Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Marvelous Book of Magical Mermaids
Novelty Craft Kit
For ages 6 to 8
Klutz, 2014 ISBN: 978-0545692144
For generations children have enjoyed creating and playing with paper dolls. Sometimes they have drawn the dolls and the doll’s clothes themselves, or they have been given books full of colorful dolls to cut out. Now, thanks to Eve Steele-Saccio and the people at Klutz, children can dress and play with a very different kind of paper doll. Instead of having men and women, or boy and girl dolls, they have mermaid paper dolls to enjoy.
What is special about these dolls is that they do not need to be cut out because they are punch- out images. In addition, each one made of study, glossy, colorful card. The dolls are two sided, and the kit includes little sticky shapes that you can use to attach outfits and accessories to the dolls. The sticky shapes can be easily removed from the glossy dolls without damaging them, and they can be used again and again.
In all there are six beautiful mermaids in this kit, and there are eight colorful tail fins that are embossed, covered with foil or decorated with glitter. There are also more than two hundred punch-out fashions that mermaid fans can use to decorate their paper dolls. Children can even change the style and color of the dolls’ hair, and there are three sea horses (with their accessories) to keep the mermaids company.
The kit includes instructions, fashion ideas, and there is also a page that shows you how to make your own fashions and accessories. Finally, there are four “Playscapes,” that can serve as backgrounds for mermaid play.
This kit would make a wonderful gift for a child who likes to make things and who loves magical mermaid stories.
