Lucky Bamboo Book of Crafts by Jennifer DeCristoforo

Lucky Bamboo Book of Crafts is more than a Chinese craft-book. It provides rich, educational content that cover the rich history of China in a easy-to-read and learn format.

Lucky Bamboo highlights China’s dynasties, topography, agriculture, and climate. It also provides parents and children with facts about China: population, religion, government, currency, language, national emblem, national anthem, national flag, national flower, and Eastern philosophies. Children also learn about important Eastern philosophical symbols such as the yin-yan.

Throughout the book, Lucky Bamboo Book of Crafts, children see writing in English and Mandarin. Children are taught common Chinese characters. They can also use the book to speak and write common words and phrases in Mandarin. I know this book will be especially helpful for me.  My daughter attends a bilingual mandarin school. This will be a great way for me to communicate with her at home since I don’t speak Mandarin.

By engaging in crafts, children naturally want to learn more about the origins and history of the craft. Easy to use templates for the craft activities are provided at the end of the book. In addition, there  are some wonderful tips for parents and educators on how to get started with these crafts by creating your own “material toolbox” to use at home or in the classroom.

Children are exposed to the traditional fine arts (calligraphy, pottery,  scrolls, chop art, papermaking, papercut designs, knot tying). They learn about many important festivals and holidays (Chinese New Year, Dragon Parade, Zodiac Animals, Lantern festival, Floating Dragon boat, and more). They engage in performance and dance crafts (ribbon dance stick, dragon puppet, lion dance mask, circle fan, monkey king mask). They can also create traditional Chinese folk toys and play traditional games (tattle hand drum, diamond kite, abacus, shuttlecock, and tangrams).

To learn more about the writer and illustrator Jennifer DeCristoforo and what inspired her to create Lucky Bamboo Book of Crafts click here.