Crafty Fiction for Kids

I've created this book list of great crafty fiction for kids.   These are not how-to books but stories that will inspire, inform, and entertain.  If you have any favorites please list them in the comments for all to enjoy.  Yea for summer!  Yea for reading!

Pelle's New Suit by Elsa Beskow (illustration pictured above)   One of my all-time favorites.  Pelle learns what it takes to create a new wool suit. 

Warm As Wool by Scott Russell Sanders  This is an historical-based story about a pioneer family in Ohio and how a small herd of sheep goes a long way in easing their hardships.

The Goat in the Rug by Charles L. Blood  A true story about best friends, Glenmae,  a Navajo weaver, and her pet goat Geraldine.  Glenmae weaves a rug from Geraldine's hair.  Very cute illustrations and narrated by the goat.

The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau  A modern fable about a talented and generous quiltmaker that teaches a greedy king about the gift of giving.  Gorgeous illustrations by Gail De Marcken.

The Josefina Story Quilt by Eleanor Coerr  A patchwork memory quilt eases the transition of a Westward-moving pioneer family and a young girl's attachment to her favorite pet.  An I Can Read Book level 3.

The Keeping Quilt  A quilt preserves the memories of multiple generations of Russian immigrants.  A biographical story written and illustrated by the wonderful Patricia Polacco.

The Button Box by Margarette S. Reid  A boy enjoys playing with his grandmother's button stash.  Cute ideas to use with your own kids.

The Paper Crane by Molly Bang  Magic happens after a restaurant owner is given a paper crane.  Very cool illustrations created from a combination of collage and painting.

Yoko's Paper Cranes by Rosemary Wells  Generations stay connected through the art of origami even though they are oceans apart.  Incredible illustrations that make use of washi papers and gold leaf turn this book into a true feast for the eyes.

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall  An early nineteenth-century family works on their crafts all year round then sells them at the market only to start the process all over again.  A nice simple telling of the circle of seasons and wonderful illustrations by the fabulous Barbara Cooney.

The Chalkbox Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla  This is a beginning chapter book but also a great read-aloud.  A boy works out his anger and at the same time finds the artist within himself while creating a chalk garden in a burned-out factory.

I Am An Artist by Pat Lowery Collins  A beautiful and delicately illustrated book describes how anyone is an artist when they look closely at the natural world around them.

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I don't own the following books but they looked like good ones from my search on Amazon:

Knitting Nell by Julie Jersild Roth  A quiet girl that knits inspires everyone with her generosity.

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan   For older readers.  A thirteen-year-old girl's experience within a traditional Indian culture and how embroidery helps her find her own independence and happiness.   

Emma's Rug by Allen Say   A story about how a young girl gets her artistic inspiration.  If you aren't familiar with Allen Say's work then you are in for a real treat.  His illustrations are the best!

Fairy Houses by Tracy L. Kane  Fairy houses!  Do I have to say more?  I put this one in my cart :)   Check out this website too.

Comments

[Leslie in VA]

Love the list. Just read Pelle to the children this am! A few additions: the Bedspread (two bedridden sisters embroider memories from their childhood from their perspective), Rag Coat as well as the Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree.

Read on!

[Marni]

"Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry, follows "The Giver." I've wanted to try dying using plants ever since I read this.

[erin]

I know I'm a little behind, but I have a suggestion! It's out of print, but you can find it on Amazon Marketplace. The book is called "Little Things" by Anne Laurin. It's a picture book about a woman who knits a blanket so large it spills out the windows of her house. It's completely adorable and very crafty!!

[Molly Uline-Olmstead]

I still have my copy of Ox Cart Man from when I was a wee one. I loved it so much because when I was a baby my dad raised oxen and he bought the book for me. Thank you for reminding me of it!

