Ceramics For Kids

Give a child a ball of clay, and hours of creative fun are sure to follow. From coiled goblets and elegant vases (with impressions of real leaves) to slab-rolled lanterns with cutout shapes, kids can make so many fantastic things. Every one of the 26 projects, shown in color how-to photographs and whimsical illustrations, is visually captivating. Help youngsters set up their own "artist's studio" and experience the pleasure of creating fabulous ceramics from scratch. You won't even need a kiln, because there's advice on finding places to fire the clay—plus all the basics on tools and materials. Hand-building techniques include pinching, coiling, slab-making, and press molding; children will even learn how to shape clay around an inflated balloon. "Clay Clues" answer common trouble-shooting questions, and a gallery of ceramics by real kids offers inspiration. From the beginning stages of creation to the final firing, these projects rock.