The book has some crocheting instructions at the beginning, but it assumes you already know how to crochet, so you'll need to freshen up or learn the basics elsewhere. Aside from that I found the instructions to be mostly clear and easy to follow, but since I was following blind, I didn't notice some mistakes until it was too late to correct them. It could have done with more in depth instructions or some more pictures. My first capybara was cute but crooked, the second was much nicer once I identified the problems.
The critters are all very cute and fast to make. My little nieces loved them!

Thank you NetGalley, Cider Mill Press, and Amy Ting for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Amigurumi Critters provides a selection of 25 amigurumi animal patterns for crocheters at a range of skill levels.

Amigurumi Critters is a very well-constructed book, with helpful tips for not only specific stitches, but also various techniques such as how to hold a crochet hook, followed by a selection of adorable patterns that gradually increase in difficulty. Each of the little critters seems like a joy to craft, and the patterns themselves are clear and easy to follow. This is an excellent pick for anyone looking to get into crochet, or into amigurumi specifically, as the wealth of knowledge in this book extends far beyond the patterns themselves, and is laid out clearly and thoughtfully.

omg this was the cutest thing ever!!!! i was not expecting it to be as informative as it was. i’m very much a beginner when it comes to crocheting so i really liked that they explained everything and separated each design by their difficulty. i’m a visual learner so i liked that there were QR codes in addition to the pictures of the crochet pattern tutorials. the pictures of the little critters were the cutest thing ever omg!! i can’t wait to do all of the other patterns!!!

I'm not huge on crochet, I did learn to do in school, but this book was part of NetGalley Summer Camp 2025 and I decided to enter my crochet era again and I haven't regretted it a bit.

So this book is a guide to how to crochet some really cute small animals. Why do I like it?
- It contains patterns for all the levels.
- It explains all the basics including all tools and materials you'll need. The author even provides her own experience with said tools and materials.
- It explains all the techniques you need to use for crocheting and author even gives some warnings and tips on where to pay special attention. All the instructions are clear, simple and straight forward. There are even some link to video tutorials.
- The patterns and just the cutest thing you ever seen. I love them all. You can find all kind of animals, birds and sea creatures.

Well, now I'm back to crocheting my little frog!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks to everyone involved in ARC distribution.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

This book was really cute and easy to understand. It is filled with a lot of reference photos to help with each stage of making the plushies. It is written very clearly. There are a pretty good variety of animals to make and they are all super cute. I especially loved the spiders.

this is such a cute manual for all types of crocheters! i love that it encompasses not only how to create the critters step-by-step, but the intricacies of the craft are detailed as well. from tools and techniques to hook sizes and yarn variations, it's extremely informative. the sea otter family in particular was my favorite and had me wanting to relearn how to crochet from my high school volunteering days, where i originally picked up the hobby :)

thank you to NetGalley, Cider Mill Press, and Amy Ting for the opportunity to read & review Amigurumi Critters!

Ahoy there mateys! I am interested in amigurumi but am a brand new beginner. This book is cute and I appreciated the links to online tutorials and where to get supplies. I have to admit that I was sad because it doesn't seem made for someone with no experience. The heading '25 Imaginative Crochet Designs for All Skill Levels" is misleading. The author states herself that "it would be helpful if you've made a few amigurumi before attempting the patterns in this book.. . ." Had I known, I would not have gotten this book. It overwhelmed me and made me feel like I can't do it.

I also found the ebook problematic to read in terms of font size and color. I would get a physical copy of this book if you are interested in it. Otherwise people who know how to crochet seem to have luck with this book. I will come back to it once I have more experience. Arrr!

Hooked on Cuteness

This book is an explosion of cuteness, and I loved every stitch of it (well… almost every stitch—more on that in a sec!). Amy Ting’s Amigurumi Critters is packed with irresistibly adorable animals that practically come to life as you crochet them. From wide-eyed woodland creatures to chubby little fantasy friends, each project is more huggable than the last. I kept finding myself saying, “Okay, this one’s my favorite”—and then turning the page and falling in love all over again.

