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Summer Learning: Arts & Crafts for Summer Fun

Summer is a great time to find inspiration and get crafty! This multigenerational booklist can be a creative jumpstart to a summer of family fun. This is a multigenerational booklist that features selections for Pre-Readers (0-5), Readers (5-10), Pre-Teens (10-12), Teens (12-17), and Adults (18+). Selected by SJPL Staff.

San José Public Library

46 items

  • Play + Learn Activities for Babies

    65 Simple Ways to Promote Growth & Development From Birth to Two Years Old

    Fathi, Hannah,
    For Pre-Readers. 65 essential activities use play as a vehicle for teaching and skill-building. Including chapters on sensory play, fine and gross motor play, imagination and more, these hands-on projects use everyday objects and recycled materials.…
    Book, 2022Salem, MA : Page Street Publishing Co., 2022. — 649.122 Fathi
  • The playHOORAY! Handbook

    100 Fun Activities for Busy Parents and Little Kids Who Want to Play

    Russell, Claire,
    For Pre-Readers. The playHOORAY! Handbook is a lifesaver for busy parents juggling work and childcare looking for fun ideas for activities, crafts & games to entertain little kids. With 100 activities using items from around the house, you'll find…
    Book, 2020London : Seven Dials, 2020. — 649.5 Russell
  • Busy Bags Kids Will Love

    Make-ahead Activity Kits for a Happy Preschooler and Stress-free Parent

    McClure, Sara,
    For Pre-Readers. Packed full of enough ideas for every week of the year, this book provides kids with entertaining, exciting and educational activities, including: Fishing for colorful letters and numbers; Building shapes with pipe cleaners and…
    Book, 2017Berkeley, CA : Ulysses Press, [2017] — 649.51 McClure
  • Craft With Recycling

    a Kid's Guide to Creating With Upcycled Materials

    Lucimari,
    For Pre-Readers and Readers. In this guided collection, young crafters and artists will find step-by-step instructions and full-color photographs that will aid them in creating decorations and playful projects using elements they have designated for…
    Book, 2024New York : Sky Pony Press, [2024] — J 745.584 Lucimari
  • For Pre-Readers and Readers. A fun and eco-friendly way for young children to connect creatively with nature! Each of the activities can be achieved in four simple steps using natural materials combined with recycled or found materials from around…
    Book, 2023New York, New York : Thames & Hudson Inc., 2023. — J 745.5083 Zommer
  • For Pre-Readers and Readers. Provides recipes, ingredients list, and detailed instructions for creating varieties of slime, dough, foam, and mud, including spiderweb slime, fishbowl slime, candy slime, glitter playdough, galaxy dough, and sand clay.
    Book, 2018Salem, MA : Page Street Publishing Co., 2018. — J 745.59 Harringt
  • Draw With Art for Kids Hub Animals

    30 Step-by-step Drawing Projects Inside!

    Jensen, Rob,
    For Readers. Dad Rob and his family have built a huge following, thanks to their delightfully accessible lessons that gather the whole family to make art together. Their unique, easy-to-follow approach puts fun first, encouraging kids to draw in…
    Book, 2024New York, NY : DK Publishing, 2024. — J 743.6 Jensen
  • Sunday Funday

    An Activity for Every Weekend of the Year

    Halligan, Katherine (Children's book editor),
    For Readers. Make every Sunday a fun day with an amazing activity to keep you busy each weekend of the year. From gardening projects and obstacle courses to creative crafts and recipes, there's something fun to do no matter what the weather is.…
    Book, 2022Somerville, Massachusetts : Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Press, [2022] — J 745.5 Halligan
  • For Readers. This book is a how-to-guide helping children to be calm, mindful, and live in the moment every day. In a world where children are increasingly attached to their screens, and their memories often are only held digitally, this book offers…
    Book, 2022New York, NY : DK, 2022. — J 745.5938 Tangerin
  • For Readers and Pre-Teens. Unlock your creativity with 50 Manga drawing projects! Introducing a must-have binder for budding artists: Ultimate How-to-Draw Manga! Packed with step-by-step activities, this folder will children aged 9+ master the art…
    Book, 2025Suffolk, United Kingdom : Two Windmills, 2025. — J 741.51 How
  • Sewing Machine Projects for Children

