Easter Craft Books for Kids -- a Crafty Weekends Review and Link Party

Disclosure: Candlewick Press sent me these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

It is hard to believe Easter is only a few weeks away. I have three fun "craft" books to share with you that are perfect for kids or adults. The first is perfect for younger kids play. It is Make and Play Easter by Joey Chou. 

This book has punch-out pieces to make twenty-five play figures that are perfect for playing or for displaying. All of the pieces are double-sided so they can be played with in almost three-dimensions. They also come with stands so the pieces will stand up. There are also four that are decorations with holes for strings to hang up.

The pieces include diverse people, rabbits, ducks, chicks, sheep and flowers. They are perfect for a spring display or game. The people all have removable baskets with Easter eggs in them. I displayed them on our knitted farm mat. 

Hazel saw me setting it up and asked me to leave it out for her to play with. The pieces are very fun and remind me of spring. (Around here we need some reminders of spring lately with all the snow and Nor'easters we have been getting.) The book also includes activities, songs, and recipes after the punch out pieces.

Although this Easter book is more about the commercial side of Easter, I do love it. I love the options of playing with the pieces or using them for display and also see it as the perfect book to bring Easter fun to younger children.

We had fun with the Make and Play: Christmas and Make and Play: Nativity books as well. 

Our next two books are types of coloring books. The first makes beautiful Easter egg decorations to hang on a tree. It is Press Out and Color: Easter Eggs by Kate McLelland. 

This book has various punch out eggs. There are different sizes and different types. They have three-dimensional eggs like this one.

I have not punched the holes out of it to attach a string yet. It does have holes though and will not stand on its own. There are also two-dimensional eggs in two different sizes. We colored a couple of them so far.

The two-dimensional ones are double-sided. I am showing you both sides in these collages. The bird one was colored by Hazel. She also chose the yarn. I hung it on our tree in our entryway. 

I loved how there was a momma duck and baby duck in this one and had to color it in for Hazel. I colored the momma ducks on each side differently so you can see they are different. I love the option these eggs give you and they are perfect for an Easter tree or to give as gifts. This book is similar to the Press Out and Color: Christmas Ornaments that Hazel did and used as gifts and the Press Out and Color: Birds  and Press Out and Color Butterflies. 

Our final book is Gift Boxes to Decorate and Make: Easter by Felicity French. This book has twenty-four double-sided boxes to color and punch-out. There are also stickers to seal them. They require a lot of work and we haven't finished them quite yet. Hazel started coloring this bunny one. I think she is planning on giving it to her aunt he nicknamed her Bunny. 

I started coloring this one with butterflies and daisies.

As you see the pages are squares put are perforated to get the shape of the box. The are folds as well and it is easy to put the box together. Once we are done coloring them I will use glue on the triangular flaps on the corners so they will keep their shape. These boxes are perfect for small gifts or even for wrapped candies. The book says Easter but many of the pictures are spring themed with just a few that are Easter eggs and such. Hazel used the Christmas ones for some of her gifts and my family loved them!! 

How are you preparing for Easter? Be sure to check out our easy Easter craft as well. 

It is time to see what you have been creating! Thank you to everyone who shared with us last week. The party was a fun one with lots of beautiful crafts shared! There were many Easter ideas!! Below are a few of the features from our party. Please remember for your child-oriented crafts, activities, lessons, etc. Sharing Saturday is going on!!  Also don't forget to link up all your diverse and cultural posts at Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop! A new one started this morning and I co-hosted it on Multicultural Kid Blogs. 

Features

1) From Refresh Living: Whitewashed Wooden Cross 

2) From Flamingo Toes: Colorful DIY Bunny Mason Jars

3) From Raji's Craft Hobby: Bunny Mug Cozy

4) From Duct Tape and Denim: Galvanized Wooden Easter Eggs

5) From Celebrating Everyday Life: DIY Chalkboard Easter Eggs

6) From Bombshell Bling: Easter Chick Reversible Softie

7) From Busy Being Jennifer: Hello Spring Hoop Art

8) From Style Safari: Reversible DIY Velvet Clutch with Spoonflower

9) From LiliaCraftParty: Floral Whisper Crochet Scarf

10) From The Handyman's Daughter: DIY Candle Lantern

Thank you to everyone who shared the last week!! I hope you will share again!! If you are featured here, please feel free to grab a featured button to display proudly on your blog. I would love the help spreading the word about Crafty Weekends!!

An InLinkz Link-up