Sue:
Kids Around the World Create! by noted children's author Arlette Braman is a terrific craft book.  This book is an excellent collection of crafts from all over the world.  Arlette's  tried and true international crafts have given children hours of fun along with information about other cultures

Ms. Braman has a wonderful background that makes her a natural to introduce children to the exciting world of international crafts (also international foods in her book Kids Around the World Cook!).  Growing up Arlette's father and mother were inventive and creative cooks; meals were always exciting at her dinner table.   This flair for the international gave Arlette a passion for traveling to different countries, meeting people from faraway lands, and a deep rooted curiosity about their worlds.  She truly believes that everyone has something special to offer each other.

Her book Kids Around the World Create! is an exceptional book for all children.  It is perfect for schools, scouts, home educators, and families who want to both unearth and discover the beauties of other lands.

Connecting Cultures

Sue:
I really liked your book Kids Around the World Create! I especially liked the way you grouped your crafts into various categories- Crafts to Hold Things  included the Zulu Woven Basket, the American Cloth Sack and the Chinese Ming  Vase. I also thought the category of " Ways to Keep Track of Things and  Activities" was very cute- like the Incan Yarn Quipu and the Prehistoric  Cave Painting. What inspired you to organize your book in this fashion?

Arlette:
I didn't want to organize the book by continent since I've seen that done a lot before. So I thought a different organization would be more fun.

In addition, I tend to see connections among cultures. In the section you mentioned above, Hold Everything, the focus is on how all cultures have made and continue to make containers or vessels to hold things. I thought it would be fun to explore all the different types of cultural containers people use and to include some of them as activities in the book.

The other sections in the book are Eye Dazzlers (how all cultures use design in the weaving, pottery, baskets, clothes, etc. they create), Never Forget (how all cultures keep track of important information in unique ways), Good Luck Always (how all cultures use charms for luck), Masters of Disguise (how all cultures use face paint, body decoration, and masks for ceremonies and as part of everyday life), and It's Party Time (how all cultures experience the same rituals before having a party or celebration, such as sending invitations, making decorations and music, and giving gifts).

Special Holidays

Sue:
The crafts in your book cover any and all  holidays too - from Halloween to Mother's Day. How do you see parents, teachers, and kids using your book and what age group is this book written for?

Arlette:
The book is targeted for kids ages 8 and above. However, I have seen younger kids do some of the activities quite well. Many kids 8 and above can use the book by themselves. If parental help is advised, I state that in the book.

• Kids who love to create
  things or who love art will love the book.
• Parents who home school
  their children or who enjoy doing fun and creative activities with their kids will find the book invaluable.
• Special Holidays
  They can use the book for special holidays or for any day.

The book gives clearly written step-by-step directions
for each activity, most of the supplies can be found around the home, and I also provide lots of background information about the culture featured and about the particular craft for which they are known. I make many connections to other cultures who do similar crafts, but who do them in their own unique way.

Lastly, teachers can use the book
throughout the year and across the curriculum in many subjects including:

• art
  (this is obvious, since the book is about creating crafts and uses media such as clay, paper, fiber, paint, wood, plastic, etc.),
• social studies
  (twenty cultures are included in addition to prehistoric cultures),
• math
  (metric measurements are included with U.S. measurements and kids use a ruler for many of the crafts which will help with learning fractions),
• science
  (kids can learn what happens to clay when it is baked versus air dried),
• geography
  (kids can locate all of the countries featured in the book on a world map, figure out latitude and longitude, name hemispheres, etc.) and
• language arts
  (kids can read about the many cultures in the book, there are a number of activities that involve writing, and one that involves story telling).

Basic Craft Materials

Sue:
Your crafts are all beautiful and fun to create, plus the kids can learn  about other cultures. What basic craft materials would you recommend on  your craft shelf?

Arlette:
I'm glad you asked that question. My craft shelf is loaded with many different supplies, but I'm always experimenting so I need a good variety.

Basic materials
for the average home should include paper (white and colored construction), bottled liquid glue and glue sticks, scissors, ruler, markers, pencils, crayons, paint (acrylic, tempera), paint brushes (in a variety of brush thicknesses), chalk, glitter, and clay (air drying and water hardening; though I provide a recipe for making home-made "clay" in the book).

Using common items
There are many other items that can be found around the home which make wonderful art supplies. These include cardboard tubes from paper towels, plastic applesauce cups, egg cartons, plastic water bottles, buttons, bottle caps, used gift wrapping paper, clean sponge cut into shapes for painting and printing, paper bags, old costume jewelry, old greeting cards, and many other items. Art is a wonderful way for children to be creative and to express themselves. We should give them every opportunity to do this.

Book Excerpt from:
Kids Around the World Create!
Welcome to My Room
Indian Welcome Message
Reprinted with permission of the author.
All rights reserved. ©2000 Arlette N. Braman

see this craft

Interview 1: Kids...Cook!
Childhood Memories
Cultural "Tidbits"
"Similar, Yet Diverse"
Foods That Kids Can Make
FREE recipe:
Mexican Hot Chocolate

Interview 2: Kids...Create
Connecting Cultures
Special Holidays
Basic Craft Materials
FREE Craft:
Indian Welcome Message

Kids Around the World Cook!:
The Best Foods and Recipes from Many Lands
by Arlette N. Braman, Jo-Ellen Bosson

An international compendium of recipes introduces kids to a world of delicacies that are easy and fun to make. What do Jamaican kids eat for breakfast? What do Japanese families have for dinner? What kinds of treats do Norwegian children have for dessert? Kids Around the World Cook! helps young readers develop an appreciation for other cultures by introducing them to a banquet of recipes from around the world. Kids learn how to make lots of fun meals, including: Indian Sweet Lasi (a yogurt drink), Ethiopian Injera Bread (a thin pancake-shaped bread), Polish Strawberry Soup (which is served cold on hot summer days), and Japanese Kushiyaki (meat and vegetables broiled on skewers). The recipes come from many countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Mexico, Israel, Cuba, Egypt, South Africa, and Thailand, among many others. In addition, text and sidebars supply plenty of background information on cultural food traditions to help kids learn as they eat!

Kids Around the World Create!:
The Best Crafts and Activities from Many Lands
by Arlette N. Braman, Jo-Ellen Bosson

From Italian carnival masks to Egyptian jewelry,a fantastic collection of Earth-spanning activities Kids Around the World Create! is an excellent way for parents and teachers to introduce children to dozens of diverse cultures from around the world and throughout history. Each of the projects and activities in this collection is original, fun to do, and accompanied by a host of interesting facts about the culture. Author Arlette Braman helps kids recognize the similarities between cultures as well as appreciate the value of diversity. Perfect in the classroom or at home, the many multicultural projects include making an Egyptian bead necklace, designing an Amazonian Indian headdress, sculpting an Inuit spirit figure, and many more. *Includes original activities from many countries, including India, Ghana, Japan, Korea, and Mexico *All projects can be done with easy-to-find and inexpensive materials