Create & Play: Painting

Created in Italy, this activity book is full of European charm and contains so many accessory pieces that it's practically a toy set. Your host is Crafty Cat, leading readers 4 to 8 through a series of prompted art activities. Use the six-pot watercolor set and brush here to complete or embellish several illustrations; cut out a set of pre-printed pages and bind them into a mini book; and choose from several brightly colored cardboard picture frames to display your masterpieces. Along with the watercolor set, the book includes several heavy board pages containing die-cut pieces to punch out and play with or use to complete the activities. You can assemble, decorate, and play with a stand-up cardboard version of Crafty Cat's house, and dress him in various outfits. Here too are some wild red-eyed and blue-eyed glasses to make and wear (along with special-effect illustrations to view with them), and there's even a time-teaching clock to build.