This technique-filled workshop for creating soft toys, with 16 projects and 52 lessons, covers everything from the basics to advanced construction elements.

Step-by-step instructions to make dolls, teddy bears, puppets and animals

Many parents find it hard to know which toys are appropriate for children at different ages, and what kinds of play to initiate and encourage. What can parents do to best help children develop, and foster their skills? Karin Neuschütz, an experienced educator and parent, addresses these questions in this concise, readable book. She discusses how children play, creatively and freely, and how they are affected by their environment and by the adults near them. She explores each developmental stage up to age seven, using case studies to illustrate particular issues. She then suggests suitable toys and dolls and nurturing activities for children at particular stages . Parents and early-years educators will appreciate the dependable, practical advice in this book.

Award-winning photographer Mark Nixon has created a trove of quirky and nostalgic portraits of teddy bears and other stuffed animals that have been lovingly abused after years of play. MuchLoved collects 60 of these images along with their accompanying background tales. An exhibit in the photographer’s studio led to a small sensation on the Internet when a few of the pictures circulated unofficially on scores of blogs and on many legitimate news sites. Viewers have been intrigued by the funny, bittersweet images and their ironic juxtaposition of childhood innocence and aged, loving wear and tear. When you see these teddy bears and bunnies with missing noses and undone stuffing, you can’t help but think back to childhood and its earliest companions who asked for nothing and gave a lot back. Praise for Much Loved: “Much Loved is impossibly endearing in its entirety.” —Brain Pickings

Beginners and experienced teddy bear makers alike will enjoy trying their hand at these whimsical, creative designs. Ranging in size from 10 inches to 19 inches, these 15 jointed bears can be made in a variety of fabrics and furs. Patterns, instructions and color photos for each completed bear make this book easy to use. The author, a well-known artist who regularly conducts bear-making workshops around the country, includes a detailed section on 'design basics and beyond', for those who want to create their own variations, as well as a collection of tips from a dozen of today's well-known teddy bear artists. A resource section, including a list of suppliers, is also provided.