Do you have a young child who either loves to doodle, or could use a little extra practice with pre-writing skills? Zig Zag Zebra by Barefoot Books has 22 arty activities for creative kids that is perfect. Kallista has been using Zig Zag Zebra since Christmas when Jakki of Barefoot in Belfast sent us a copy to review in exchange for our honest opinions about this book.
Zig Zag Zebra is a colourful book that is made from heavy, good-quality paper that is durable for small hands turning the pages. The thick pages also make this book perfect for a mix of media – finger paints, crayons, pencil crayons, stamp pads, etc.
With the good quality paper, it feels a shame to colour on the pages as I was always told not to draw/write in books! Fortunately, Kallista doesn’t yet have any problems doodling in a book (with permission)!
What is mastered with the 22 activities included in Zig Zag Zebra?
- straight lines and curls
- horizontal and vertical, crosses
- new vocab-arabesques
- drawing skills
- shape recognition
- fingerprinting
- colour combining
- composition
That’s quite a lot for a beginner’s book! It’s great for pre-writing skills, and there’s so much variety that my daughter has never become ‘bored’ with Zig Zag Zebra; in fact we have to keep the book out of reach and only bring it out once a week or she’d have the whole book completed in one sitting!
Kallista loves this book because she feels like she’s ‘doing school’ like her big brother across the table from her. Little does she know that’s exactly what she is doing! Here she is adding to the pictures and helping to create a work of art while matching colours and practising her straight lines.
Some of the pages are more structured while others are more free-flowing. The pictures are good for using to create stories and have fun while making our own memories.
Zig Zag Zebra will make a good ‘keeper’ to preserve Kallista’s beginning skills and to look back on in 20 years and retell the stories created with the pictures and the time we all spent together making memories.
Zig Zag Zebra would make the perfect gift for any young child you know. Buy a copy now and put it aside for a rainy day or when you or your child is feeling under the weather and you’re looking for some quiet distraction. Or put one in your bag to pull out while visiting friends, eating out, or any other time you’d like your child to focus on something. Of course, this is also great as an everyday activity book, but it’s become special to us as I’m sure it will be to you as well.
If you are interesting in Zig Zag Zebra, or any other Barefoot Book, Jakki has provided a code for our readers for 20% off one order until the end of March 2014. Simply use the code: FIRST2014.
Jakki is a mum of 2 girls aged 5 and 3. After she was made redundant last year she decided that she wanted to have a job that would fit around her family and that would let her run her own business her own way. She chose to go with Barefoot Books because of their relaxed and open culture and because as a company they fit in well with her own values.
As an ambassador she visits children’s/toddler groups and hosts home parties where you can browse and buy at home. (There will be themed parties launching soon, follow her Barefoot in Belfast Blog , or Facebook page, to find out the details when they’re announced). You can also Follow Jakki and Barefoot in Belfast on Twitter and Pinterest.
The mission statement of Barefoot is:
At Barefoot Books, we celebrate art and story that opens the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life, focusing on themes that encourage independence of spirit, enthusiasm for learning and respect for the world’s diversity.
If you’ve enjoyed this review, you may like to see our other Barefoot Books Review of We’re Roaming In The Rainforest.
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