School is out, and that means it is time to keep the kids busy on days (like today) when it happens to be raining. No problem! Dover Publications has the best variety of activity and DIY books that you can count on to make each day fun.
Dover Publishing’s newest titles include crocheting characters from The Wizard of Oz, coloring Alice in Wonderland, and instructions on how to paint in pastel.
The Art of Stone Painting
One of my favorites is The Art of Stone Painting. Since school is out, (and when the sun is out) you’ll have more time available to spend outside and find all sorts and shapes of rocks to paint. This is always a fun activity for kids of all ages.
Crochet Stories: L. Frank Baum’s
The Wonderful
Wizard of Oz
Follow the Yellow Brick Road to a charming combination of storytelling and crocheting! Suitable for beginning to intermediate crocheters, this book features a retelling of the classic adventure story, punctuated with nineteen patterns for L. Frank Baum’s beloved characters, plus their settings and accessories.
The much-loved tale begins in Kansas and follows Dorothy and Toto to Oz, presenting patterns for the little heroine, her dog, and her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em. Storybook chapters of her arrival and encounters with the people of Oz follow, accompanied by patterns for a Munchkin, the Good Witch of the North, the Wicked Witch of the East (consisting of Dorothy’s house with the witch’s magic slippers sticking out from underneath), and a stretch of the Yellow Brick Road. Subsequent chapters introduce Dorothy’s new friends — the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion — and those they meet in the Emerald City — the Wizard, the Wicked Witch of the West, a Winged Monkey, and the kindly Glinda the Good. In addition to these characters, the full-color patterns include key storytelling items such as the poppy, Emerald City spectacles, water bucket, and magical golden cap. A photo gallery of many of the story’s characters provides a delightful conclusion to the book. Price: $18.95
Creative Haven Alice in Wonderland Designs Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)
Color your way through the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland! These 31 original illustrations offer bold variations on theclassic drawings by John Tenniel, spotlighting Alice, the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and more beloved characters set against beautifully detailed backgrounds of hearts, flowers, playing cards, and more. Pages are perforated and printed on one side only for easy removal and display. Specially designed for experienced colorists, Alice in Wonderland Designs and other Creative Haven® adult coloring books offer an escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment. Each title is also an effective and fun-filled way to relax and reduce stress. Price: $5.00
The Art of Painting in Pastel (Dover Art Instruction)
When it comes to sketching from life and nature, pastel offers significant advantages: a technically simple method, it requires none of the cumbersome paraphernalia of watercolor or oil painting. The medium is currently enjoying a surge in popularity, and this vintage guide for intermediate-level artists offers timeless tips on creating still lifes, recapturing flowers and landscapes, and painting memorable portraits.
Unlike most other guides of its era, this volume is illustrated throughout with dozens of color examples that demonstrate not only good use of the color technique but also the solid underlying construction. Leonard Richmond was a British painter, teacher, designer, and author of over a dozen art instruction books. He and co-author J. Littlejohns were a major force in art self-instruction for half a century, and their richly illustrated techniques are an enduring source of guidance and inspiration. Suitable for professional and practicing artists, art teachers, and students, this edition of The Art of Painting in Pastel features an Introduction by famed muralist Frank Brangwyn. Price: $22.95
*Product received. All opinions are my own.