Welcome to South Africa, the Rainbow Nation, a diverse country with a troubled history but a bright future. You can explore this country’s story through a series of colorful crafts and tasty recipes. For a glimpse into the region’s prehistory, paint your own version of ancient rock art and taste a local grain called millet. Next, visit the colonialist era, when slaves brought by European explorers created the unique Cape Malay cuisine and began a colorful New Year’s Day tradition called the Cape Minstrel Festival. Journey through the painful period of apartheid—strict racial segregation—and taste a street food that was created because black people were not allowed to sit in restaurants alongside whites. Finally, step into the present day and toot a vuvuzela—a long, noisy horn used for cheering—as you learn about South Africa’s transition to equality and democracy.

Experience the fascination and folklore of Japan by using common household items to re-create traditional crafts like kokeshi dolls and origami cranes. Learn legends that promise good fortune as you sculpt a Beckoning Cat or paint a blind Daruma. Celebrate holidays as the Japanese do by cooking mochi and moon-viewing noodles, or by painting a seasonal sumi-e poem. Japan is a nation that honors tradition, yet it is among the world’s most technologically advanced countries. The Japanese enjoy the longest life spans of any people on earth, a fact believed to be greatly due to their diet. See how the people of this crowded land came to depend on the sea surrounding them for sustenance, then try your hand at making teriyaki salmon and ozoni, a soup that features shrimp. Step into the pages of this book to share Japanese culture, with its love of nature and expression of art in daily life.

Italy is a beautiful country full of artifacts from bygone eras. Architecture, paintings, and sculptures from prehistoric times, from the Roman Empire, and from the Renaissance period can be seen in the biggest cities and the smallest villages. Visiting Italy is like immersing yourself in the history of the last 2,000 years or more in one of the most important countries in Europe. With the crafts and cooking projects in this book, you can learn about the different periods, the customs and life, the artwork, and the culinary traditions of this country. Through re-creating holiday crafts, carnival masks, and cooking traditional sweets and other dishes, get to know more about the riches of Bella Italia!

A valuable, one-stop guide to collection development and finding ideal subject-specific activities and projects for children and teens. For busy librarians and educators, finding instructions for projects, activities, sports, and games that children and teens will find interesting is a constant challenge. This guide is a time-saving, one-stop resource for locating this type of information—one that also serves as a valuable collection development tool that identifies the best among thousands of choices, and can be used for program planning, reference and readers' advisory, and curriculum support. Build It, Make It, Do It, Play It! identifies hundreds of books that provide step-by-step instructions for creating arts and crafts, building objects, finding ways to help the disadvantaged, or engaging in other activities ranging from gardening to playing games and sports. Organized by broad subject areas—arts and crafts, recreation and sports (including indoor activities and games), and so forth—the entries are further logically organized by specific subject, ensuring quick and easy use.

France attracts more tourists than any other country in the world. Step inside this colorful book to learn why people love it so much. Then make French-inspired crafts you can keep or give as gifts, and cook some delicious French food for your friends and family. Make a paper stained-glass window for your room, and find out why the real stained-glass windows in one of the world’s greatest cathedrals were taken apart piece by piece. Build a model château, and learn where the rich people made their homes in France. Paint an animal like the ones found in an ancient cave called Lascaux. Then impress everyone by whipping up some dessert crepes or a basket of crispy French fries. As you craft and cook your way through France with the projects and recipes in this book, you’ll come to love this wonderful country, too. Vive la France!

In the sunny Caribbean, bananas, coconuts, cashews, mangoes, and limes grow on trees, and some fish even seem to fly. Though the islands share a tragic past of warfare, slavery, and pirate raids, each island has a unique heritage. Poor Man’s Fritters are a legacy of slavery. The molasses and brown sugar in gingerbread come from the cane fields that made the islands rich. Curry is a contribution from East India; a taste of Spain is in Christmas tembleque; and pirates and native Arawaks are remembered in the cooking method called barbecue. Capture the spirit of Caribbean cooks and artists as you toss a colorful salad with fresh fruits. Craft seashells into picture frames, and make musical instruments from dried gourds. Stencil a Jolly Roger flag, and make a scary mask out of common household materials. With a few simple ingredients, some hot peppers, and household supplies, you can cook and craft your way across the Caribbean, and find out what gives its culture so much spice.

Also called Bharat and Hindustan, India has long delighted the senses with its lively whirl of colors, sounds, fragrances, and textures. Now you can host your own Indian party with ten scrumptious recipes from all across India. Follow the easy instructions to make papadum and dhokla, a spongy appetizer topped with chilies; chicken karhai; and spicy rice and peas. From snacks and appetizers to main courses, desserts, and drinks, your guests will relish each flavorful bite. Spruce up your party with ten colorful crafts that are sure to bring India’s traditions and fashions to your classroom or home. Decorate your floor with Rangoli, paint some henna tattoos, and make flower garlands for everyone to wear. Along the way, you’ll learn interesting facts about India’s holidays, people, and everyday life—like what promises Indian brothers and sisters make to each other. Step into another land and learn about India’s treasures!