PLAYING WITH PLASTICINE Barbara Ireid. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 1988. 95pp., paper, $9.95. ISBN 0-921103-41-7. CIP. Subject Headings: Modeling-Juvenile literature. Creative activities and seat work-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-6 / Ages 7-11 Reviewed by Joanne Robertson. Volume 17 Number 1 1989 January Barbara Reid's award-winning plasticine illustrations have delighted many children. In her latest book, Playing with Plasticine, she shows you how to make all sorts of bugs, birds, animals, reptiles, and even fish. She'll show you how to build human bodies and some not quite so human. And she doesn't stop there. What will your plasticine characters need - food, furniture, plants,toys, transportation, a home to live in? Barbara Reid creates a magical plasticine world and she shows how you can too. Would you rather make three-dimensional figures or paint a flat, two-dimensional picture from plasticine? If you can't make up your mind, you can combine the two techniques and make a special scene. She does not expect that her directions will be slavishly followed, but rather that the ideas and directions will serve as a starting point for the reader's imagination. Playing with Plasticine begins with directions that show how to construct basic shapes. More complex creations are made by using these simple shapes and by adding details. Each step-by-step direction is illustrated by an uncluttered black-and-white drawing. The directions are written in a simple clear style, with easy-to-read vocabulary. A child should be able to follow them with a minimum of adult help. The book includes a table of contents, which is very helpful; more importantly, the material itself is organized in a systematic manner. Highly recommended. Joanne Robertson, Dauphin MB.