How to Be a Color Wizard: Forage and Experiment with Natural Art Making

81VBxOPm0qL
Author(s)
Age Range
10+
Release Date
September 10, 2024
ISBN
978-1536229400
Buy This Book
      
In a bountiful book combining art and chemistry, a celebrated ink maker invites kids to become color wizards—by foraging and transforming natural materials to make their own paint and artistic creations.

In this book you will find secret recipes, magic formulas, and wild experiments that will delight your friends, intimidate your enemies, and turn you into a color wizard.

What colors might await in a leafy forest, a berry-stained back alley, a seaweedy beach, or even the dark corners of an ordinary fridge? With this book as a guide, curious young wizards can make natural confetti, unlock the hidden color power inside a leaf, and craft a paintbrush wand. They’ll brew magic potions from beets and acorn caps to produce their own colors, from the darkest black to the palest pink to invisible ink, then share their discoveries with friends, family, and the whole color-hungry human race. With whimsy and infectious enthusiasm, master ink maker Jason Logan explains the science of color while presenting “quests,” recipes, and hands-on activities using materials kids can find in their own homes and neighborhoods. Featuring both photographs and the author’s own gorgeous homemade-ink illustrations, How to Be a Color Wizard is an ideal blend of art and science—plus a little bit of magic.

Editor review

1 review
Magic of Nature
(Updated: October 28, 2024)
Overall rating
 
4.7
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Learning Value
 
4.0
Encouraging scientific experimentation, using recipes created by author Jason Logan, to create homemade colored inks instead of relying on store bought products, readers become "wizards" of their own backyards.

How to Be a Color Wizard is broken down in easy to follow chapters, starting with solid advice about clothing, asking for help, recording observations in a notebook, and collecting materials and ingredients. Logan provides precise instructions, while still encouraging children to use their imagination and improvise.
There is a fun quiz in the beginning, so you can find your wizarding element and a fun "decoding the secret activity" symbols, informing wizards and their assistants how difficult a project may be.

One thing that would have loved would have been the inclusion of Indigenous historical knowledge around plants and their use as dyes. The history of the magic.
The being said, I love the scientific information provided, why/how the colors happen.
Logan includes different "color hero" historical profiles along the way. It was interesting learning about different, and not so common, things these historical figures have done.

This book is beautifully photographed, adding whimsy to experiments. The added collage of other "Color Wizards" completing activities will further bolster children to get outside and create.

How to Be a Color Wizard makes a wonderful addition to our homeschool curriculum!
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