African Crafts: Fun Things to Make and Do from West Africa    by Lynne Garner Order:  USA  Can Chicago Review Press, 2008 (2008) Hardcover      Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch The subtitle of this children's book says it all: this is a unique crafts book aimed at introducing children to West African culture, and what better way to do so than through its art. In the beginning of the book, the author explains how and why she first became interested in art from West Africa and Ghana, and provides helpful background about that region of Africa. The crafts include items and materials that would be unique to Western children, such as adinkra block printing; pot coiling; mask making; and drum making. The author provides step-by-step pictorial instructions for each project, along with detailed historic and cultural explanations. The book is complemented by photographs of African natives wearing or making each of the highlighted crafts. Some of the them are rather intricate and thus geared toward older children, but whether or not you make the crafts, the book is a wonderful guide to aspects of African culture. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews