Start To Bead is a bright, durable book full of fun, funky projects aimed at the younger set. All the photos - lots of these - show people of the target age group wearing the pieces and having fun. The projects have, in grand Search Press tradition, plenty of easy-to-follow stages illustrated with photographed steps for a foolproof result. Find out about the history of beading, what you have to buy in order to get started and off you go. Make a safety pin, charm or loom woven bracelet, simple ring, bag for a party or disco and beaded trinket pot. In the back is a glossary of terms and other words which are shown highlighted throughout, useful websites and a short list of a few other beadwork books. It is a fun, user-friendly primer and at under £7 would make a great gift for a fashion conscious girl. All that is missing is a project or two showing how to make something out of nothing, the way this beader started as a child. Ways of making dried melon seeds or beans look interesting, or ideas for using broken jewelery or found objects like shells. The other three books make slightly more use of money-saving ideas (for example, a fun book cover in Start To Embroider using bits of fabric and old chocolate wrappers). Perhaps if you are buying it for a child, you had better include supplies to make something with! This aside, this is a good introduction to what fun beading and other crafts can be, if shorn of its "granny" image. I hope to see this range get larger.

If you cannot find beading materials locally try SearchPress.com for a list of suppliers.