Crafty ways to beat boredom

With more than a month left before fall school bells ring, there’s

plenty of time for kids to beat boredom with summer crafts.

With a little adult supervision, even preschoolers can tackle many

of the projects in “I Can Make That!” In her newest work, art

educator Mary Wallace provides simple steps for transforming

household miscellany into toys, games, puppets and nature crafts. In

addition, a whole section is devoted to costumes, for those who want

to get a jump-start on Halloween.

Simple costume ideas also are included in “Crafts From Your

Favorite Nursery Rhymes,” new from Kathy Ross. In the latest addition

to her story-based craft series, the author of 35 books for young

children includes instructions for such whimsical creations as Old

King Cole’s crown, Mistress Mary’s bouquet and a Jack and Jill hat

with moving parts.

Budding artists interested in decorating their rooms will find

ideas for making candleholders, folded stars, festive lanterns and

colorful mobiles in “Paper Creations.” Using nothing more exotic than

gift wrap, glitter, construction paper and buttons, kids can express

themselves and create works of art with help from Joy Williams’ easy

project collection.

For animal lovers as young as age 4, there are inventive ways to

learn about creatures of the wild in “At the Zoo!” In chapters such

as “African Safari,” “Tropical Forest” and “Inside the Aquarium,”

Judy Press brings together fun facts, riddles, games, projects rated

by skill level and story sources for reading about favorite animals.

Creatures of an earlier era are the focus of “Dinomania.” In a

delightful romp through prehistoric times, Mick Manning and Brita

Granstrom provide instructions for imaginative timelines, costumes,

games, art projects and even a dinosaur video.

“Do you bolt at the sight of most craft books?” Renee Schwarz asks

in “Funky Junk.” “Are you nuts about heavy metal? Then this is the

book for you!”

In a riveting read aimed at kids age eight and up, Schwarz reveals

how to use nuts, bolts, washers and other odds and ends to create

funky doodads. Learn how to make a bug bracelet, a lighting bee

switch plate, a heavy metal chess set and an alien key chain in this

new addition to the juvenile collection.

Before summer gives way to the school year, kids can document what

they did on vacation with help from “The Kids’ Guide to Making

Scrapbooks & Photo Albums” by Laura Check. Whether warm days were

taken up with camp, family activities or visits to far flung locales,

there are dozens of ideas for designing covers, papers and page

decorations in this guide for crafters from age 8 to 80.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams in collaboration with

Gina Moffitt. All titles may be reserved from home or office

computers by accessing the catalog at www.newportbeach library.org.