Cookware Center

From BooklistCastleforte, who has designed graphics for MTV and Warner Brothers, is also the creator of nicepapertoys.com, a general social network for “papertoy” artists around the globe, and in this colorful volume, he showcases projects submitted by 25 global masters of the “community-based art form.” Following an opening challenge (“You have 50 monsters to set free from the pages of this book”), notes talk about materials, tools, and proficiencies (including basic paper folds) before moving into specific directions for devising creatures. Each division provides straightforward assemblage instructions for a wildly imagined creature that is described in a short biographical paragraph, with specific details that add to the fun. Accompanying pop-out templates will pose challenges for circulation, but given the likely popularity of this title, libraries may well find originative solutions in order to make this available to a growing audience of young “papertoy” artists. Grades 4-7. –Gillian Engberg About the AuthorBrian Castleforte is an artisan and graphic architect who has formulated cutting-edge graphics for Nike, Sony, Warner Brothers, MTV, and others. He is likewise the creator of nicepapertoys.com, the initial and only papertoy social network. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two (real) puppies.

Learn To Make Your Very Own Gourmet Frozen Meal With Your Very Own Hands Pic

Learn To Make Your Very Own Gourmet Frozen Meal With Your Very Own Hands Image

Learn To Make Your Very Own Gourmet Frozen Meal With Your Very Own Hands Picture

Most helpful customer reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Wonderful, edgy, child-friendly concepts, but difficult for little hands…
By Anonymous
I bought this for my 9-year-old nephew for Christmas, and it was a great success–except that I spent three days making papertoy monsters for him instead of watching him do it himself! The concepts are absolutely great. The monsters are so original–they are inspired by a combination of manga, skateboard culture, and mythology and folktales. Some, like Lil Vamp, are inspired by a folktale but brought up to the modern day, but others, like Polyphemus, are identical to their original source (in this case, The Odyssey). Others still are completely original creations. The stories about each monster are really good and super fun for kids to read aloud, and my nephew was thrilled to provide me with each step of the instructions to build each monsters.

However, when he tried to pop the paper pieces out himself, he couldn’t help but rip the paper with his little hands, and it was too hard for him to apply glue very accurately to very small areas, pull the paper together, and hold it long enough for it to adhere. A 9-year-old with excellent motor skills and a very long attention span might be able to do the easiest of the easy patterns. I don’t have kids myself so I may not be the best judge, but this 9-year-old would have gotten very frustrated and sad if he hadn’t had his auntie around to make a bunch of monsters for him.

That said, as an adult I admit I was sort of glad that I got to make the monsters because it was so fun. The pattern pieces are clearly labeled, the instructions are excellent and very clear, and it was really easy to put them together with a very good quality glue stick. There’s a great glossary at the front containing some basic hints for constructing the monsters, and there’s a list of contributors at the back giving the name of the designer of each monster pattern (lots of different designers contributed), a bio, and a URL for their own websites. This is a great collaborative project. I think my favorite thing about it is that the monsters are really edgy but the written and illustrated content is totally acceptable for little kids and doesn’t talk down to them.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Video Review from 7yr old & his Daddy!
By BeachBrights
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1N89YKLDXHJ04

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
Great papertoy resource, just a few problems…
By Mockingbird
I love that Castleforte and others have created this book for there are but a few papertoy books out there. The idea of having each toy pre-printed was awesome (especially b/c of the toll printing papertoys can have on my printer ink). The creativity of these artists always amazes me and there are vast amounts (50) and kinds of toys for everyone (ie: don’t let the name “monsters” scare away young girls – there is something in here for you too).

However, there are a few problems I had with the layout. Although the toys are pre-perforated, it is quite difficult just to punch them out – I had to use an x-acto knife (not an option for kids). I don’t think kid-friendly scissors could be as exact as necessary in order to cut out some parts of the toys either, so any cutting would have to be done with parental supervision.

Also, the toys are printed on thinner paper (thinner than an average piece of cardstock). My craft glue tended to make the paper disintegrate, so I would suggest using double-sided tape or glue dots for construction. I also agree with another reviewer that this is not a book for younger kids – the toys are just too difficult for children to handle. I would suggest an age range of at least 10 years old (probably more like 12 and older). Also, remember that there is no CD-ROM included in this book, so any mistakes are permanent (no re-printing). Since the toys are double-sided, it is quite difficult to make practice copy, too.

See all 29 customer reviews…