Paper Pups—A Book Review

An Afghan Hound I made from the book,

Paper Pups

(pictured on right) — Arts&Crafts Neighborhood 736.98 HAY

I was in the new 700s last week and found this addictive little number on the shelf.

I made this Yorkshire Terrier and Weimaraner first using copy paper.

The introduction tells you about why he wrote the book and talks about all the tools he uses to bend, fold, and cut the paper. I was worried at first that I wouldn't be able to achieve the same level of precision without them, but was quickly folding and cutting away with plain old scissors and my fingers.

There are quite a few dog breeds represented and each one looks remarkably accurate when finished. To date I have made three of the pups: A Weimaraner, a Yorkshire Terrier, and an Afghan Hound. Hayakawa provides in-depth instructions as well as templates to photocopy in the back. That's the one draw-back to this book: unless you have a copier/scanner at home, you won't be able to make much progress unless you have access to a copier (or come to the library and print for 10 cents!) Also, he uses really nice cardstock, whereas I used white paper. I suggest practicing with cheap stuff first, and when you get a handle on the more challenging steps (like making curved folds), switch to nicer cardstock.

Overall, I found the dogs fairly easy to make. I stopped following his instructions after the first one because the fold and cut lines felt intuitive. He also has three levels of difficulty, and tips for making your pup pop with paint.

This book is fun and a great way to make a cute replica of your pet, or something for a friend or family member. Difficulty is high at first, but once you get the hang of some of the more intricate folds, it gets easier. If you're patient, you'll really enjoy the challenge and satisfaction you get after a few rounds of pup-makin'. I would recommend this book to teens and adults.