Koncocoo

Best Origami

His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass / The Subtle Knife / The Amber Spyglass
The epic story that takes us through the three novels is not only a spellbinding adventure featuring armored polar bears, magical devices, witches, and daemons, it is also an audacious and profound reimagining of Milton's Paradise Lost that has already inspired a number of serious books of literary criticism. I began to write this novel with little sense of the plot, even less notion of the theme, and only the vaguest idea of the characters. I suppose these things are partly temperamental; I know that some excellent writers make a great thing of planning every book before they write it; but it doesn't work for me. One thing such a technique prevents is what I think every long book must have if I'm not to go mad writing it, and that's the element of surprise. A book, especially a long book like His Dark Materials , has to have some sort of theme, or else you'll be working for a long time (this story took me seven years) in a moral vacuum. If you're working as seriously as you know how to, for a matter of years, then a theme will emerge whether you want it to or not. Next time I shall remember: the story should lead, and the theme will emerge in its own time and its own way.
Reviews
"Indeed as I was reading through the entire series (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass) I had thoughts and feelings which I have only experienced when reading books of supreme quality and worth such as Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey series, or Stephen Baxter's Xeelee Sequence."
"Favorite childhood series. A fantastical adventure series that challenges concepts of innocence, experience, and antiquated belief systems."
"The author seems to have researched a bit on what he describes throughout the book, and whoever has read books like "The Tao of Physics (Ftitijoff Kapra), the Bible or the Tao Te King (Lao Tzu) will be familiar with at least some developments."
"Awesome series, I really enjoyed it!"
"A great read, somewhat disheartened to learn that some people see it as 'young adult reading' ... while I understand that the main characters are young .. the themes running through the books are valid to all and still relevant today."
"There are two kinds of great stories -- those that fit seamlessly into the body of thought and make you wonder why no one thought of it before, and those that are remarkably imaginative and compelling and make you wonder how the author thought it up at all. Pullman's trilogy fits into the latter category."
"Each chapter of book 3 is preface with poetry that reveals the writers knowledge of biblical truths and vastly diversed types of writings."
Find Best Price at Amazon
My First Origami Kit: [Origami Kit with Book, 60 Papers, 150 Stickers, 20 Projects]
My First Origami Kit is the perfect, affordable introductory kit for kids and parents to learn and master the joys of origami together. If you've never done origami before, My First Origami Kit is a great origami kit for beginners. "…the book that comes with that kit is our favorite in terms of providing clear, straightforward instructions. The book also covers a range of easy starter projects to more complicated ones, and the paper it comes with is fun!" There are cute animals to make, complete with paper sheets and stickers to embellish! "Printed on both sides with a variety of animal patterns and other designs, this paper is much better than the kind you usually see in kits like this. They come in a wide array of patterns and colors—definitely way more exciting than just a rainbow of colors you typically get in a pack of origami papers. " My First Origami Kit has everything you need to complete 20 projects including a cobra, a mouse, and an elephant."
Reviews
"My First Origami Kit is a nice collection of designs and paper, and the facial-feature stickers have been fun for my 6-year old granddaughter, however, I have two caveats for those who are considering this kit: 1) with my many years of origami experience, I didn't think the instructions for many of the figures were as good as I've seen everywhere else; I think they'd be frustrating to someone who wasn't familiar with origami."
"She began making figures right away."
"My kids like to make these when they get bored and don't want to play outside due to mosquitos or cold weather."
"My son has been wanting something like this for a while and I'm please."
"Some too difficult for the age range they suggest."
"The book is nicely illustrated with easy to follow instructions and plenty of thick, colorful paper."
"Given as a gift for children who love crafts."
"hard to work with more than one child with."
Find Best Price at Amazon
Origami 365: Includes 365 Sheets of Origami Paper for A Year of Folding Fun
Learn origami basics from the experts at Taro's Origami Studio in Brooklyn, New York, where dedicated professionals teach and promote the ancient art of origami. Taro Yaguchi's love for paper developed as a child growing up in Japan.ÿHis grandfather was involved with the business of washi, Japanese traditional paper.ÿHow a plant could transform into a strong shiny, thin yet strong fiber always captivated Taro.ÿHe grew respect for paper, plants and nature, which in turn helped him love folding origami.Instead of following his grandfather's footsteps in his career, he pursued his study at Tokyo University of Science with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Reviews
"This is a great little kit overall."
"What a beautiful kits."
"Excellent paper!"
"I am having fun with this book."
"My grandson will have so much fun learning the folds."
"Great instruction book, complete with enough paper for a year."
"My 12-year-old had no problem following the instructions in the book."
"It was a gift but the receiver was very disappointed as only the paper arrived and not the booklet."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Toy Making

His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass / The Subtle Knife / The Amber Spyglass
The epic story that takes us through the three novels is not only a spellbinding adventure featuring armored polar bears, magical devices, witches, and daemons, it is also an audacious and profound reimagining of Milton's Paradise Lost that has already inspired a number of serious books of literary criticism. I began to write this novel with little sense of the plot, even less notion of the theme, and only the vaguest idea of the characters. I suppose these things are partly temperamental; I know that some excellent writers make a great thing of planning every book before they write it; but it doesn't work for me. One thing such a technique prevents is what I think every long book must have if I'm not to go mad writing it, and that's the element of surprise. A book, especially a long book like His Dark Materials , has to have some sort of theme, or else you'll be working for a long time (this story took me seven years) in a moral vacuum. If you're working as seriously as you know how to, for a matter of years, then a theme will emerge whether you want it to or not. Next time I shall remember: the story should lead, and the theme will emerge in its own time and its own way.
Reviews
"Indeed as I was reading through the entire series (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass) I had thoughts and feelings which I have only experienced when reading books of supreme quality and worth such as Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey series, or Stephen Baxter's Xeelee Sequence."
"Favorite childhood series. A fantastical adventure series that challenges concepts of innocence, experience, and antiquated belief systems."
"The author seems to have researched a bit on what he describes throughout the book, and whoever has read books like "The Tao of Physics (Ftitijoff Kapra), the Bible or the Tao Te King (Lao Tzu) will be familiar with at least some developments."
"Awesome series, I really enjoyed it!"
"A great read, somewhat disheartened to learn that some people see it as 'young adult reading' ... while I understand that the main characters are young .. the themes running through the books are valid to all and still relevant today."
"There are two kinds of great stories -- those that fit seamlessly into the body of thought and make you wonder why no one thought of it before, and those that are remarkably imaginative and compelling and make you wonder how the author thought it up at all. Pullman's trilogy fits into the latter category."
"Each chapter of book 3 is preface with poetry that reveals the writers knowledge of biblical truths and vastly diversed types of writings."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Aerodynamics

