Origami is possibly one of the oldest crafts in the world.  Invented by the Chinese in the first or second century, origami was a pastime for the rich until more streamlined papermaking methods made it available to all.  The Japanese are credited with inventing origami but it did not appear in Japan until the sixth century.The first written account of origami, How to Fold 1000 Cranes, was published in 1797.  This paved the way for myriad books to be published on the subject, which leads us to today’s book, Easy Origami.

Easy Origami is a small book, with only 48 pages, but it packs a whopping 32 fully illustrated instructions for everything from hats to pianos.  Aimed at the complete novice, Easy Origami has detailed instructions to allow anyone to create unique paper art, even if they have never so much as crafted a paper airplane.

From children to grandparents, origami is a fun and unique hobby everyone can enjoy.  In ancient times, origami was given as gifts to noblemen and was highly valued.  It may not inspire the same reverence now, but it can be a great way to pass a rainy afternoon with the kids.

Easy Origami is highly rated at Amazon, with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 38 reviews.  Most reviewers compliment the easy instructions, billing it as a great beginner’s book.  Though it does not include origami paper, the measly $3.95 price makes it a worthwhile investment if you are looking to get into the art of origami.