The Cute Book
Aranzi Aronzo
Vertical, $12.95
The Bad Book
Aranzi Aronzo
Vertical, $12.95
Regular readers have seen many mentions of my daughters in this blog. That’s because at ages 12 and 14, they have a very different perspective on manga, one that is probably closer to the typical reader than most of us bloggers. In short, they are my product testers. And if their reaction is any guide, the Aranzi Aronzo books are going to be a huge success.
Warning: Cuteness ahead!
The girls first spotted the books in the Vertical catalogue, and just the cover images were enough to set off swoons and demands. When the review copies arrived in the mail, they were instantly taken by them and I was promptly dragged off to the fabric store, where we bought armloads of felt and embroidery floss in various colors.
Then my little product testers really went to work. The following day was a snow day, and they spent it happily occupied with making little bunnies, cats, and bears, as detailed in The Cute Book. Even better, they did it with a minimum of parental help, which is just as well because I can’t sew at all. My husband did help them with the French knots, but once they got the hang of it, we were superfluous.
Actual critters made by my daughters from instructions in The Cute Book, with absolutely no intervention from me.
I therefore give The Cute Book my highest recommendation: It’s a craft book that really works. Unlike, say, Martha Stewart, the Aranzi Aronzo people have come up with patterns that look good even when ordinary people make them. The projects only take a few hours to make, don’t require exotic equipment like sewing machines, and look nice when they’re finished. All the crafts are pretty much the same—little stuffed figures—but the instructions are clear and the authors have come up with enough clever variations to keep them interesting. There’s the cat, the bunny, the bird, yes, but we also have Bad Guy, Liar, and my favorite, Kidnapper. They’re simple enough for kids but witty enough for adults.
The Bad Book is a little harder to explain. Mostly it’s about the above-mentioned Bad Guy, a little black felt critter with one eye higher than the other. A series of brief comics, some drawn and some photographed, fotonovela-style, show him doing various bad things—eating in bed, insulting people, spraying the viewer with water. The comics are short, so there isn’t much plot, although Bad Guy does get fairly well developed as a character. It’s really variations on a single joke (How bad is the Bad Guy? This bad!), but it’s cleverly done and thought-provoking in places. Being conditioned by manga, I think $12.99 is a lot for a 50-page book, but it is a hardcover and it’s printed in beautiful full color throughout. Vertical’s attention to quality obviously extends to their color printing. I suppose it works best as a gift book, and if I were giving The Cute Book as a gift (which I very likely will) I would throw in this one as well.
The Aranzi Aronzo line is the latest manifestation of the Japanese love of cuteness. Created by two Japanese women, the characters are neither as bland as Hello Kitty nor as bizarre as the San-X creations. Vertical has set up a website where readers can sample previews of the books and upload photos of their own creations, and they have several more Aranzi Aronzo books on their list. While it’s basically a commercial line of licenseable characters, Aranzi Aronzo also shows a lot of creativity and a touch of weirdness, and I think it should do well.
The Cute Book stands well on its own merits as a really different craft book for adults or older children. The Bad Book is a completely different concept but interesting in its own right. Both are beautifully produced and would make excellent gifts for friends and relatives with creative tendencies, even if they have no interest in Japanese culture.
(This review is based on complimentary copies supplied by the publisher.)
Sounds like something I would enjoy! If I were 10 years younger. :p
Actually, if my parents haven’t emptied out my shelves at home, it’s still filled with craft and art books for kids. ^^; Now I feel slightly too old for these things
You’re never too old to be 12 years old.
I agree – you’re never too old! I saw both of these in Barnes & Noble a couple months ago in the craft section and they definitely caught my eye so I snatched them up! I tried making one of the characters and I was really pleased with how quick and enjoyable it was to do. Usually I’m terrible at hand-sewing, but it didn’t matter – the instructions were clear and the book was just so fun to flip through. I sort of wish the Bad Book had some crafty things to do too, but it still brought a smile to my face. For me, these books stood out because they’re so different – and I hope Vertical keeps putting out more like them. I have to say – I’ve been really impressed with Vertical’s stuff so far. To Terra is such a nice presentation of a classic manga.
I bought the Cute Book for my 9 yrs old daughter. She is having lots of fun and so am I. I highly recommend it for anyone. Beginning and experienced crafters!
this book equals heaven