Here in the Northeast US, we're still gripped by the icy fingers of winter. Hopefully, spring will come soon. Meanwhile, I'll while away the gray days with Nature's Art Box, a sturdy and well-written hardcover book with 65 nature crafts projects for kids. This book is appropriate for parents, teachers, home-schoolers and group leaders. It's a nature crafts course for educators in a cosy, attractive book. The book is divided into several sections based on different types of natural materials:

• Vines, Twigs, Cones, and Moss
• Gourds, Pods, Husks, and Seeds
• Clay Stones, Sand, and Shells
• Paints, Inks, and Dyes
• Flowers and Leaves
• Stamps, Stencils, Molds and Seals

The introduction and appendix are full of helpful information on gathering materials and other crafts supplies to create the projects. The projects vary in complexity - some are very simple, and others require adult supervision. Safety tips and instructions are plentiful.

Here's a sampling of the 65+ projects included:

• Bark and Moss House
• Angel Ornament
• Okra Pod Canoe and People
• Sand Painting
• Shell Buttons
• Homemade Natural Paint
• Fern Print
• Dried-Flower Fairy
• Leaf Rubbing Gift Wrap
  

Right next to this book on a shelf, I picked up a nature crafts book that was lovely to look at, with elegant design and great photography. But the projects were scanty and simplistic. This book is the antidote - it is full of information, projects and ideas. You will turn to it year after year, season after season. Highly recommended.

Nature's Art Box: From t-shirts to twig baskets, 65 cool projects for crafty kids to make with natural materials you can find anywhere.