Children love to create things -- whether painting, planting, cooking, cutting, sticking or dressing up. And making things helps them find out more about the world around them, as well as having fun. Children are fascinated by varieties of texture, colour, sound, light and taste, and from a very young age they love to make noise, touch things and, of course, play.

<>The Ultimate Show-Me-How Activity Book is packed full of exciting ideas which combine craft fun, learning and play. There are more than 100 simple step-by-step projects in a fun format for children aged between 3 and 8 years. Young musicians can make their own instruments and discover a whole new range of sounds to explore ? a cardboard tube easily becomes a kazoo and a bottle xylophone can be created in next to no time. You don't need a garden to grow juicy strawberries or a creepy-crawly spider plant, and the planting activities will give children great satisfaction when they see their first flower or fruit.

<>Amongst the many items to make or paint are a feather head-dress, wooden spoon puppets, a printed T-shirt and colourful stationery. For budding scientists there are simple experiments which are great fun to do and will answer many children's questions about light, sound, electricity and water. It's great to pull off a magic trick, and there are enough here for a complete magic show, including how to make a wand and a magic box. Children will be tempted into the kitchen by an imaginative collection of easy recipes, from Funny Face Pizzas to a pond of jelly. And when it's time for a party, here are all the ideas you need for games, decorations and tea-time treats.

The 1400 stage-by-stage photographs feature children caught in the act of actually making and doing, so that young readers can identify with them, copy their movements, share their successes, delight in their results and learn alongside them.