is full of crafts, and recipes, designed just for them by the experts at Nick Jr. Create musical instruments, design a puppet theater, make a homemade gift for someone special, and wrap it in homemade wrapping paper. Die-cut tabs, stencils, stickers, punch-outs, and foldout craft paper add to the fun. Featuring everyone's favorite Nick Jr. characters, I Made It Myself! will inspire hours of creative play.

3. Hands-On Rocky Mountains: Art Activities About Anasazi, American Indians, Settler, Trappers and Cowboys (Hands-On (Kits Publishing)) by Yvonne Y. Merrill, Mary Simpson, Paperback: 83 pages, Publisher: Kits Publishing
For Grades 3 to 6, younger for use with adult. This is a particularly attractive activities book. Even children who aren't inclined to do the crafts will enjoy looking at the handsome, oversize color photographs, pictures of a quality rarely seen in this type of book. It covers a lot of ground, but the book is well designed, and the information never overwhelms. A two-page spread introduces each group covered (early people, American Indian, trappers, settlers, cowboys). This is followed by the crafts, 2 to 10 for each topic. These include making story robes, powder horns, rag rugs and quilts, and spurs. Facing each page of directions is a full-page photo of one of the original objects. The crafts vary in difficulty and appeal, but there should be something here for every age and artistic ability, - Ilene Cooper

4. Animals & Habitats -- On Land, Ponds & Rivers, Oceans (Draw Write Now, Book 6) by Marie Hablitzel, Kim Stitzer, Paperback: 64 pages, Publisher: Barker Creek Publishing 
Beginning drawing and writing lessons for children ages five to ten. BOOK 6 focuses on animal habitats - land, freshwater, and saltwater. Children use the books independently, or a teacher or parent may present the lessons. Each drawing lesson includes a colorful picture and step-by-step drawing instructions, while the writing lesson includes four simple handwritten sentences with handwriting guidelines. The teacher or parent may introduce letter formation or have the children copy the sentences for handwriting practice, using any alphabet style. The lessons are also used as a springboard for creative writing or report writing. A brief list of the 21 lessons in the book includes robin, monarch butterfly, jackrabbit, lizard, frog, salmon, eel, hermit crab, heron, shark, dolphin, angler fish.