Fantastic Origami Flying Creatures: 24 Realistic Models

Crafters looking for diversion from a stressful world may well find what they are looking for in this delightful origami design collection. Origami artist Hisao, making his English-language debut, details 24 beautiful and intricate creations, including peacocks, an eagle, Chinese dragons, and a bevy of flying insects. In the introduction, Hisao explains that folding origami models is an art. At the same time, he believes people of any skill level should be able to make each of the designs depicted, and to that end uses diagrams, photographs, and written directions to make them achievable for the devoted crafter. However, as the projects grow increasingly complex, the two-dimensional color drawings can be hard to follow, but Hisao remains reassuring, writing that while one’s own attempts may not be exactly as pictured, that’s okay—giving the figures one’s own unique touches is part of the origami tradition. This guide shows that practice and patience—and sometimes a little bit of glue—are all that’s needed to create an origami menagerie of one’s own. (Aug.)