Top Beginners Origami Book: I personally found this one of the best beginner's origami book. It does not skimp on the "origami portion of designs" using square paper for all the designs and maybe scissors for two diagrams. The instructions are very clear and they are great for any beginner for learning how to make diagrams and interpret the directions for other diagrams. Most of the models are traditional but all in all, in my opinion, it is the best book for beginners.
This older origami teaching book has its uses but is difficult to follow.
Many books that use photos are harder to understand than ones just with diagrams. This books uses both.
On some pages, the author leaves out necessary steps and on others he makes assumptions about what the folder has practiced.
He uses terminology that he evidently made up himself. For example, he calls a square base (AKA preliminary base) a ‘crane base.’ But on p.24 he also calls what we call a ‘bird base’ a ‘crane base.’. Very confusing for a beginner. What we know as an ‘inside reverse fold’ he calls a ‘pocket fold.' His ‘rabbit base’ is our ‘kite base.’ Etc.
I can follow what he means because I’ve practiced origami for 11 years. Don’t be discouraged if you have trouble with this well-meaning book that is really too old to be useful for today’s beginners.
This book is a work of art. It is like origami itself: beautiful, minimal in words, but perfectly self-sufficient. It feels made with great love, respect, and attention to all details. The instructions and the color photos are clear and easy to follow. No "draw the rest of the owl" steps here. The way it starts with the basic folds, then proceeds to reveal the designs emerging (sometimes unexpectedly) from the same starting shapes, feels as if the paper square came alive to show all it could be. These days, it is easy to find origami instructions, including videos, online. But I am happy to have some of the easy yet elegant designs, organized with such care, in this tangible form.
THIS is the origami book I have been searching for for years. It's the only book I have found in English that teaches origami the way Japanese childres are taught in school - through BASE models. All origami figures begin with a base, such as the crane, balloon or kabuto. By learning and memorizing the bases, you learn the foundations for other models as well as basic techniques. The best book for beginners and even more advanced origami enthusiasts.
This book I took to my K-1 class to see if the kids would like origami. They loved this book until pages fell out. I have a seven year old who can fold on his own from this book. That is not to say you will be able to fold, he is very bright ;)
This is a beautiful origami book for beginners. Recommended.