Toys

Toys serve many purposes, but they are universal over time and across cultures. Even today, children and adults make their own toys, either out of cultural tradition or because they lack access to factory-made toys. This book not only introduces the reader to both, but allows one to re-create these wonderful playthings. Covered are such diverse folk toys as animals with bobbing heads from India, Bottlecap snakes from Mexico and Chile, worry dolls from Guatemala, cloth dolls from Peru and Mozambique, peg dolls from the UK and US, nesting dolls from Russia and Belarus, wooden horses from Poland and Sweden, vehicles made from clay and wood and tin scraps from several countries, whimsical wire toys with moving parts (known as "galimoto") from Zimbabwe, and kites from Japan. That is quite a selection for 30 pages! What's more, the author is also thoughtful to include a list of museums and books for anyone who wants to know more. This is a wonderful little book for parents, teachers, art instructors, and anyone interested in folk toys.