Gift Guide #3 - Klutz Children's Books Review

 

 

Klutz was incorporated in 1977 in Palo Alto, California, by three friends from Stanford University. They began by selling sidewalk juggling lessons along with a trio of no-bounce bean bags. A week's effort earned the group $35. It was then they realized the sky was the limit.   

    John Cassidy, the English major of the group, put the instructions in book form and titled it Juggling for the Complete Klutz.  The first 3,000 books were distributed via bicycle and backpack, and sales grew from there.

 

Today, how-to books from Klutz come packaged with the tools of their trade (from juggling cubes to face paints to yo-yos), and are designed for doing, not just reading.  Klutz is a fixture on U.S. book and toy bestseller lists, and is available in 24 countries around the world.  Having expanded the offerings to include Klutz Toys, Klutz Kits, Klutz Buckets, Klutz Guides and, in 2001, an educational product line, Cassidy seems to have an unlimited supply of ideas.

 

In 2002, Scholastic Inc., the largest children's book publisher and distributor in the world, acquired Klutz. For those of you who collect corporate mission statements, here's the Klutz credo: Create wonderful things, be good, have fun.   

 

Gotcha Gadgets

 

Price: $24.99

 

What do you get when you cross a hands-on-science kit with a whoopie cushion? Gotcha Gadgets, a set of customizable, constructible electronic gizmos along with an entire book of games, pranks, and jokes that make the most of them. Follow simple instructions to make a door alarm, motion sensor, light sensor, or push-button sound machine, and then program it with one of four funny sounds. 9-volt battery required. Not included.

Comes with: circuit board (with speaker, LED, component wires, battery clip, photodetector, and switches), switch pin, alligator clip, gadget dock and case, 6 double-sided gadget covers

For ages 8 and up
Written By: Ben Grossblatt & the Scientists of Klutz labs

UPC: 7-30767-44933-9

Fashion Forms

 

Price: $24.99

 

Create fully formed, three-dimensional outfits that are amazing from any angle. Fashion Forms comes with innovative plastic guides that you use like real sewing patterns to trace and cut the included designer papers. Mix and match to make tops, skirts, coats, and more. Embellish your fashions, accessorize, then display on the custom hangers and dress stands.

Comes with: 3 dress stands, 5 hangers, 20 sheets of double-sided patterned paper, tissue paper, pattern pieces, stencils, ribbon, clear cording, sequins, glue

For ages 8 and up
Written By: April Chorba

UPC: 7-30767-44935-3

 

Star Wars Folded Flyers

 

Price:$19.99

For the first time ever, you can fold Star Wars® flyers that fly with the force. Star Wars® Folded Flyers will speed through the living room as well as they do in outer space. That's because each of the six-starfighter designs has been rigorously tested by the Klutz Aerodynamics Team. And they look as great as they fly, because they're made from full-color, custom-designed papers - representing galactic vehicle exteriors, authentic to the last bolt. With five copies of each design, kids can have a fleet of Y-wings and X-wings at their command.

Comes with: 36 sheets of custom-designed paper, tape, 6 foldable display strands

For ages 8 and up
Written By: Benjamin Harper and The Scientists of Klutz Labs

UPC: 7-30767-39634-3

 

 

My Review

 

I recently had the opportunity to review the three books mentioned above with my children.  Our family is already a big fan of Scholastic/Klutz books and these additions are no exception.  Every few weeks, my daughter brings home a book order from school with about thirty items circled that she wants.  I love the fact that she loves to read but I cannot buy her hundreds of books every month.  I always let her pick out a few to order at school and we shop at the school book fairs.  It is great that I can make note of items that she really wants and then order them on the Klutz website for Christmas gifts.  My kids really enjoyed using these hands-on books to create fun masterpieces.  My son used the Gotcha Gadgets Kit to create a door alarm for his bedroom so he knew when his sister was intruding.  He also had unique and unusual airplanes flying all over my house with the Star Wars Folded Flyers Kit.  He is not a Star Wars fan but he absolutely loved this book!  My daughter is a little fashionista in the making with her Fashion Forms Kit.  She has came up with some very creative fashion designs and I could imagine seeing them on the runways in the future!  I would definitely recommend Klutz to anyone looking for creative children's books.  They make great gifts and can be ordered online.  If you sign up to become a Klutz insider, you can receive 25% off your first purchase!  Check them out at www.klutz.com.

 

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Disclosure:  I was provided free products for review purposes and not compensated in any other way.  My thoughts are my own.