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STICKY FINGERS

DIY DUCT TAPE PROJECTS—EASY TO PICK UP, HARD TO PUT DOWN

Chock full of appealing ideas, with a thorough table of contents, index, and a colorful, illustrated layout, to boot....

Clear directions for nifty-looking duct-tape crafts abound in this guide, featuring items that can be made for school and home, to wear and to carry tablets, phones and even lunch.

A brief introduction details the evolution of duct tape as it moved from its utilitarian but dull silver hue at the hardware store to its ubiquitous availability in a rainbow assortment of colors and patterns. Maletsky efficiently breaks down the basics of what readers will need to get started and pragmatically suggests how to organize supplies into a portable bin. First comes instruction in the core techniques that are needed, plus tape-saving methods for using tarpaulin material and felt as a backing and a handy evaluation of which brands and types of the sticky stuff offer users the most bang for their buck. Then 58 different projects are offered, each one coded for its level of ease and estimated completion time. Though many will appeal broadly, there are some that are geared most readily to young teens who favor the traditionally girly—such as a watermelon-slice–shaped clutch purse and an earring tree that uses a toilet-paper tube as its trunk. Also included are plenty of clever ideas for how to create embellishments like tassels, stickers, rosettes and ruffles. 

Chock full of appealing ideas, with a thorough table of contents, index, and a colorful, illustrated layout, to boot. (Nonfiction. 9-16)

Pub Date: July 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-936976-54-6

Page Count: 242

Publisher: Zest Books

Review Posted Online: May 27, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014

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A YOUNG PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

REVISED AND UPDATED

A refreshed version of a classic that doesn’t hold up to more recent works.

A new edition of late author Zinn’s 2007 work, which was adapted for young readers by Stefoff and based on Zinn’s groundbreaking 1980 original for adults.

This updated version, also adapted by Stefoff, a writer for children and teens, contains new material by journalist Morales. The work opens with the arrival of Christopher Columbus and concludes with a chapter by Morales on social and political issues from 2006 through the election of President Joe Biden seen through the lens of Latinx identity. Zinn’s work famously takes a radically different perspective from that of most mainstream history books, viewing conflicts as driven by rich people taking advantage of poorer ones. Zinn professed his own point of view as being “critical of war, racism, and economic injustice,” an approach that felt fresh among popular works of the time. Unfortunately, despite upgrades that include Morales’ perspective, “a couple of insights into Native American history,” and “a look at the Asian American activism that flourished alongside other social movements in the 1960s and 1970s,” the book feels dated. It entirely lacks footnotes, endnotes, or references, so readers cannot verify facts or further investigate material, and the black-and-white images lack credits. Although the work seeks to be inclusive, readers may wonder about the omission of many subjects relating to race, gender, and sexuality, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, Indian boarding schools, the Tulsa Race Massacre, Loving v. Virginia, the Stonewall Uprising, Roe v. Wade, Title IX, the AIDS crisis, and the struggle for marriage equality.

A refreshed version of a classic that doesn’t hold up to more recent works. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-16)

Pub Date: Jan. 3, 2023

ISBN: 9781644212516

Page Count: 544

Publisher: Triangle Square Books for Young Readers

Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2024

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MAKE YOUR MARK, MAKE A DIFFERENCE

A KID'S GUIDE TO STANDING UP FOR PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND THE PLANET

A hands-on, practical, wide-ranging, and information-packed handbook for budding activists.

A guide to recognizing and fighting many different kinds of injustice.

The first section, “Examine Your World,” gets readers to identify problems (starting with their homes, schools, and communities) and then to set specific, attainable goals and work toward solutions. Using an encouraging tone, Galat explains the concepts of human rights and activism, summarizing a slew of contemporary issues and offering condensed accounts of individual and group efforts with some brief, positive examples from around the world showing varied types of approaches. The case studies mostly highlight young people tackling problems, including some well-known names such as Malala Yousafzai and Mari Copeny. The middle sections examine in greater depth six broad areas for action: animals, the environment, space exploration, peace, equality, and poverty. The final section, “Change Is Everywhere,” focuses on engaging in activism through the arts and on remaining positive and persistent while being realistic about the pace of progress. Some vocabulary is defined in the text, including terms such as discrimination and molestation. Text boxes introduce topics for conversation and suggest immediate actions readers can take (such as making pamphlets or properly disposing of old medications), thus helping readers clarify their ideas, raise funds, and enlist others. The text, which is punctuated with stock art, embodies the clear communication skills the author endorses and is leavened with subtle humor. The book explains and encourages the many life skills and qualities involved in effective activism, such as research, critical thinking, organization, record-keeping, and empathy.

A hands-on, practical, wide-ranging, and information-packed handbook for budding activists. (source notes) (Nonfiction. 10-16)

Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2024

ISBN: 9781582708454

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Beyond Words/Aladdin

Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023

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