With summer break underway, I’ve already had a few days of dealing with restless children desperately looking for something to do. While we’re lucky enough to be in a neighbourhood with plenty of kids to play with, there are still hours in the day where both my boys are roaming the house restlessly, getting in my way as they look for something to occupy them. Of course, the fact I limit their screen time during the summer months doesn’t make things any easier!
So this year, I found a new way to help keep my boys entertained: activity books! Recently The Quarto Group sent me three of its newest titles to review and as soon as I saw them, I knew that my boys would be spending plenty of summer hours trying out the crafts and activities in every one.
Stick Sketch School: An Animal Artventure
Stick figures are hotter than ever. The biggest web comics are produced in stick figure format, and they are hugely popular in social media. But the best part about stick figures is that anyone can draw them! Billy Attinger showed how to draw stylized stick figures in his popular Stick Sketch School, and now he’s back showing the world his stick figure animals. Take an “artventure” around the world: learn to draw stick animals in the jungle, the Arctic, the rainforest, the Outback, underwater, and more! You’ll even learn how to draw extinct animals and fantasy animals in stick form.
Each spread features a grid to show the reader how to draw the lines, how to add movement, expression, and more. Ideal for the visual learner and accompanied by tips and tricks from stick artist Billy Attinger, the book shows how to make your stick animals personal, recognizable, and unique!
Star Wars: Build a Scene
Star Wars: Build a Scene includes everything you need to make iconic papercraft scenes from the Star Wars universe. The kit provides ten sheets of punch-out pieces and step-by-step instructions for creating three detailed 5″ x 8″ x 4″ paper dioramas, including one with LED lights. Re-create the drama of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader’s duel on Mustafar from Revenge of the Sith; the nail-biting trench battle on the Death Star from A New Hope; and the Kylo Ren and Rey lightsaber fight in the snowy forest of the Starkiller Base from The Force Awakens. The accompanying book includes illustrated assembly instructions for the models, along with three essays on each classic scene and how they were designed and filmed.
Each model takes roughly 2–4 hours to build.
Rubber Band Engineer
Shooting far, flying high, and delivering way more exciting results than expected are the goals of the gadgets in this book. Discover unexpected ways to turn common materials into crafty contraptions that range from surprisingly simple to curiously complex. In vivid color photos, you’ll be guided to create slingshot rockets, unique catapults, and even hydraulic-powered machines. Whether you build one or all 19 of these designs, you’ll feel like an ingenious engineer when you’re through.
Best of all, you don’t need to be an experienced tinkerer to make any of the projects within. All you need are household tools and materials, such as paper clips, pencils, paint stirrers, and ice pop sticks. Oh, and rubber bands. Lots of rubber bands. So grab your glue gun, pull out your pliers, track down your tape, and get started on the challenging, fun, and rewarding journey toward becoming a rubber band engineer.
While I actually thought both boys would immediately jump at the Star Wars: Build a Scene book, the opposite was the case. Benjamin has been working hard at improving his drawing lately, so he couldn’t wait to try creating some animals using Stick Sketch School. And Zackary loved the idea of making his own catapult and rocket with the instructions in Rubber Band Engineer. A few days later, though, when Benjamin started spending his days at camp, Zackary was thrilled to be able to start creating a Star Wars scene in his lonely daytime hours!
If you’ve got restless kids at home too, The Quarto Group wants to help you! The company is very generously offering one lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader a prize pack containing all three of the books I reviewed, an $80 total value! To enter to win, just leave a blog comment about which of the three books you think your child would be most excited to receive.
These titles and other great activity books from The Quarto Group are available now at book stores across North America, so check them out and see which one would be the best summer boredom buster for your kids this year. Whether you have a budding artist or a future architect at home, you’re sure to find activities that will help keep your kids entertained as they learn all summer long!
Lynda Cook says
I am assuming you have the wrong question for this giveaway, I would love to win this prize for my grandchildren, anything to keep them busy and happy is a plus in my books!!
Allie f says
I’ve tried the Live Clean Body Wash and find it divine!
Erika Letson says
My son would be most excited to receive the Rubber Band Engineer book. Looks like fun!
Amy C says
My kids would like Star Wars: Build a Scene book.
Jeannie says
My son would love the star wars build a scene book.
Shirleyp says
The books are all awesome. The star wars book would be great.
Florence Cochrane says
My grandson would love the Star Wars Build a Scene.
kathy downey says
Good morning,my grandson would be most excited to try the Stick Sketch School.
nicky says
My niece would love the Rubber Band Engineer book!
Julie F says
My Grandsons would love the Star Wars Build a Scene book!
Fan R says
My little man would love to receive Star Wars: Build a Scene!
Carol Denny says
My granddaughter would love all 3. She loves to build things.
Stephanie LaPlante says
I would definitely say Stick Sketch School: An Animal Artventure
DebP says
My son would love the Rubber Band Engineer book. He loves tinkering with things.
Janet M says
She would like the Star Wars Build a Scene.
travelbuds says
I think both my kids would love the Stick Sketch School book as they both love drawing.
Lucy says
He would love the Rubber Band Engineer book!
Anne Taylor says
The Star Wars: Build a Scene book would be a huge hit with my nephew!
jan says
I think it would be Stick Sketch School, but like you, I may be surprised that it is another!
Tami Vollenweider says
My grand son would probably like the Rubber Band Engineer Book!
Rosanne Robinson says
My grandson would be thrilled with the Star Wars Build a Scene book! He’s a huge Star Wars fan, has watched all of the movies & enjoys re-enacting scenes with his light sabers. He’s also a huge LEGO fan and has built the Death Star and last week put together Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle.
vivian sun says
I love all 3 books to be honest! But my son would love the Rubber Band Engineer book 🙂
tammy ta says
I think my son would be most excited to about the Rubber Band Engineer book.
Laurie P says
My kiddo would love the Stick Sketch School: An Animal Artventure!
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
My grandchildren are Star Wars mad so I’d say that would be the book they’d be most excited about.
HEIDI C. says
My little guy would like the Star Wars book the most.
Jonnie says
One of my sons would really appreciate the rubber band engineer book. He loves to create things.
lori butler says
ZI would have to say the star wars book
Pauline Milner says
Cameron would love the Star Wars book but would have fun drawing too! Thanks for the super giveaway opportunity!
Juliee Fitze says
I think they would really like the Rubber Band Engineer book.
KENNETH OHL says
my little nephew would love the Star Wars
Kate Hearn says
My kiddo would love the Star Wars build a scene…he is all about anything Star Wars
Stephanie says
I think The Star Wars: Build a Scene would be their favorite.
Anu Chopra says
My son would love the Rubber Band Engineer
Sunshine G says
Both my daughter and husband would be delighted with the Star Wars book – I’m not sure who would want it more!
Kim K says
The Rubber Band Engineer Book would be awesome! Thanks!
Erin McSweeney says
the star wars build a scene
Eden says
I think my kids would like the Rubber Band Engineer best, but they all look really good…
M says
my nephew would love the Rubber Band Engineer book
Sab Edwards says
Its still Star wars in this house… prob for a very long time lol
Leela says
Stick Sketch School.
Judy Cowan says
My nephew is a Star Wars Fan so I would have to pick the Star Wars: Build a Scene book.
Edye says
My cousin would like the Star Wars one!
Terra Heck says
I think she’d be most excited about the Stick Sketch School book. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Jenny Major says
My son would be most excited to receive the Rubber Band Engineer book
Heather D says
My kids (and husband) would be all about the Rubber Band Engineer. That is exactly the type of stuff that i catch them huddled around making.
Andrea says
Mine would love the Star Wars book!
Mandy says
My daughter would love the Stick Sketch School. She loves to draw! My nephew would love the Star Wars book as he’s in a Star Wars phase.
chelsea van tol says
star wars
Lisa H says
My son would be most excited for the Rubber Band Engineer book.