Arts and Crafts Reviews

Set up an art station just like those found in preschools and kindergartens with this set of high-quality painting supplies to encourage creative expression in young artists. The set includes seven colors of washable tempera paint in 8-ounce bottles, in black, white, red, blue, yellow, purple, and green. No-spill paint pots with color-coordinated lids are also included, and the lids snap tightly shut so unused paint won't dry out. Six bristle brushes are included, as well as three foam brushes and two foam rollers. Everything stores away in a sturdy storage crate (which itself folds flat for storage). Early-childhood educators praise the creative value of painting for young children, and this set provides all the necessary materials except paper. --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian

With this well-designed, double-sided easel, preschoolers can enjoy the advantages of creative expression on an upright surface. The easel's frame is made from sturdy wood left in its natural state, with thick pressed board used as the bases for the art surfaces. One side of the easel has a 24-by-24-inch, green chalkboard, and the other side has a 24-by-24-inch, white dry-erase board. Two removable, washable trays are included to attach to the easel (one with molded spaces to hold paint jars and brushes). The easel requires simple assembly, but no tools are required and all bolts and plastic bolt covers are included. Some thoughtful design aspects include an adjustable height feature, a convenient, built-in paper roll dispenser (with paper), and two metal clips to attach paper for painting. This set was a winner of the Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys Award, and it would be a winning addition to any playroom, family daycare home, or preschool. --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian

Among the smartest of the dinosaurs who roamed the earth 65 million years ago, Velociraptors were also deadly predators who hunted in packs to satisfy their carnivorous diet. Made from Baltic birch, the 62 interlocking pieces in this kit require no hardware or glue to assemble. An excellent exercise in shape recognition and spatial reasoning, assembling the puzzle requires patience and careful attention to detail and, possibly, the assistance of an adult. But the rewards are great as you transform a pile of scattered "bones" into an impressive scale replica of a Velociraptor skeleton. Once the puzzle is assembled, you can leave it standing as a display piece, or disassemble it for future use. A wooden "rock hammer" and sandpaper have been included to aid in the assembly process, but you may pick up a few splinters putting this wooden puzzle together if you're not careful. An educational dinosaur booklet and scientific fact file have been included along with assembly instructions and an excavation site map. Measures 21 inches tall by 36 inches long. --Chris Burns

Sometimes the creative impulse can't be restrained, as evidenced by the countless juvenile masterpieces created on living room walls. The Crayola Color Wonder Marker and Activity Tote will let the parents of little Picassos and O'Keefes breathe a little easier, knowing that the eight markers will only color on the special paper provided by Crayola. The 36-page activity book that comes inside the tough green 11-by-14-inch mesh carrying case has plenty of undersea coloring pictures and puzzles to keep kids happy, and plenty more is available. The markers really are amazing--they don't leave marks anywhere but on the unique paper, and they don't smell as toxic as other markers. --Rob Lightner

Just like any great artist, your little one should be prepared for that moment when creative inspiration arrives. Featuring a large chalkboard on one side and a blank pad of paper on the other, this Double Easel will ensure that your pintsize Van Gogh can capture a moment of inspiration before it passes. The Double Easel is made of durable plastic and comes with wide trays on both sides for storing art supplies (not included), as well as a large piece of chalk and an eraser (included). A large plastic clamp on one side of the easel holds down a 50-sheet pad of paper (included), and the two storage trays are removable for easy cleanup. Designed for use by one or two children at a time, the Double Easel folds together for compact storage. Measures 43.5 inches tall. --Chris Burns

Lite Brite offers a whole new dimension to creative play with the latest rendition: the Lite Brite Cube. While the space to create on is a bit smaller, artists now have four pegged panels into which they can poke colors. The cube requires adult assembly, but once that’s done, it’s just like you remember. Choose a design sheet from the eight included--or go freeform with solid black paper--and start plugging colored pegs into their respective spots. Over 500 pegs are included in a rainbow of colors, and the cube has two drawers to store them in. (These drawers fall out quite easily and can cause a mess of spilled pegs, so be careful when transporting.) New to the peg world are Power Pegs--up to four of the same colored peg molded together for quicker completion. The Lite Brite Cube has a blue plastic handle at the top so artwork can be carried around (and shown off) easily. --Pam Lauer