Clay Fun with Sharon Lightstone

Some library materials have perennial appeal--exercise videos, baby books, and anything arts- and crafts-related. Sharon Lightstone, a first grade teacher in British Columbia, demonstrates five kid-friendly basic pottery-making lessons in this program that includes projects for slab constructions, making textures in clay, and creating pinch and coil pots, as well as animal figurines (another potter demonstrates throwing on a wheel, but it is not a how-to segment). Using common around-the-house or around-the-classroom tools, Lightstone ably demonstrates how children can take a lump of clay and make a useful and/or ornamental vessel. The only drawback is that many schools do not have kilns for firing pottery, in which case Sculpey™ or other polymer “clays” (which can bake in a regular oven) might be a first choice (although the polymers cost a fortune while the real thing is--ahem--dirt cheap). [Note: Craft Fun with Sharon Lightstone is also available.] Recommended. Aud: E, I, P. (R. Reagan)