Hand Art

Chicken Socks

by Klutz (Editor), Rachel Tandy (Editor), Joseph Quever (Photographer)

WARNING:CHOKING HAZARD! Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs. Hand Art is about everything you can make with hand tracings: dragons, frogs, dogs, aliens, ducks, cats, monsters, skunks, peacocks, people and, yes, turkeys. Since every creature needs essential details, we included essential-detail makers: googly eyes, glue, pompoms and crayons. The book itself is crammed with handfuls of inspiration and handy ideas developed by our staff of art experts, kindergarteners all. Comes With: 31 pompoms, 9 crayons, 27 googly eyes, glue • Create wonderful things • Be good • Have fun

24 pages, Spiral-bound

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Klutz is a publishing company started in Palo Alto, California in 1977 and acquired by Scholastic Inc. in 2002. The first Klutz book was a how-to guide titled Juggling for the Complete Klutz, which came provided with juggling beanbags attached in a mesh bag. The book was created by three friends who graduated from Stanford University: Darrell Lorentzen, John Cassidy, and B.C. Rimbeaux. Since then the company has continued to specialize in activity-driven books sold along with other items needed for the activity. Not all the books are about developing a skill; there has also been a geography book containing, among other physical attachments, packets of rice corresponding to the average daily caloric intake among the poorest people of the world. Many of their books are spiral bound and teach various crafts. The items needed are usually included with the book, e.g. the juggling guide. The Klutz credo is: Create wonderful things, be good, have fun.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple arts and crafts book that shows kids how to hold their hands in different positions, trace them on paper, and turn the resulting outline into an animal with crayons and markers.

I was feeling a bit dismissive of the technique at first, but I followed instructions and quickly made a passable cat and a horse, so I got to give them credit. And I liked how sometimes the instructions included turning the traced image, something my linear mind might not have thought to do.

Some of the credited illustrators are also listed as models in the photographs, so it appears Klutz did have actual children create the pictures. That did set me to wondering why certain artists didn't make the cut for being models and what role nepotism played in the creation of this book.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It begins with 19 wonderful and wacky art projects for children that begin by tracing your hand or hands. But that is just the beginning. This book will serve as a primer for children's imaginations. Many of the ideas took me by surprise but got me thinking in a lot of different directions. You will make dogs and dragons and more. This will be the beginning of hours and hours of fun.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.