One thing that really helped bring the patterns to life was Amy’s YouTube channel. Having those visual walkthroughs was a lifesaver when I needed to see how something should look in motion, and her calm style made me feel like I had a crochet buddy guiding me the whole way.

Now, I’ll admit—the yarning under technique threw me for a loop (pun fully intended). I’m used to yarning over, so switching gears made me slow down and concentrate a lot more than I normally would. But once I saw the difference in the finished stitches—tighter, cleaner, more polished—it made total sense. Still, if you’re a relaxed crocheter like me, expect to flex those focus muscles a little more than usual.

All in all, Amigurumi Critters is a total win. Just beware: once you make one, it’s nearly impossible to stop. Your house may soon be overrun with tiny, adorable yarn creatures—and honestly, what could be better than that?


Thank you Cider Mill Press, NetGalley, and Amy Ting for this eARC!!

I thought this was a very cute and informative guide on how to make these little guys! I'm hopeful one day I can get back into crocheting as it can be so fun. I especially like how this one is divided into skill categories so one can work their way through the book, starting with easy and leveling up in difficulty. Also, the names for each of these little buddies are so cute!

These critters are so cute! The instructions were clear and easy and it was fun to make them! There are a lot of resources available in this book at your fingertips.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Cider Mill Press, for the opportunity to read this book.

As an avid crocheter, when I saw this book, I knew I had to have it, and it truly did not disappoint.

The cover is so pretty, and I love the color schemes that were chosen to showcase the completed projects throughout the book. Right at the beginning of the book, there is an awesome guide that provides you with crochet hook size information, yarn information, information on additional supplies that might be helpful, such as darning needles and embroidery eyes, as well as some technique tutorials to help you along your way while you are crocheting through these.

Now, for the projects themselves, I would say they are for an intermediate crocheter, rather than a beginner, because I have been crocheting for many years and found a few of these projects to be quite difficult. However, I enjoy a challenge and was able to complete a couple of these, and they were so fun! The instructions were clearly written out with guided photos when needed, and the handy guide in the front was helpful on more than one occasion.

I will be picking this book up again to crochet some gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

Amigurumi Critters is a great book for crochet enthusiasts of any level. The pictures are bright, colorful and accurate to the projects. The first section of the book creates space for beginners who are learning or advanced crocheters who just need a refresher and it is written in an easily understandable and accessible way, explaining everything you will need to know to follow the patterns. I loved that Amy Ting made sure to account for both metric and US sizes on the hooks and explains the different sorts of “grips” that can successfully be used, not a lot of books, including beginner crochet guides go over this type of information. Amy also notes in the introduction of the book her own preferences, which is important to note, because the patterns will come out better if able to really understand how they were created. The same is then done when it comes to the discussion of yarn (and I found the preferred brand was really good quality for a really affordable price).
As you delve into the book, the explanations are written with the beginner in mind, easy to understand with pictures to show what is being explained, but it is written in a way that even an intermediate (or advanced) crocheter can appreciate without feeling the need to skip ahead to the patterns. I normally skip over this section in these books because they do not offer any good tips or insights into the patterns or the way they were written and created. Amy changed that landscape here, making it so that as you read through, you immediately take note of things that make you think, “ok, that is good to know for when I get started.”
Each of the patterns holds a unique space and build on the techniques of the previous pattern. For instance, Gertrude gives you an overall basics of how to and assembly, and then the next pattern references the Gertrude pattern for certain completion aspects. This was an intriguing way to not be repetitive, but for a beginner, it could become cumbersome to flip back and forth. The patterns had clear image guides as well, which made seeing the finished step and how to assemble in a concise way. I really enjoyed the formatting of the patterns as it made completing each step easy and straightforward. The instructions are written in a way that is easy to comeback to and not lose what row you are on, and the way the pattern is written allows you to continuously crochet without much thought (which is nice for someone who has trouble keeping count). Each pattern is also equipped with a difficulty level so you know going in if it is a more advanced pattern.
While working the pattern for Gertrude, my numbers seemed to be short two stitches consecutively for several rounds, but then they just met up, so I’m not sure if it was counting error on my part or mathematical error in the publication, but it seemed to work out so I didn’t put much thought into it past that. The only other thing that I didn’t like is that all the pieces are sewn on after the main body was complete. I find when adding limbs or pieces to an Amigurumi piece that crocheting them in as you go often times is easier, especially for those whose sewing skills are subpar.
Overall, I found the text to be helpful and easy to understand, the patterns easy to follow and well written and the critters absolutely adorable. Amigurumi Critters is the perfect addition for any summer arts and crafts project or for a crocheter at any level to create something new and fun. Thank you to Netgalley and Cider Mill Press for the chance to review Amigurumi Critters for the Camp Netgalley event, it brought our the summer camp vibes with the arts and crafts aesthetic.

