CM Magazine: Creative Crafts for Critters.

________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 13 . . . . March 2, 2001

Creative Crafts for Critters.

Nancy Furstinger. Illustrated by Philippe Beha.
Toronto, ON: Stoddart Kids, 2000.
48 pp., pbk., $10.95.
ISBN 0-7737-6135-7.

Subject Headings:
Handicraft-Juvenile literature.
Pet supplies-Juvenile literature.
Pets-Feeding and feeds-Recipes-Juvenile literature.

Grades 4 - 7 / Ages 9 - 12.

Review by Joan Payzant.

**** /4

excerpt:

Cat Attack
Watch your cat go bonkers as she gets an aerobic workout!
Materials:
five fun objects to mix or match: pompoms, small bells, fish-shaped felt cutout, feathers, crumpled paper, bows, big buttons, spools, cotton work glove (from garden or hardware store) embroidery floss, embroidery needle.
Instructions:
1. Thread the needle with a length of embroidery floss. Tie a double knot at one end of the floss.
2. Pull the needle with floss through the first fingertip of the glove. Remove the needle.
3. Tie the other end of the floss securely around a fun object. Repeat for each finger.
4. Put the glove on. Call your cat over. Wiggle your fingers and let the fun begin.
(Note: This is a craft to share with your cat. Don't let her play with it alone.)

In case there's ambiguity about the title, this is not a book to teach "critters" to do crafts! It's a book with lots of ideas for children (or even adults) to make entertaining and useful crafts for entertaining and exercising their pets whether the "critters" are cats, dogs, budgies, goldfish, parrots or "pocket pets" - guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats.

Not very often do I laugh out loud when reading a book on crafts, but illustrator Philippe Beha's animal drawings so humorously picture animals having many joyous experiences that I laughed right along with them. With just a few lines, the talented Philippe Beha creates an amazing array of expressions on a great variety of animal faces.

Among the crafts are a catnip garden, a garden for goldfish (which will supply them with tasty earthworms) a tightrope for birds, a massage mitt and pet perfume to groom your pet, making it feel relaxed and cared for. Recipes for Easy Cheesy Treats, Party Animal Snacks, and Flying Fruit Cup will ensure pets receive gourmet food and vitamins at the same time. Even a non-pet owner would read this book with delight.

Highly Recommended.

Joan Payzant is a former teacher-librarian from Dartmouth, NS.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - March 2, 2001.