Cameras for Kids: Fun and Inexpensive Projects for the Little Photographer Paperback – August 30, 2009

I'm sorry to write a bad review of this book, but I was really disappointed in it. The first part of the book is taken up with never-ending materials lists printed quite large. The materials lists are over-explained and mostly self-evident. Maybe the author conceived this book as something to be read by children rather than by parents, but I was not instructed and most people wouldn't be.The projects were fine, but they were not imaginative, and I'd already seen all of them in web searches. I was hoping to find projects for the once-weekly art classes I teach, but there wasn't a lot here that I could use that I hadn't already thought of myself or seen elsewhere. In fact, there are quite a few projects I could add to this book.In addition, the grammar and spelling are lacking. That's not a deal killer in a book full of wonderful ideas, but I always find it annoying and particularly if the rest of the book is a let-down, too. To be honest, I would not recommend this book to anyone. I didn't learn anything from it at all, and I'm not all that knowledgeable in this area. I inherited the photography classes when one of the other teachers left to begin a professional photography business. If anyone has recommendations for a good photography book for the ages between 6 and 14, I would be grateful to hear them.

I was disappointed by this book after reading lots of positive reviews. It is just an okay book. It has lots of examples of photos but not a lot of activities for kids to try.

Really good first book! It would be if would be updated though, but as there aren't many around, this is really great!

Pros:simple, easy to understand by kids.lots of pictures.Cons:did not fully explain how to use camera button , or having a project to try using different function of camera. Only a few pages in the beginning talks about the different buttons in camera.did not explain the pictures in the book, why is a good/bad picture.did not explain the project very well, my child (9y old) did not know what to do after reading it.A book for project, not a book to learn camera.

I was really looking forward to receiving this book and seeing all the fun projects it offers. BUT, the design and layout of this book are incredibly hard to follow and very hard to even consider implementing these projects in my lesson plans. There are no chapters, no project headlines or summaries, and just overall very poorly laid out. Very disappointed at this book, especially considering the price!!!!

This wordy book would better be titled Cameras for teens and adults. Pictures with captions would be better for kids.

I think if we get kids more involved in seeing the world around them in a different way, it can make a big impact on them. Seeing the world through a camera lens gives you a very different perspective!WOW- I think I learned as much as any child from this book! I loved that John picked simple items for kids to use/buy to help them learn how to compose and frame pictures.His explanations of the different buttons on most point and shoot cameras was very simple (a LOT easier to understand than your camera manual!). Many adults will be able to make use of his simple instructions for making an infinity wall for blog or Ebay photos! His sample photos give kids (and their parents) great ideas for new angles for photos as well!Sample:Q) Is the sky in you picture kind of dull and could use more color?A) Try putting your sunglasses over the lens when you take the picture. This is called POLARIZING and can be used to draw out the color in other types of shots, tooThe last craft section is really neat in that it allows kids to take the photos THEY took and unique craft and gift items. If I was buying my child a camera, I would buy them this book to go along with it!I have bought a couple of digital photography books and like other reviewers, I think I got more out of this simple book- Crippen's instructions are just more simple and clearer to me. His sample projects show you very simply with items in your OWN yard the different photography terms. This book and a camera would be the PERFECT summer hobby/projects to keep your kids busy!

I love this book, full of colorful photos and easy to read directions this is a great way to encourage young children to explore the world of photography. Learn how to make a toy animal glow, action photos and perspective are some of the useful tools that you will learn. This book is written for an average 4th grade reader but is not only for the young at heart, adults will enjoy this book as well! John writes about very inexpensive props that you can purchase for your kids to photograph, then he goes on to explain basic camera functions as well as choosing a camera. Once your child takes 100's of photos what are you going to do with them? Use the helpful scrap booking tips to create endless memories of a young child's journey in the world of photography!I can't think of a better gift idea, not only for children but for teachers as well...a useful tool to encourage kids to explore their artistic options!

I was expecting that is was written for kids, not for parents.