Maker Monday: Andrea Beaty's Maker Kids in Action

Do you need a little maker inspiration? Take a look at Andrea Beaty's classroom of makers in "Iggy Peck Architect," "Rosie Revere, Engineer," and "Ada Twist, Scientist." Taught by the initially dubious Miss Lila Greer, this group of intrepid second graders designs, tinkers, and experiments their way through life. Although their obsessions cause each student trouble, the all get the chance to save the day in the end. With colorful illustrations highlighting real-life design, as well as the student's creative inventions, your creativity is sure to be sparked. These books are appropriate for preschoolers to first graders. Click on the links to reserve your copies today.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: "Maker Lab: 28 Super Cool Projects" by Jack Challoner

Are you looking for a new project? Check out "Maker Lab: 28 Super Cool Projects" by Jack Challoner. From growing your own stalactites, creating home-made speakers, to building a water filter, there's something interesting for everyone. Perfect for third graders on up.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: Rebecca Felix's "Cool" series

Are you bored yet this summer? Grab a copy of one of Rebecca Felix's "Cool" books and get creating! With easy written and pictorial directions, these DIY books are easy for anyone to follow. You can make your own "Action figures & Dolls," "Board Games," "Contruction & Building Blocks," "Crayons, Chalks & Paints," "Doughs, Putties, Slimes & Goops" and "Springy, Slinky & Stretchy Projects." From home-made glow-in-the-dark paint to mini magnetic battleship, there's a project for everyone to make and enjoy. Click on the link above to request one of the books and get creating!

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: "Be a maker!" series

Do you have an itch to learn how to do something new? Check out the Be A Maker! series. Each book is a great collection of projects, history, and information about jobs in each respective skill set. You can try different forms of animation, robotics, fashion and music. With lots of great pictures and ideas, these books will appeal to any kid in middle to upper grade school or middle school. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today!

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: "The Jumbo Book of Needlecrafts"

Do you have a child in your life who is interested in needlecrafts? "The Jumbo Book of Needlecrafts" it the perfect book for any child (or adult, really) who wants to explore the enterprising world of needlecrafts. There are easy projects to learn knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, and sewing. Illustrated directions help show exactly what your craft should look like as you make it. Click on the link about to reserve a copy today and get busy crafting!

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: Let's Get Sewing!

If you're interested in dipping your toe into crafty waters, now's a good time to start sewing. We have a  wonderful collection of sewing books for kids that give both instruction and project ideas, with plenty of photos and patterns to help you along the way. Click on the titles below to reserve a copy.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

"We Love to Sew--Bedrooms" by Annabel Wrigley

"The Amazing Stitching Handbook for Kids" by Kristin Nicholas

"Girls Get Stitching" by Shirley McLauchlan

"Get Quilting with Angela & Cloe" by Angela Walters

Maker Monday: "Sew Fab: Sewing and Style for Young Fashionistas" by Lesley Ware

Young, creative fashionistas everywhere will devour the advice and projects in "Sew Fab" by Lesley Ware. Starting with picking a fashion style, Ware leads readers through the process of setting up a sewing space to making your own projects, including creating your own patterns. The illustrations are classy and diverse--perfect for the fashion conscious tween in your life. It's a great start in creative sewing.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: "Fun Things to do With Milk Jugs" by Marne Ventura

You have them in your recycle bin every week.  Why not give them a new life?  "Fun Things to do with Milk Jugs" has lots of ideas to jazz up those plastic bottles. There are toys, games, decorations and gifts just waiting to be made.  Most of these can be done with things you already have around the house or they can be bought at a dollar store.  So save that gallon or half-gallon jug this week and try something new!
Also in this series:

 --Angie RH, Headquarters

Maker Monday: "Brick by Brick" by Recess Monkey

Calling all makers! Rock out to this fabulous building song by Recess Monkey, "Brick by Brick," then grab your bricks and get building! For some great ideas, click on the link to request "The Lego Ideas Book."

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: "The Most Magnificent Thing" by Ashley Spires

Making begins at an early age, and so does the frustration that goes along with it. You have a grand vision, but somehow you just can't seem to make it come out right. That's the story behind Ashley Spires' inspiring new picture book, "The Most Magnificent Thing."

One day, a regular girl has a brilliant idea to make a magnificent thing. So she sets out with her best friend to create, and when she's done it just doesn't seem right. She fusses and feels let down, but after stepping away for a bit, she keeps creating until she realizes that each of her creations has a perfect bit to them. So she puts them all together, and voila! Her magnificent thing is created. 

