Review of my book from Kirkus Reviews.
THE STAR WARS CRAFT BOOK
Author: Burton, Bonnie
Review Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher:Del Rey/LucasBooks
Pages: 208
Price ( Paperback ): $24.00
Publication Date: March 29, 2011
ISBN ( Paperback ): 978-0-345-51116-4
Category: Nonfiction
Classification: Popular Culture
A career crafter shares the unfettered joys of Chewbacca Sock Puppets and Jabba the Hutt body pillows.
Burton, creative editor and blogger for Lucasfilm's immensely popular Star Wars website, applies imagination and accessibility to creations that are "fun, not frustrating." The author makes good use of commonly available supplies found in the kitchen (dry pasta, wooden spoons), the closet (old T-shirts and socks) and the recycling bin (newspapers, bottles). She gives new life to broken toys and Halloween masks, transforming them into adorable and often practical Star Wars artwork. The book is artfully arranged into sections of varying skill levels. Some best suited for interactive role-play, such as the Yoda Felt Doll, while others incorporate holiday themes, or make for creative pet toys and home decor.
Burton's simple ideas have the potential to become functional masterworks like tote bags, pillows and blankets fashioned out of new or used Star Wars T-shirts, a Space Slug Draft Blocker made from tube socks, even an Ewok Flower Vase. Those with a flair for handiwork will delight in a section on nature-inspired projects using pebbles and moss to create "Dagobath Carnivorous" plant habitats or a milk-carton Wookiee Bird House.
Burton saves the most challenging mission for the final pages where, in 19 quick steps, readers can create a gruesomely monstrous Mounted Acklay Head. Easy-to-follow directions, patterns and an inclusive index of basic materials all contribute to the appeal of these unique crafts, including photographs of Star Wars fans alongside their own imaginative constructions.
Whimsical, straightforward fun for die-hard buffs of any age.
Read my interview here:
Library Journal: Editors' Picks: The Star Wars Craft Book
More info about The Star Wars Craft Book here.
Order The Star Wars Craft Book at Amazon and signed copies at Star Wars Shop.
In the history of popular culture no community of fans has endured as Star Wars fans have endured -- not simply surviving, but thriving for more than 30 years. When the first Star Wars movie opened in theaters in 1977 it inspired a loyal following that has grown far beyond a Sci-Fi flick fad.
Star Wars fandom is a worldwide phenomenon made up of generations of kindred spirits who share the stories, comics, costumes, games, and even the experience of waiting in line for the next event. They are celebrities and rock stars. They are politicians, artists, teachers, scientists, parents, and writers. What is more, their generous acts of charity, creativity, and community service, all in the name of their shared passion, are legendary.
In the forthcoming Generation Star Wars book, authors Bonnie Burton, Mary Franklin, and Pete Vilmur, employees of Lucasfilm with unique access to fandom and its history, reveal insights into a group of individuals you might have thought you understood. Far more than fanboys and fangirls, Generation Star Wars is a force to be reckoned with, and a force to enjoy. The book is scheduled for release from Del Rey next summer.
Girls Against Girls: Why We are Mean to Each Other and How We Can Change is sort of a self-help manual for any girl caught up in the cycle of envy, gossip, bitterness, and meanness that grabs hold of most pre-teens and teens as they navigate the waters of puberty. Author Bonnie Burton does a damned good job of weaving common sense, real life situations, good advice, and quotes from artists, rock stars, and writers into an appealing whole that is a very quick read with a lasting impact.
She divides the book into six sections: "Why We Hurt Each Other," "Methods of Our Meanness," "Bearing the Brunt of It," "Calling in Reinforcements," "Stopping the Cycle," and "Teaming Up Instead of Tearing Each Other Down," and at the end she offers a good set of resources. Her "whys" include science (the fact that the teenage brain is still growing, hormones) the way we are raised, and competitiveness; the "methods" include boyfriend stealing, gossiping, the silent treatment; "the brunt" tells you how to cope, if you can; "calling in the reinforcements" tells you what to do if you can't. You get it. It's all spelled out nice and neat, but it’s not pat. Burton has done her homework.
Let the moms and dads read the longer, harder stuff. This book is for their daughters. And I highly recommend that parents buy a copy for each of their girls aged 10 and above. The sooner the better.
Written for all teen girls, this insightful book discusses different types of girl on girl cruelty, why it happens, and how to deal with it. With details on various forms of abuse common between girls—including betrayal between friends, cyberbullying, hazing, and the silent treatment—this useful guidebook will help teen girls understand why they show aggression to each other, cope with difficult situations, gain confidence, and work together as teams, while also suggesting when to get help from adults when situations get out of hand. It includes quotes and inspirational stories from famous role models who have had firsthand experience with girl meanness, such as Jane Wiedlin, founding member of the Go-Go's; Jenny Conlee, bandmember of The Decemberists; and Tegan, bandmember of Tegan and Sara.
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