by MAUREEN VINCENT 11 he Needlework Book of Bible Stories by Carolyn Meyer (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich £1.85)
The author's lifelong interest in needlework and sewing is reflected in this fascinating craft book. Taking her themes from the best known stories of the Old and New Testament she has designed needlework projects to illustrate them. Scraps of fabric and wool will suffice to make anything from a wall hanging depicting the Creation of Joseph's Coat, which can actually be worn as a cape or a skirt. Noah's Ark is a carrier bag full of animals, Daniel's lion a rug, and the Star of Bethlehem a cushion.
There are projects to suit one child making something for the first time, or to occupy a class of children. The wall hanging of the manger scene will surely inspire many an infants' class during the Christmas term. The illustrations, by Janet McCaffery, are clear and meticulously detailed, so that the children can follow them easily. Each step in the making of each object is carefully and thoroughly explained. For good measure the text adds brief accounts of the various themes illustrated.