Having a good book on hand for summer is a great idea; and even better when it’s an activity book for kids. Origami Activities For Kids: Discover the Magic of Japanese Paper Folding is one to add to your bookshelf. My children have been folding the projects within this book and would like to share them with you.
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Tuttle Publishing kindly sent the Origami Activities For Kids Book to the children to review. In this full-colour book, “Learn to Fold Your Own Origami Models: Step-by-Step Instructions for 19 Simple Projects, there are easy to understand instructions as well as some additional information on ways to use the models, as well as the best types of paper to use for each.
Book Contents
This book is the right size for fitting on the bookshelf, and it even includes 8 cute origami papers to get you started. This book is great for those who have a stock of origami papers already, but you can, of course use ‘regular’ paper, too, just cut it to the square size you desire. These models would be cute as gift toppers with coordinating paper!
- Step-by-Step instructions for 19 simple projects
- 8 origami papers
Origami Activities
Kallista love Chopstick Holders, and has several now as Tristan has been making them and giving them to his sister. They’re brought out at meal times and will surely be going on picnics, too. How cute do they look?
Should those summer picnics get too warm, then it’s time to bring out a fan to cool down. This simple Paper Fan is a childhood classic, is great for fine motor skills, is fun, practical, and pretty. Certainly one can never have too many fans? Make a few and glue them to a paper and create a flower. Sweet.
Daruma Dolls are are very popular in Japan, and I’ve been wanting a real one since I lived in Takasaki, the home of the Daruma Doll. Since I don’t (yet) have one, I will make due with a simplified origami version. You colour in the pupil of one eye at the start of the year, and then when your wish comes true, you colour in the other.
In Japan you may see Japanese Carp in ponds, water fountains, and sometimes even in toughs alongside the roads. This is a unique fish as you use scissors to slit the tail in two, which usually isn’t done in traditional origami, but works well here. These fish would be fun for kids to make at a party and thein use to go ‘fishing’ with paperclips attached to the fish and a rod with a magnet used to catch them (like this fishing game). Last year the Japan Society did this and each fish had points that you could trade in for a prize.
Kallista couldn’t resist folding a Chinese Good Luck Bat with some beautiful paper that makes it more cute and less frightful. These would be so fun to make and hang around the house or school in October! String a bunch in a doorway or in the windows to set the scene.
This book would be suitable for teachers as the models could be used to create fun games and displays in the classroom while learning a little about Japan. Because this is a hard-cover book, it will be durable for classroom use, too. Of course, anyone who enjoys origami or wants a good introduction to it will fin this book useful.
If you’re interested in purchasing Origami Activities For Kids, it’s available through:
- Tuttle Publishing
- Amazon
- Great bookstores near you
If you’d like to know more or would like to follow Tuttle Publishing, you can connect with them through their website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest (and you can see our other Tuttle reviews here).