Fundamentals of Aerodynamics
In keeping with its bestselling previous editions, Fundamentals of Aerodynamics , Fifth Edition by John Anderson, offers the most readable, interesting, and up-to-date overview of aerodynamics to be found in any text. In 1973, he became Chairman of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland, and since 1980 has been Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland. He continued with the Air and Space Museum one day each week as their Special Assistant for Aerodynamics, doing research and writing on the History of Aerodynamics.
Reviews
"The pages are thinner than other textbooks I've had, and the paperback cover can get tattered easily, but for the price I can't expect more."
"Blessed be this John D. Anderson, may he liveth long life."
"This is a great book for college aged kids with an engineering or very strong science and math background."
"It is a good book."
"I read previous reviews before I bought this book."
"The book is in accordance with other reviewer's write-up."
"Great book for teaching yourself the basics of Aerodynamics, also used as the main text for Fluid Mechanics offered by MIT opencourse which makes it that much better."
"Its an indian version that does not have all the exercise problems and its in SI units."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Paper Craft

Easy Origami (Dover Origami Papercraft)over 30 simple projects
Here is a collection of 32 simple projects for novice origami hobbyists — clearly illustrated and with easy-to-follow instructions that even beginning papercrafters can follow with success. Internationally renowned author John Montroll has significantly increased the origami repertoire with his original designs.
Reviews
"I bought this for my 13 year old daughter because she constantly complains about being bored."
"Easy Origami is just that....EASY."
"My son loves this book."
"My almost 7 year old loves this easy to use book!"
"This is a really good book with some very simple ones towards the beginning."
"This book is perfect for young kids just getting into origami."
"I thought it came with paper, but it is just instructions."
"Given as part of a gift set, so I can't say anything else except they liked it."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Rubber Stamping

Making an Impression: Designing & Creating Artful Stamps
These 20 beautiful projects--including cards, an embellished journal and tote, and decorative wall pieces--provide the keys to Geninne's creative process and image-making process. From tags, stationery, wrapping paper to a garden journal and more, this book teaches you how easy and empowering the art of carving rubber can be." "(Geninne's) passion for nature and color seeps through every page, instantly grabbing the reader's attention, and her straightforward writing style encourages even the non-crafter to pick up a carving block and simple cutting tools.
Reviews
"I LOVE this book and am enamored with making my own rubber stamps for use on paper, fabric and ceramic ware!"
"The only thing that would have been helpful is a list of suppliers that carry the rubber carving blocks, but I looked around at my local art stores and was able to find them!"
"First off...if you are the least bit interested in making your own stamps, order this book right now! Geninne's book has so many tips, motifs and templates that you won't know where to start first!"
"Packed full of great info which you'll always use!"
"Really nice book."
"I LOVE her art work, I love her imagination, I love her darling birds."
"I love the idea of making my own rubber stamps. She shows how to trace a picture and burnish it to the white rubber eraser block."
"Although never a "stamper" per say- the idea of using your own inspiration to create stamps that can spice up a package or letter is exciting!"
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Stenciling

The Farting Animals Coloring Book
This farting animal coloring book for kids (of all ages) is just what you've been looking for, even though you probably didn't know it! Be sure to check out his FARTING MAGICAL CREATURES COLORING BOOK too!
Reviews
"My daughter-in-law wanted adult coloring books for Christmas, so I got her a couple of nice ones....then when looking around for one with animals, this one came up."
"The coloring pages or very simple and non-detailed, but it's more for the laughs than the coloring."
"A great addition to my two daughter’s stockings this Christmas."
"This was a gift for my mother-in-law."
"Bought this for my mom because she likes to color to relax."
"Gave this to my teenage son at Christmas."
"Bought this for a white elephant party."
"This coloring book is a perfect gift for silly people in your life."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Book Making & Binding

Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms
Culled from the author's best-selling books Creating Handmade Books , Unique Handmade Books , and Expressive Handmade Books , these projects will fuel bookbinding adventures for years to come. Alisa Golden's work is collected by such institutions as the New York Public Library; the Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the V&A.
Reviews
"A good book containing a large number of styles, many of which I would describe as cards or pamphlets but not books."
"Many conceptual books with additional meaning attached - you could spend a lot of time assembling words and images into some kind of book with all of these examples - inspiration throughout."
"Great book!"
"This book has very detailed instructions for many different types of books."
"This is probably the most helpful book that is needed to anyone who is remotely interested in making a book."
"wonderful creative ideas."
"I had hoped to learn how to make handmade books when I purchased this, but the author seems to have focused on adding a large number of TYPES of books to the repertoire while not really spending enough effort to describe any of them in detail. It's great (I guess) that there are 100 types of bindings, but the descriptions and diagrams for even the most simple ones are quite difficult to follow."
Find Best Price at Amazon