My latest picture book was conceived when I participated in art fairs as a weaver and quilter. I was struck by how each craft, whether it be woodworking, metallurgy, glassblowing, pottery, etc., had a unique vocabulary and origins in many different cultures. My goal is to cultivate appreciation of the work of artisans around the world who are carrying on cultural traditions. I also saw an opportunity to expand vocabulary by sharing the language of the crafts, and to encourage children to think about a craft they may want to try. It is my hope that art teachers, parents and grandparents, artisans, and lovers of crafts will enjoy sharing this inspirational book.
I wrote...
Scribble, Spin, Swirl, and Stitch: Crafts Around the World
This story is about how a garment called a gabi is made in Ethiopia, from the planting of cotton seeds to the weaving, trimming, and wearing during festive occasions. It shows the significance of carrying on a traditional craft through lyrical text and colorful illustrations.
I love the idea that children can see how clothing and other items around the world are not necessarily made in factories. In this case, the creation of a traditional piece of clothing involves many artisans of all ages working by hand. (Illustrated vocabulary is included.)
From seed to harvest, from loom to shop, to a gift for Girma, this lyrical story of the Ethiopian Gabi is a beautiful celebration of weaving, community and culture.
Written in the cadence of The House That Jack Built, this vibrant and lushly illustrated tale pays tribute to the Gabi- a traditional Ethiopian cloth that is used to celebrate both community and culture. From the tiny seed to the fluffy white cotton, from the steady hands of the farmer to the swift fingers of the weaver, from the busy shopkeeper, to a gift for a loved one, follow the journey…
It’s difficult to find books for children that accurately depict crafts from different cultures. This book provides instructions and detailed illustrations of crafts such as matryoshka dolls, hamsa, Wayun mochilas, and Adinkra prints.
It would be a wonderful companion to Scribble, Spin, Swirl, and Stitch as children explore crafts around the world and think about what they would like to create.
From Japanese origami and Native American dream catchers to totem poles and Russian dolls, children can discover, draw and build objects from cultures around the world
From Japanese origami and Native American dream catchers to totem poles and Russian dolls, children can discover, draw and build objects from cultures around the world. Craft projects can be made from easy-to-source materials and include illustrated step-by-step instructions, while design projects provide sketching pages and guidance to encourage kids to create their own unique and exciting ideas.
This book consists of a series of stories that show how crafts from the past were designed and created. The book invites readers to appreciate the time, effort, and care that went into making objects such as toys and tools without machinery. I have included this book because it emphasizes the satisfaction of creating treasures by hand.
A beautiful, one-of-a-kind volume invites readers to marvel at the time, effort, and care that went into creating handmade toys, tools, and treasures of the past.
Whirr, buzz, hum. Before busy machines in factories turned out most of what we need and use, people crafted these items by hand. From a globe to a pie crimper, a butter churn to a rocking horse, this unique collection highlights fourteen one-of-a-kind objects — each one drafted, stitched, painted, or engraved by hand. Author Carole Lexa Schaefer draws inspiration from real historical artifacts to create thirteen short works of fiction, imagining the hands…
It was such a delight to find a picture book that teaches about a craft while telling a sweet story. As a man weaves a rug in his cottage, a family of mischievous mice gnaw away at the threads, creating a hole in the rug.
When they discover what they have done, they figure out a way to repair the hole and surprise the weaver. The tools of the trade are illustrated at the conclusion of this charming book.
What happens when a family of mice moves into a weaver's cottage for the winter? Will they tuck into his woven cloth for a long winter's nap? Will the weaver discover their presence, and if he does, what will he do?
This enchanting tale is spun by master weaver Tom Knisely, author of several instructional weaving books including Weaving Rag Rugs, Handwoven Table Linens, Handwoven Baby Blankets, and his latest, Huck Lace Weaving Patterns with Color and Weave Effects. Told in compassionate detail, the story makes you wonder, has Tom had personal experience with tiny curious visitors?
This biographical picture book tells the story of quilts made by hand by the women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. The traditional quilts, made from scraps of cloth from clothing and cornmeal sacks, are now displayed in museums around the world.
The author does a beautiful job of showing how a family tradition has developed into spectacular works of art. Readers can see how important it is to maintain traditions that may have started for practical purposes (like staying warm!) but evolved into appreciation of the works of unknown artisans. The author includes instructions on how to make a quilt square.
Since the early nineteenth century, the women of Gee's Bend in southern Alabama have created stunning, vibrant quilts. In the only photo-essay book about the quilts of Gee's Bend for children, award-winning author Susan Goldman Rubin explores the history and culture of this fascinating group of women and their unique quilting traditions. Rubin uses meticulous research to offer an exclusive look at an important facet of African American art and culture.
In the rural community of Gee's Bend, African American women have been making quilts for generations. They use scraps of old overalls, aprons, and bleached cornmeal sacks anything they…
Scribble, Spin, Swirl, and Stitch: Crafts Around the World is a beautifully illustrated picture book (ages 4-14) depicting seventeen different crafts such as weaving, pottery, metallurgy, quilting, woodworking, glassblowing, and dollmaking.
Shape poems describe the crafts, and additional vocabulary words such as niddy-noddy, stylus, mould and deckle, and papel picado accompany over one hundred illustrations of handmade crafts. Readers are encouraged to appreciate the variety of crafts from around the world, and to think about a craft they may want to try. An Author’s Note provides guidance on honoring the cultural history of crafts.
