Many Shapes of Clay


Book Description

In this modern-day fable about grief, diversity, and family connections, a young girl discovers the joys--and pain--of the creative process. Winner of the Bookstagang Best of 2021: Best Conversation Starter Picture Books of 2021. Longlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize. Ezra Jack Keats Award Honoree. Eisha lives with her mother, a ceramic artist, who helps her make a special shape out of a piece of clay. The shape reminds Eisha of her father, of the ocean, of a lemon. As Eisha goes through her neighborhood doing errands with her mother, the piece of clay hardens and then shatters into pieces when Eisha taps it. In poignant and powerful words and pictures, Kenesha Sneed shows how Eisha learns to live with the sense of loss and of the joyful power of making something new out of what is left behind. Illustrated with Sneed's bold colors, graphic lines, and gestural textures, the book celebrates diversity and shares a gentle message that we all have the ability to heal and create.




Play with Clay!


Book Description

Follow a colorful blob of modeling dough as it forms a ball, rolls into a snake, coils into a pot, and more in this adorable board book! In this charming story, children can learn the simple lesson that change is a constant--and they can learn it through art and play! The straightforward narrative paired with quirky visual humor makes this the perfect board book for budding creative kids.




Claymates


Book Description

Meet the claymates: two balls of clay that can become anything--even best friends! What can you do with two blobs of clay? Create something amazing! But don't leave them alone for too long. Things might get a little crazy. In this photographic friendship adventure, the claymates squish, smash, and sculpt themselves into the funniest shapes imaginable. But can they fix a giant mess before they're caught in the act?




When Clay Sings


Book Description

The daily life and customs of prehistoric southwest Indian tribes are retraced from the designs on the remains of their pottery.




Creative Ways with Polymer Clay


Book Description

“Has the...advantage of tapping into the different expertise and styles of a variety of practitioners. Crafters can pick from among 31 projects, ranging from traditional (Chinese good-luck lantern) to extraordinarily modern (tiny jointed teddy bear)....A gallery of artists...adds insight and inspiration.”—Booklist.




They Wrote on Clay


Book Description

Originally published in 1939, this book contains an assessment of the historical evidence provided by ancient Babylonian cuneiform tablets. The text is accompanied by a number of photographs of the tablets, as well as of important archaeological sites and Babylonian artefacts. Chiera's enthusiasm for his subject is clear, as the text is accessibly written and contains many Babylonian legends and assesses their relationship to biblical texts. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Assyriology and the ancient Middle East.




Shaped By Her Hands


Book Description

Chicago Public Library Best Informational Books for Younger Readers 2021 Kirkus Best Picture-Book Biographies of 2021 STARRED REVIEW! "Through masterful storytelling and graceful illustrations, this impactful title embodies Maria Povika Martinez's famous words: 'The Great Spirit gave me [hands] that work...but not for myself, for all Tewa people.'"—School Library Journal starred review STARRED REVIEW! "This story of a young girl from San Ildefonso Pueblo...celebrates the strong sense of culture and identity the Tewa people have maintained through the centuries. A deserved celebration."—Kirkus Reviews starred review The untold story of a Native American Indian potter who changed her field. The most renowned Native American Indian potter of her time, Maria Povika Martinez learned pottery as a child under the guiding hands of her ko-ōo, her aunt. She grew up to discover a new firing technique that turned her pots black and shiny, and made them—and Maria—famous. This inspiring story of family and creativity illuminates how Maria's belief in sharing her love of clay brought success and joy from her New Mexico Pueblo to people all across the country.




Clay Lab for Kids


Book Description

Kids will love learning to work with clay! These 52 projects use air drying, easy to clean up clay, making them perfect for home or the classroom!




Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay


Book Description

Katherine Dewey's expressive and elegantly detailed sculptures enchant all who see them. With the magical medium of polymer clay and this book, you can follow in her footsteps. Thorough instructions supported by more than 400 step-by-step color photos and 200 detailed drawings cover the entire process of sculpting realistic figures, from selecting clay and gathering essential tools to the basics of modeling the human figure, to incorporating poses, facial expressions, ethnic and gender subtleties, costumes, and painted finishing touches. Easy-to-read maps of the figure illustrate the landmarks of the body, while scale diagrams indicate the simple shapes hidden within the human form, as well as how to combine and model those shapes. For anyone who loves fantasy, romance, nature—or sophisticated crafting—this book is a must-have.




How to Make Clay Characters


Book Description

With polymer clay and imagination, Maureen Carlson has brought a whole world of cheery little characters to life. You can do it, too! This book makes it fun and easy—no sculpting experience or fancy equipment required! You'll find lots of full-color pictures and detailed, step-by-step projects to lead you all the way—starting with simple, neighborhood kids, and progressing to more complex characters like Grandma and Saint Nick. You'll learn how to make every detail just right, from hair to facial expressions to feet. When you get the hang of it, you can create lively little folks of your own imaginings...even personalize our clay characters for extra-special gifts. No two will ever be exactly alike, but each one is guaranteed to make you smile!