View source for The Repair Shop Craft Book by Walker Books and Sonia Albert (Illustrator)

{{infobox1
|title=The Repair Shop Crat Book
|sort=Repair Shop Craft Book
|author=Walker Books and Sonia Albert (Illustrator)
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Children's Non-Fiction
|summary=A splendid introduction to crafting for 7- to 12-year old age group (and the occasional grandma who'd quite like to have a go at making the teddy bear...)
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=80
|publisher=Walker Entertainment
|date=June 2023
|isbn=978-1529507980
|cover=1529507987
|aznuk=1529507987
|aznus=1529507987
}}
I love ''The Repair Shop''.  It's my go-to programme when I want to be cheered up.  After a hard day, there's nothing better than watching experts repair treasured items without ever mentioning what they're worth.  You see, the value is in what these possessions are worth to the people who own them and the memories they hold.  No expense appears to be spared and the experts spend as much time and effort as is required to achieve the desired result.  Regular viewers know the experts and they're all brilliant at explaining what it is they're doing.  But how did they start?

We hear regular comments about ''when I was a child...'' or I used to love taking things apart and putting them back together again''.  I used to make things as a child and I've become an adult who can turn her hand to many things and I also have the ability to recycle in unconventional ways.  It's a useful skill to have and it's saved me quite a bit of money.  But, how do you get your children started down this road and is it going to cost you a small fortune?

My first suggestion would be ''The Repair Shop Craft Book''.  You start with a brief introduction about how to do various things and help with skills you'll need.  They're clearly explained.  I particularly liked the advice about collecting bits and pieces which you can use.  They're all things which you'll find around the house and garden.  (When my daughter was young, I used to dread the projects on ''Blue Peter'' which required 'sticky-backed plastic' which we didn't have and I couldn't afford to buy.)  The only thing I spotted which you might not have around the house is a glue gun - so, no, this isn't going to cost you a fortune!

The projects themselves will suit either boys or girls.  I liked the button sock puppets which make wonderful, inexpensive toys - although I'd be inclined to embroider the eyes rather than use buttons if younger children are around.  The shoebox doll house is a fun make but I suspect the toilet roll maracas could become annoying!  I want a seam-stitched teddy bear (and could well be about to make one!), particularly as it uses leftover scraps of fabric and wool rather than more expensive wadding as a filler.

I'm not going to go through all the different projects - there are thirty of them - but you'll have got the idea of what's on offer.  There are warnings where the help of an adult is advisable and nothing which made me have a sharp intake of breath.  It's an excellent way to start children crafting and I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

For a story from ''The Repair Shop'', we can recommend [[The Toy Bus (The Repair Shop Stories) by Amy Sparkes and Katie Hickey]].  For more crafting, how about [[Press Out and Decorate: Unicorns by Kate McLelland]]?

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[[Category:Crafts]] [[Category:Walker Books]] [[Category:Sonia Albert]]