Books with author Laurie Carlson

Dive into the wonderful and creative world of fiber arts and crafts with this easy-to-follow activity book packed with over 70 projects across a variety of fiber arts including knitting, felting, knotting and braiding, spinning, weaving, crocheting, and dyeing. Clear instructions and illustrations guide you in creating these cute, useful crafts. Learn to: felt a handy bag, braid a small rug, weave a colorful tapestry, knit comfy slippers, crochet an eye-catching belt, make and use natural dyes, repurpose old clothing, and much more!Along the way you'll learn fascinating fiber facts and history, such as how Viking ships' woolen sails were made, the history of rope bridges, how artists in Japan craft giant straw sculptures, and much more. Fun for younger kids to explore with a caregive or older kids to work through alone, Knit, Hook, and Spin belongs in any craft-loving kid's home or classroom.

Dive into the wonderful and creative world of doll arts and crafts with this easy-to-follow activity book packed with over 50 projects and a dozen patterns. Using inexpensive, everyday, even recycled materials, you’ll make clever paper dolls, simple folk art dolls, soft cuddle pals, or 18-inch felt dolls, as well as cute and easy doll clothing, accessories, and basic houses. Clear instructions and illustrations guide you as you learn to: make and paint a cloth doll, recycle and refresh an old doll; make simple, silly dolls from spoons, yarn, sticks, and more; make a dollhouse you can fold up and tuck under your bed; and much more!Along the way you’ll learn fascinating doll facts and history, such as dolls’ roles in various cultures and religions, the history of action figures, and the tradition behind scarecrows. Fun for younger girls and boys to explore with a caregiver or older kids to work through alone, Doll Crafts belongs in any craft-loving kid’s home or classroom.

Thomas Edison, one of the world's greatest inventors, is introduced in this fascinating activity book. Children will learn how Edison ushered in an astounding age of invention with his unique way of looking at things and refusal to be satisfied with only one solution to a problem. This book helps inspire kids to be inventors and scientists, as well as persevere with their own ideas. Activities allow children to try Edison's experiments themselves, with activities such as making a puppet dance using static electricity, manufacturing a switch for electric current, constructing a telegraph machine, manipulating sound waves, building an electrical circuit to test for conductors and insulators, making a zoetrope, and testing a dandelion for latex. In addition to his inventions and experiments, the book explores Edison's life outside of science, including his relationship with inventor Nikola Tesla, his rivalry with George Westinghouse, and his friendship with Henry Ford. A time line, glossary, and lists of supply sources, places to visit, and websites for further exploration complement this activity book.

From his impoverished childhood to his feat of becoming one of the most successful entertainers of all time, this fascinating biography presents a memorable portrait of magician and escape artist Harry Houdini. Guidelines for 21 fun magic tricks are also provided, including how to stick a needle into a balloon without popping it, how to step through a note card, and how to make a coin vanish. Illustrating the science and logic behind many of Houdini's most notable acts, the magic-based activities also explain his famous Milk Can Escape through an accessible water displacement experiment and demonstrate simple mathematics with his Odd Number Trick. Touching on his time as an actor, an aviator, and possibly even a spy for the U.S. government, this thoroughly entertaining biography also features a time line, curriculum links for educators, and books and websites for further exploration.

Take your students on any number of learning journeys: join Lewis and Clark on an expedition; journey into the woods with fur traders; or ride a wagon train to the Oregon Territory as you learn how the quest for gold led to a feverish migration. Experience the excitement of resettlement following the Homestead Act, and ride off to a roundup during the cowboy era. Your students will explore the West with activities such as sewing a sunbonnet, panning for gold, cooking flapjacks, singing cowboy songs, and more. Helpful illustrations are included to explain project steps.

This easy-to-follow activity book is packed with over 70 projects across a variety of fiber arts including knitting, felting, knotting and braiding, spinning, weaving, crocheting, and dyeing. Kids will learn to felt a bag, braid a rug, weave a tapestry, knit comfy slippers, crochet a belt, make and use natural dyes, and make dozens of other projects. Along the way they'll learn about Viking ships' woolen sails, the history of rope bridges, Japan's yearly Straw Festival, the invention of the spinning machine, and much more.

Dive into the wonderful and creative world of doll arts and crafts with this easy-to-follow activity book packed with over 50 projects and a dozen patterns. Using inexpensive, everyday, even recycled materials, you'll make clever paper dolls, simple folk art dolls, soft cuddle pals, or 18-inch felt dolls, as well as cute and easy doll clothing, accessories, and basic houses. Clear instructions and illustrations guide you as you learn to: make and paint a cloth doll, recycle and refresh an old doll; make simple, silly dolls from spoons, yarn, sticks, and more; make a dollhouse you can fold up and tuck under your bed; and much more!Along the way you'll learn fascinating doll facts and history, such as dolls' roles in various cultures and religions, the history of action figures, and the tradition behind scarecrows. Fun for younger girls and boys to explore with a caregiver or older kids to work through alone, Doll Crafts belongs in any craft-loving kid's home or classroom.