2020
WISE Score
Amazon
Trade the iPad for some glue sticks and safety scissors with 25 projects that actually look like what they're supposed to be.
4.6
4.6View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
This is exactly what you want when you're trying to reclaim your kitchen table from the digital abyss. It's not a 'read-it-once' book; it's a utility tool for parents who want their kids to work on their dexterity while making something they're actually proud of.
It’s tactile, it’s colorful, and it doesn't require a degree in fine arts to facilitate. If you’re okay with a bit of paper scrap confetti on your floor, this is a top-tier screen-free investment.
The sweet spot is 5-6. Four-year-olds will get frustrated without constant help, and eight-year-olds might find some of the simpler cut-outs a bit beneath them, though the puppets still hold appeal.
It is about as wholesome as it gets. The book focuses on constructive play, creating animals, and making puppets. There is zero snark, no 'attitude,' and it encourages a calm, focused environment.
While it uses templates (which limits total free-form creation), it encourages kids to take those templates and turn them into puppets or toys they can then use for imaginative play. It's a great 'starter motor' for kids who don't know what to draw on a blank page.
It's a physical book. No ads, no tracking, no weird content. The only 'safety' issue is the standard 'don't let your four-year-old run with the pointy scissors' talk which is just part of being a parent.
Excellent for fine motor skills. In a world of swiping, actually learning to cut along a dotted line and fold paper into a 3D shape is a massive win for spatial reasoning and hand-eye coordination.
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