    a Fun and Creative Guide to Making 30 Toys, Decorations, Bags, and More

    Pressley, Angela,
    For Readers and Pre-Teens. Packed full of colorful and unique ideas, this STEP-BY-STEP guide will inspire children to machine-sew their own amazing toys, accessories, decorations, and gifts. Angela Pressley has designed 30 projects she knows kids…
    Book, 2024London : CICO Kidz, 2024. — J 646.2044 Pressley
  • For Readers and Pre-Teens. This title includes step-by-step instructions for projects in drawing, jewelry making, leather and metalworking, painting, woodworking, and more. Features include sections on preparation and safety, the elements of design,…
    Book, 2024Minneapolis, Minnesota : Encyclopedias, an imprint of Abdo Reference, [2024] — J 745.503 Schrader
  • For Readers and Pre-Teens. It’s time to take your drawing skills to the next level with Drawing Chibi Food! A comprehensive guide with easy-to-follow instructions and handy practice pages, this latest installment in the Drawing Chibi series will…
    Book, 2024Berkeley, CA : Ulysses Books for Young Readers, [2024] — J 741.51 Tessa
  • For Readers and Pre-Teens. Kids will be making in no time with this collection of easy 10-minute crafty projects that are perfect for makerspaces, including container garlands, string art designs, glitter jars, and more.
    Book, 2022North Mankato, Minnesota : Capstone Press, a Capstone imprint, [2022] — J 745.5083 Olson
  • For Readers and Pre-Teens. Looking for quick and easy no-sew projects for your makerspace? Look no further! From stuffed animals and superhero masks to flowers and finger puppets, these amazing 10-minute fabric projects will have kids making in no…
    Book, 2022North Mankato, Minnesota : Capstone Press, a Capstone imprint, [2022] — J 745.5083 Olson
  • For Readers and Pre-Teens. Searching for simple paper folding projects for your makerspace? You've found them! From happy hounds and clever cats to floating ships and shining stars, these amazing 10-minute origami projects will have kids making in…
    Book, 2021North Mankato, Minnesota : Capstone Press, a Capstone imprint, [2021] — J 736.982 Harbo
  • Crafting Calm

    Art and Activities for Mindful Kids

    Borgert-Spaniol, Megan, 1989-
    For Readers and Pre-Teens. In this book, kids engage in and practice mindfulness through fun and easy exercises, quizzes, crafts, and activities, with the goal of learning a deeper sense of calm, peace, joy, and connection to the world around them,…
    Book, 2020Minneapolis : Beaming Books, 2020. — J 158.1 BorgertS
  • Art Sparks

    Draw, Paint, Make, and Get Creative With 53 Amazing Projects!

    Abrams, Marion,
    For Readers and Pre-Teens. Every kid can be an artist with this book as their guide! Using basic art supplies — from paint, markers, paper, and glue to household finds like cardboard boxes and fabric scraps — children aged 6 and up learn that as…
    Book, 2019North Adams, MA : Storey Publishing, 2019. — J 745.5 Abrams
  • For Readers and Pre-Teens. Provides tips and instructions for making such pop-up paper crafts as a birthday card, a city silhouette, vacation art, and a surprise pop-up box.
    Book, 2018Minneapolis, Minnesota : Checkerboard Library, an imprint of Abdo Publishing, [2018] — J 745.54 Chenever
  • For Readers, Pre-Teens, and Teens. This title includes step-by-step instructions for projects in crocheting, knitting, embroidery, sewing, and more. Features include sections on preparation and safety and general tools and tips. Informative sidebars…
    Book, 2024Minneapolis, Minnesota : Encyclopedias, an imprint of Abdo Reference, 2024. — J 746.03 Schrader