Zombigami

Nguyen, Duy.  Zombigami: Paper Folding for the Living Dead.  2012.  Sterling Children's Books.

ISBN:978-1402786464.  Spiral Bound, $8.95.

Book Talk:
The Zombies walk amongst them... your very own creations bring the zombie horror land to life.
This book includes directions on how to fold Zombie creations ranging from a withered hand to a Thriller (aka: Michael Jackson's Thriller).  Create a ghastly crew of 13 original zombies.  The book includes 50 origami pages and a poster of all 13 finished zombies.

Author's Web Site:
This particular author keeps no web site for his works, although he has published many origami books.

Reviewer's Note:
This is a charming book, with the potential for some excellent Halloween programming for teens, whether it be in a library program or an after school club.  The folding directions in the front are clear, concise and easy to follow.

However, and this is the important part: some of these folds require older, more patient fingers.  Some of the characters required 3 separate sheets of paper that were folded individually and then joined together.  Many of the folds were more difficult than I expected for a book aimed at children ages 8+.

I believe this book, and these characters require tweens, or even young teens to best accomplish them.  Younger children would get too easily frustrated and quit.  I would also like to add, that having run an origami program last year for 13 year olds, the boys were frustrated beyond words with the intricacies of some of these folds.  Not all boys were, just a majority of them.  The girls easily managed the folds and were spinning out origami creations at a very quick rate.  If you do decide to do this with a group, I'd recommend older tweens, and I'd recommend several extra pairs of hands.

-Bettina