Josefina's Craft Book by Tamara England (1998, Paperback)

I purchased "Josefina's Craft Book" becasue I am a librarian planning a program about Josefina and I wished to include a craft activity as part of the program. The crafts are items that would be made in a home in New Mexico in the early 1800s and are items mentioned in the Josefina books: a corn husk doll, a chicken-shaped needle cushion, etc. Some materials are easy to find in quantity, such as corn husks. Other items, are more difficult and expensive to supply for a large group of children. The crafts are for older children; probably anyone younger than 3rd grade would need a parent or volunteer to assist them because they would not have the manual dextirity or skills to do the activities. Some of the activities require the use of sharp items, needles for sewing, scissors sharp enough to cut fabric. It is definately for upper elementary aged children.
The "josefina Craft Book" is a very attractively designed book. Instructions for the crafts are clear ans simple. The book is illustrated with drawings of Josefina making the same items that the children will be creating. It tells about when Josefina made and used the same items in the stories about her. This encourages children to read the "Josefina" books, if they have not yet done so.
For the correct age group, the crafts book gives directions and patterns for some projects that teach youngsters about the historical era. Young people who love Josefina will enjoy participating. The book is a definite help in planning the program at a school or library. I also purchased the craft kit, but will need to add more supplies because of the size of the audience at the program I will be presenting. But it is good to have examples of the items I need to purchse.
J'Ann Peacock Alvarado