Clay is a mainstay of art media for kids, and here an art teacher provides projects and techniques for a variety of clays. Air-dry clays, polymer clay, and homemade clays are all featured here, along with paints and sealers. Air-dry clay projects increase incrementally in difficulty as new techniques are added to the sculptor's repertoire, starting from capturing a texture to rolling balls of clay to coiling clay snakes to flattening and manipulating a slab of clay. These basics are used through the rest of the projects, which include sculpted food, plants, animals, structures, masks, and more. Polymer clay projects are created on a slightly smaller scale, with finer detail, and some include nonclay items, such as jump rings and faux jewels. Even these more detailed projects are still a dozen steps or fewer. Recipes for make-it-yourself clays include salt dough, clay dough, Silly Putty, and candy clay and are designed to be simple enough for kid participation. Throughout, Stephens encourages kid sculptors to be creative and to keep in mind the science behind the art.--Heidemann, Anne Copyright 2017 Booklist

Nashville-based art teacher Stephens ignites children's creativity in this collection of kid-friendly clay projects. Both air-dry and polymer clay are covered in detail, with an assortment of recipes for homemade clay (including the classic salt dough, as well as unique concoctions such as candy clay and brightly colored Silly Putty). The projects are arranged as "labs"; each has its own illustrated instructions for a completed item. Throughout the book, she introduces basic pinch and coil pottery techniques, simple sculpture, and surface decoration in a manner that children-and young-at-heart grown-ups-will enjoy. VERDICT Ideal for families looking for artistic activities, as well as teachers and caregivers interested in introducing clay to children ages five and up. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.