Nature's Art Box

Martin, Laura.  Nature's Art Box.  North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2003.

(Head over to Amazon where you grab this for $12.71)

If you are ready to move on from finger painting, this is the book for you.  It will help you move your artist from the dinning room table to the back yard (which is great for clean up!).  There are projects for young artists and those seasoned school aged kids.

(There are tons of projects for our "sea treasures" we found at the beach)

"Nature has colors and patterns that no artist could ever draw or paint nearly as well."  I love this line by Martin and her creative ideas are just as eloquent as her writing.  She breaks her art projects down into groups that take up over 214 pages-

Vines and Moss

Gourds and Seeds

Clay and Stones

Paints and Dyes

Flowers and Leaves

Stamps and Stencils

Martin says that "almost anything you find in nature can be used for something." I love the idea that you don't have to spend money at the art store to make wonderful projects with your children.  Just stepping outside, the materials are there for the harvesting.  Martin even explains how to make your own clay and glue!  I know that many parents want to know about using natural items and this book provides the direction.

There are the common camp projects from your youth such as God's Eyes and Potato Stamps (I have to make these with my kiddos!).  Keep reading and you will find over 60 other projects such as Okra Pod Canoes, Fern T-Shirt Prints and making your own natural Dye Baths.  I can't wait to use these ideas at Easter!

It is evident that the projects are well thought out with background, material lists, directions with wonderful drawings by David Cain.  The directions include enough information to easily complete the project, but not overwhelm the artist.  Each project looks doable for even young (or old and unartistic) fingers.  While actual photographs would be nice, the drawings are simple and show the end project beautifully.

There are charts telling you where to find "treasures in nature", when to harvest them and how to use them.  I love that it tells you to only use "fallen bark" from a Birch Tree!  It will help you learn about using Lichen as a dye, Pressing Primose and making Corn Husk Hats.  She also added a lovely list of gift suggestions for your creations and other books that might help you with nature art.

(I want to gather some of these for pressing)

When I open my Nature Preschool (dreams happen!), this book will be a wonderful addition to the classroom.  I think that any classroom, in nature or classroom based, should add these natural art lessons to the lesson plan.  It also would be a nice gift for a parent.  All parents can use ideas for entertaining (and educating!) their children on rainy days and weekends.

The book has a welcoming feel and makes the projects all seem approachable.  With the drawings and layout, art doesn't seem as daunting!

I give Nature's Art Box by Martin by Alaskan Mom Approval for using nature, helping make even the artistically challenged artists and providing projects that force families outside to forage for supplies!

Wild Flowers by Trelawny

Wild Flowers of the Yukon, Alaska and Northwestern Canada (3rd edition) by John G. Trelawny (1988). 

This book is over 220 pages and a wonderful reference tool as each entry has at least one picture.  There is an extensive glossary which is wonderful as the description are quite thorough and have terms that will be popping up in my Words with Friends games soon (watch out!).  I loved reading and learning about my favorite flowers.  I learned that Fireweed is totally edible and comes in white and dark red in parts of the Yukon.  The Chocolate Lilly is also called “rice root” and is a food source for many Native people.  

(Forget me nots)

The book is organized by plant families with a top tap that changes color with the family.  There is an illustrated glossary, definition of terms (Glabrous means lacking hairiness, smooth) and a key to species with six flower-color groups.  Each flower has at least one picture allowing for easier identification.  I think that it is wonderful to have such a wide range of flowers (Alaska, Yukon and Northwestern Canada) for the road trippers and Alcan travelers. 

(wildflower romp)

The writing is concise and provides the necessary information for identification that include common locations.  While some wild flower books are more poetic, this is perfect for the arm chair botanist.  I found it most helpful if I take a picture of the flower in question so I can more easily sit and examine it with the help of the book.  If I had more time (and no children on the hike), it would be great to sit on a rocky slope and find out exactly what each flower was called.  

(getting a closer look at the flower)

Overall, I find this a most handy reference tool.  My children can ask about about the name of a flower and I can say with confidence, “I have no idea, but let’s take a picture and figure it out.”  I can ask them questions about the color and number of petals so it is a group, problem solving experience.  

(caught running away into the flower)

While I was at first disappointed it wasn’t organized by color, I didn’t have much trouble finding my target.  It helped me actually learn about the flowers, rather than do a matching game.  I would love to see a children’s guide in this same vein so the kiddos could learn as I do!

Overall, I give Wild Flowers of the Yukon, Alaska and Northwestern Canada my Alaskan Mom Approval.  It helps to cultivate knowledge of our surroundings, provides a different focus for familiar hikes and teaches children botany in an interesting way.  Thank you to Harbour Publishing for providing me with a copy!

Take a minute to read the amazing history of John Trelawny, the author.

Visit the publisher for more information!  Get your own copy on Amazon with one click!