Animal Origami for the Enthusiast: Step-by-Step Instructions in Over 900 Diagrams/25 Original Models (Dover Crafts: Origami & Papercrafts)

The first edition of this publication was the very first origami book I acquired that got me interested in paper folding. The illustrations are sufficient (if you know what you're doing), and the finished models look great.A few tips if you are considering buying this book:1) This is not a beginner's book. If you have never folded anything before, you'll be lucky to be able to complete 3 or 4 models out of this entire book. Make your life less stressful and start with something easier.2) Most kids under a certain age will mentally not be able to grasp the concepts needed to fold certain models. Their brains are simply not developed enough. At the age of six I could fold everything up until the brontosaurus, but regardless of how much I tried, I could not progress any further. A few years later, I picked the book back up and was able to easily fold all the remaining models. If you have a child who cannot fold certain models, particularly the ones in the back of the book, it is not because there is something wrong with your kid; they have not yet developed the level of critical thinking required for the more advanced folds.3) For advanced folders, this book will not be very challenging. For something harder, give Robert Lang's Origami Insects a try, or if you can find them, the limited edition books released at the Origami Tanteidan convention every year.

There seems to be 2 levels of origami books: Extremely simple, almost childlike origami, and super complex origami. This book is a reasonable middle ground. Models like the Walrus are quite understandable and do-able. But the models quickly move into an advanced level. The Bear, for example, has some folds which I've never seen before and I've struggled with for quite a while.The models are essentially sequential in difficulty, so I'd recommend working through the book in order. But be aware that this book will challenge you fairly quickly. I love that. As I get into the art more I want to understand how the more advanced models are folded. This book is a wonderful introduction into that next level of complexity.

If you're considering this book, the most important things to know are 1) the instructions make a lot of assumptions that you'll be able to read their diagram shorthand (we had to look for online videos for help with several) and 2) the patterns increase in complexity as they progress through the book (start at the front for the easiest projects first).

This book is well put together and I rather love it. I've only made one item from it so far and thats the last one, the star. Its a complicated little model from the looks of it, I was surprised it was only 1 piece of paper rather then many.The paper of the book itself is just liek any other standard book. So I would genuinly use it with care. The diagrams are clear but I do wish that at times there was more written explination in what is going on. I can show a few diagrams in a row without any guiding text. While I can follow it for the most part I know others might struggle with the same designs.These models are all more complicated. There are a few more simple, I would jsut be fare worned im not sure this book is for new beginners. Maybe more for more advanced beginnings and intermediate.

I really liked the different animals that could be folded. However, I have only been able to fold the first few. The patterns seem to increase in difficulty. While most of the directions are fairly clear, I do run into some steps where the directions are definitely not clear enough and I can’t figure out how to get past those points. Hopefully things will become clearer as I keep practicing!

This book was a mixed bag. Nearly all the animal figurines are beautiful and have an artistic life-like quality. I love that The designs are constrained to a single sheet of square paper that is neither cut nor taped. However, the illustrations are sloppily drawn. Sometimes the author gives you step-by-step instructions, but there’s always a place where you need to do a complicated maneuver without enough information. I’ve folded every animal in this book. Without fail, there are one or two steps that just aren’t drawn clear enough. It’s so frustrating. Origami is exacting art and the author clearly has a good understanding of the mechanics of folding. So why does it take me two or three tries to read his instructions? Get a better editor!

Excellent book - great models; challenging, but doable (at least the first part, haven't tried the most advanced ones yet ;-). Sometimes there is a fold or two that I have to puzzle over for a while, but it's worth it, given the quality of the animals you can make. Really creative things going on, such as using the (white) back of the paper for the walrus tusks - brilliant. This is exactly the book I was looking for!

This paperback book is of great quality. But most of the origamis are hard, like a professional level. I can only do 2 or 3 of them. Even if they are hard and complex the outcome is beautiful.Recommended for origami pros who want to put their skills to the next level.

The problem with this book is that sometimes the instructions are no clear and requires repeating many steps in the opposite side.Also, there is no ranking for each model, and some of them are really complicated.

Esta bueno pero muuy avanzado

The book had clear instructions and it was well illustrated. Some knowledge of Origami is needed as it is not really for beginners.

Just because you can make a crane, doesn’t mean you can make a crab. These are awesome. But hard.

Avevo preso per bambini ma complicato per loro e in inglese