Clay Lab for Kids

This is a wonderful book for kids working with clay. It discusses the various types, the tools needed, etc. One of my favorite parts is when the author tells the parents that if you want to do clay with your kids, start your own project, do not work on their project. If you work on their project, then it ceases to be their project. I think that is the most important part of this book. The ideas and how to’s can be found in any other book about clay. Yes this book has some great projects. It was probably just the layout of my digital galley, but I hope they fix what appears to be awkward page layout, and lots of extra “blank” space before printing.

A great book with easy to follow instructions, I'd definitely use this for homeschool and just for fun. I think anyone of any age who wants to get dirty and have some fun will love this book.

We live in a time when strapped school systems, already cut to the bone, have to make the impossible decisions about 'what has to go'. It's tragic that all too often the first thing to be cut are the arts and art education. So we have generations of stressed unhappy kids who are still not learning to love education and the educational process, still struggling with math and science, and who aren't lifelong lovers of reading either.


I really believe (as a product of an education which included music, dance, and visual and creative arts) that arts are vital to a quality education.


This book is a great collection of 'labs' - projects for young artists to grow and experiment and build up techniques with a bunch of different types of clay. The emphasis is on allowing kids gently guided access and letting them create. The author is an art educator and artist and has so much valuable advice. (Don't take over for the young artist and 'correct' their project, their projects won't always look like the things in the book - and that's as it should be! etc)


The 52 projects are very well photographed and the tutorials support the artistic process. The techniques, from pinch pots to coil pressed pots, to polymer clay are basic methods for building a good basic working knowledge of clay (in various forms) and the strengths and weaknesses of the different media. The projects are arranged in units with related themes. Unit 1 introduces basic concepts and is mostly slanted to the educator/parent/facilitator. Unit 2 deals with air-drying clays and basic techniques. Unit 3 deals with sculpture (including a project for a marionette that is -really- cool). Unit 4 deals with polymer clay and how it behaves including a segment on color mixing. Unit 5 is more sculpture with poly-clay. Unit 6 - making your own clay and further exploration.

It also includes a useful resource guide with further reading and online resources.

There is so much fun in this book.

Heartily recommended!

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

I loved this book! I loved the way it's laid out and the way the information is so well-organized Not only would this book be great for kids who want to learn on their own, but it would be a godsend for teachers who have to teach art, but have no clue what to do.

WOW........ wonderful projects for kids using clay........

This is a fun book that gives you a lot of ideas of things to make with Air-Dry, Polymer and Homemade clay (the stuff that isn't as messy!) - I liked the simple and easy to follow instruction and that they were accompanied by images too to make it user friendly for the target audience - some excellent little projects as well as handy hints and tips

Clay Lab for Kids will be very popular. Easy to follow, organised and kid-friendly.

So much fun! This book had some wonderful projects! Colorful, fun and not to hard for the kiddos!

I look forward to more science-themed titles in this series, as they're very popular at my library. But I don't think this art-focused book will have the same appeal.

Clay Lab for Kids is a book that includes 52 projects to make, model and mold. The clay used in the book are air dry polymer and homemade clay. Unit 1 is all about creating with kids and clay. Unit 2 is Air Dry clay and learning the basics. Unit 3 is Clay sculpture. Unit 4, polymer clay and learning the basics. Unit 5 is polymer clay sculptures and 6 is making your own clay. For each project there is a list of supplies and a lot of info on the differences between the types of clay. There are some simple projects using textures to get used to using the clay, ways to add color to the clay and a lot of really cool projects throughout like fairy doors and colorful polymer clay animals. Clay is definitely something that I want to try to work with more in the near future so this book really gave me a lot of information that will eventually come in handy!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.