With fun illustrations and a funny sort of story, this book is sure to please the frustrated young makers in your home. And hopefully, it will inspire them to keep trying. For kindergarten to second grade.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: "Great Things to Do Outside: 365 Awesome Outdoor Activities" by Jamie Ambrose

Gear up, creative explorers! If you're looking for something to do outside, grab the field guide, "Great Things to Do Outside" and have a blast. There's 365 different ideas of things to make, see, and find outside. From building your own bivouac to creating a spider web catcher, there will be something for everyone in the family to get excited about--crafts, games, and ways to explore. As a bonus, this book's compact shape will fit in anyone's backpack or cargo pocket! Great for the whole family.

Dewey Number: 372.357



--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: "50 nature Projects for Kids" by Cecilia Fitzsimons

The outdoors is full of wonderful places to explore and things to discover. Childhood is an especially great time to study and learn through play. In the book "50 Nature Projects for Kids," author Cecilia Fitzsimons has put together a wonderful collection of activities and projects to help your child learn about the natural world. From snail tracking to building your own ant farm, each project is truly kid-friendly and possible for anyone with access to the outdoors. The beautiful photography throughout the book, highlighting each activity, is great for visual learners. My favorite project is "Collecting Spiders' Webs." It's pretty amazing! So check out the book, grab your family, and start creating! Great for preschool on up (with assistance on some projects).

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Maker Monday: "Loom magic!"

Either you got a Rainbow Loom last year or you know someone who did.  It was THE gift of 2013.  What's great about the loom is the degree of difficulty is up to the user.  There are easy project for beginners or difficult designs for the advanced.  This book is for those who want a challenge.  Most of them required two looms, which I don't have, so I didn't actually get to make any of these awesome projects.  But the photos and explanations are clear and easy to understand.  Each design has a complete supply list with easy step-by-step instructions.   "Loom Magic!" by John McCann and Becky Thomas is for makers who want to go beyond bracelets with charms, mustaches, and earrings. 


--Angie RH, Headquarters

Maker Monday: "150 Amazing Science Experiments"

Calling all those filled with curiosity and a desire to learn by making! Have you ever wondered how a boat made out of straw actually floats? How to build a railroad? Or what makes a camera work? Wonder no longer! Use your own two hands and the book "150 Amazing Science Experiments" to make and learn all kinds of amazing things. This book is appropriate for students in grades 3-7.

--Andrea W., H.Q.

Maker Mondays: "We Love to Sew" by Annabel Wrigley

What is more fun than creating something fun and usable on your own? If DYI is your style, then grab "We Love to Sew" by Annabel Wrigley and get to work on some adorable projects from headbands to stuffed creatures to clothes. With fun pictures, easy to understand directions, and patterns in the back, this is a great book for those just starting to sew. For ages 8-12.

Dewey Number: 646.2




And if you have a preschooler who wants to learn how to sew, check out our Preschool Sewing program at select branches during November and December. Go to the Art@Your Library site for more information.

--Andrea W., H.Q.

Maker Monday: The Usborne "Big Book of Things to Draw" by Fiona Watt

Calling all young doodlers! Let me introduce you to the "Big Book of Things to Draw" by Fiona Watt. Filled with full-color illustrations and directions for drawing with five different mediums, there's something that will capture the interest of every artist. From animals and people to vehicles and buildings, Watt gives helpful instruction for many different types of techniques. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today. This excellent guide is perfect for any budding elementary school artist.

--Andrea W., H.Q.

Introducing Maker Mondays!

Welcome, everyone, to our new Monday feature! 

Here at SLCL we want to make sure that you and yours have all the information and ideas that you need to get started on and further develop your skills and creativity in all areas of crafting and art. Children of all ages love creating and exploring different mediums, so in the spirit of DIY, we're offering this virtual maker space to highlight books that will hopefully spark your imagination and fuel your desire to learn and create!

We're kicking it all off with the part craft-book, part story-book "Creative Creatures" by Donna Wilson. Filled with adorable critters made from socks, mittens, and the like, it provides not only templates and directions, but a peek into their mischievous lives as they, in turn, show the reader how to make other fun things. There's an adorable cloud mobile, a cool recycled robot, and a pop-up card among other fun ideas. With helpful sewing tips in the front and illustrated directions, this book is perfect for any fourth to eighth-grader with a desire to create little creatures. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today.

--Andrea W., H.Q.