Review: Gift Boxes to Colour and Make: Birds and Blossom

What child doesn’t love boxes? For keeping treasures, for sharing gifts, for decorating and making their own, boxes always bring joy to a child’s world.

If these statements remind you of someone, Gift Boxes to Colour and Make: Birds and Blossom might be just what you're looking for.

The book is essentially a book of boxes. There are 24 in total, each made of thick and sturdy cardboard. Both the inside and outside of each template is illustrated with gorgeous black and white pictures of birds, flowers, butterflies and all things beautiful springtime garden. 

Felicity French’s style is intricate, delicate and fun, with detailed patterns covering every part of every template. The kids can choose to keep them black and white (they are gorgeous that way as well) or use their artistic flair and add colour.

There are scored lines on the templates, making it easy to remove them from the book, and the instructions for constructing the boxes are simple and straightforward. There are only six steps! Very young hands might need a little bit of help, but children eight and up should have no problem.

Do note that when the boxes are opened they dismantle into a piece of cardboard again and do not hold their box shape. However, with a little bit of sticky tape or glue the boxes can remain boxes forever (which may be desired by those keeping the boxes for themselves).

I loved that the bottom of each box features a ‘coloured for you by’ section, so the kids can sign their creations. And the book comes with 24 ‘to/from’ stickers to put on top of the boxes if they are being used for gift giving. 

If you're giving a gift, but you're not sure what that gift should be, there are also three springtime inspired recipes for tasty treats at the back of the book for you to enjoy and share.

Gift Boxes To Colour and Make: Birds and Blossom would make a beautiful gift for an arts and craft loving child. And if birds and blossoms don’t take their fancy, there is also a Christmas themed edition available in the Colouring Book of Beautiful Boxes series.

Title: Gift Boxes To Colour and Make: Birds and Blossom
Author/Illustrator: Felicity French
Publisher: Nosy Crow, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 May 2017
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780857638687
For ages: 4+
Type: Activity Book