[emily]

I hope you won't mind me self promoting my 1st official book...
Emily and Mr. Nelson! You can read about it at my blog:
http://galleryedge.blogspot.com/

or go directly to the viewing page at:
http://www.lulu.com/content/876521

It's about a rainy day, a wet dog, Mr. Nelson, and a little girl making her dog a raincoat. It comes with a paper doll and paper dog. Thank you! :)

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

I found your blog through my daughter,s blog...My Best Friend Calls Me Martha. I love your blog and wanted to add a book for 6th graders and up. My son in law has his class read it every year and I read it on his recommendation. The Giver by Lois Lowry...very thought provoking.

[molly]

i can't wait to sit down with this list and start filling up my library bag for the girls. what a great idea, cassi.
one of our favorites is "farmer brown shears his sheep: a yarn about wool"--thought quite comical, it really does take you through the process of wool to yarn to sweater. and it rhymes, which we always love in this house!

[Heather Vering]

What a great list. I have to add Knitting With Gigi. It has a sweet story done in rhyme and instructions that are easy to understand. Think of Dr. Suess for knitting.

[PJ]

Love the list and the additional books your readers commented on...I'm coming back and taking notes on your list. Thank you for your time into this!

[knittingiris]

Nice list. I just finished checking the card catalog online for a bunch of these. Thanks, Cassi.

[Heather]

The Mitten Tree - an empty nester knits mittens and secretly hangs them from a tree near the bus stop for children to discover and enjoy.

[mdessy]

One of my favorites, with very sweet illustrations, is Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep. Check it out! Thanks for sharing your list, I've added a couple of them to my check it out list.

[Willow]

What a wonderful list! The book "Apricots at Midnight" is a longer novel for kids where a girl learns about all the fabrics behind a patchwork quilt. I loved the book "Girl of the Limberlost," which has Lenora collecting butterflies to afford her school fees; not quite a craft, but pretty crafty, no?

I too wish more crafters were using librarything.com ; it's a great resource for sharing books!

[Kristin]

What a great list, Cassi! Thank you for pulling it together!

[Regina]

What a great list! THanks so much for sharing this!

[Jess]

This is a great list, I love the fairy book, thanks for the ideas!

[Amy]

Pelle's New Suit is a wonderful book with gorgeous illustrations.

I also like "The Mitten" by Jan Brett and "The Story of The Wind Children" by Sibyll Von Olfers.

xo,
amy

[Retourner]

Oh Cassi Thank You!!! These are all such magial books with magical illustrations. Thank you so much for compiling it. dd

[lilysmum]

Wow what a great post...thanks so much. I absolutely love books (too much time as a student!) and now that I have a daughter I have a new area to obsess about- kids books. Lovely lovely suggestions.

[Mary Beth]

Thanks for the list. My son loves Yoko's Paper Cranes. (And so do I...)

I'm not sure if it's still in print, as the copy we have is the one I had as a little girl, but Socks for Supper is one of our favorites, and the plot revolves around knitting.

[Amber]

I love book lists!
There's a couple here that we haven't read... I've added them to my library list!

Here are a couple more that I think are really good: A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert, Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan, and The Other Side (one of my all-time favorites) by Jacqueline Woodson.

[clarice]

Ohhh great post. We have a lot of these books. Our favs are the keeping quilt, pella and ox man cart. I think I will make the girls read them to me again. Thank you xoxoxo Clarice

[Anamaria]

Thanks for putting together this list, Cassi--I saw a lot of old favorites on it (Pelle, Yoko), and some new ones I'll have to check out. I can vouch for Knitting Nell, too, it's a wonderful book!

[Ps. I posted about my kids' fairy houses on Wednesday--it must be fairy season!]

[Gina]

Thank you for sharing this list. These will be great to add to our summer reading to help keep the habit up during these fun playing summer days.

[Nancy]

I really appreciate the time you spent on this and for sharing this list. Pelle's New Suit, The Keeping Quilt and The Paper Crane look especially interesting. Oh, and The Button Box- so many of us could relate to that. I just inherited a Great Aunt's buttons.
Thanks again.