This is the first book on origami I ever saw. I was about 8 years old and this book enthralled me enough to set me off on what looks like becoming a lifelong passion for folding paper. At the time of writing this I am 46 years old. I last saw this book when I was about 12.

As an introductory book to origami this is very good for beginners. There are 10 pages of clear text and drawings explaining how origami diagrams work and how to read them. This should be compulsory reading for anyone wishing to diagram their own work.

The book is divided into 6 sections. Each section is devoted to a particular base – Diamond, Fish, Preliminary, Bird, Frog and Waterbomb respectively. With the Bird and Frog sections being further divided into – normal, stretched, blintzed, unusual shapes and multiple varieties.

In each section the models are ordered from easy to difficult, although none of them are very difficult.

The diagrams, drawn by Jean Randlett, are very clear and easy to read. The text is, in my opinion, fairly superfluous to understanding the folding sequences, but is very easy to understand and will help the complete novice.

There are 69 models in total, covering the usual suspects – Animals, Birds, Plants, Fish, Insects, Human figures, Objects and Action Models. Most of them are a touch stylised compared to a lot of origami around today, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

At the back of the book are short biographies of the various contributors which add an interesting bit of background to our chosen art form.

As the book was written in 1961 it is a little old-fashioned and showing its age somewhat. But is a very well put together introductory collection of origami models. I found it as enchanting as I did some 34 years ago. I do not know if it is still in print but, if it is not, it should be.

My favourite models in this book, in no particular order, are – Elephant by George Rhoads, Macaw by Adolfo Cerceda, Icicles by John M. Nordquist, Hallowe’en Cat by Fredric G. Rohm and Fawn by Harry Weiss.