This book of adorable amigurumi animals that you can make yourself was inspiring and clearly and concisely written. I can't wait to go and buy the supplies I need to get started! I have all sorts of ideas for who I'd like to make these whimsical critters for. This was a great first how-to for crochet and I recommend it to other beginner-intermediate amigurumi enthusiasts.

Very informative and visual book. I liked the content on the techniques and other stuff written before the actual patterns. These are helpful in general too. As a intermediate crocheter, who never tried amigurumi, the patterns seem a bit difficult moving forward through the book. I made a deadpool figurine as a keychain once, which is the closest thing to amigurumi I ever tried.
Anyways, I will love to try out these patterns. Especially the duck, the fox and the frog. I loved those. Happy to get the ARC as I find patterns to be a bit pricy.

This is a great book for everyone that loves amigurumi or wants to get into crocheting. It's perfect for beginners with a very thorough introduction of the basics of crocheting and many different kind of stitches. The patterns are easy to follow and the little amigurumi turn out very adorable. Totally recommended.

I love this book of adorable amigurumi figures. The patterns are easy to read and follow. The visuals were helpful. There's a nice variety of creatures. I would definitely purchase other books and/or patterns by Amy Ting.

There are so many amigurumi books on the market that finding something fresh and new can like a lost cause. And then in jumps in Amy Ting’s book. Not only does it include an amazing variation of 25 designs but it also has many helpful pictures, including each individual finished piece (ie a wing or foot) plus finishing help.

I found the difficulty levels and their organization easy to understand. The lowest level uses only single crochet and has relatively simple construction while the hardest may involve specialty stitches, multiple color changes or intricate finishing instructions. The easiest - and first - pattern is the duck featured on the cover. It’s the author’s breakout design so it’s no wonder it takes pride of place! Several variations follow - duck, turkey - but the book doesn’t only contain variations on a few patterns. There’s a koala, a starfish, a shark, a turtle… just an amazing variety of patterns that, even in the rare occasion where they share the same base, are unique and original.

It’s honestly hard to pick a favorite pattern. One of my personal favorites is the spiders. While they only use single crochet, they’re rated at a more intermediate level of difficulty due to the small tubes that make up the legs. The otters, with their big noses and tiny baby, were huge hits with my kids and have gone to the top of their wishlist. At the highest difficultly level, the sea turtles are simply amazing, with gorgeous shell-like stitches on their shells and little accents like eyelids and a hint of a darker color around a flipper.

Overall, this book has a great variety of patterns with clear instructions, definitely something that someone with beginning crochet experience could pick up and enjoy. And with all those patterns, it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will find something they like!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Cider Mill Press for this ARC. My review is voluntarily given and my opinions are my own.

there were some really cute patterns in this book. they were easy to understand and well written. cant wait to make more critters!

I love that the book includes QR codes to get help with videos. The patterns look easy to complete and there are so many adorable animals. I can't wait to try to make one.

5 stars

This book is full of colorful photos of step by step instructions on how to crochet these adorable little critters. The book gives you an introduction to crocheting, discusses the different tools and difficulty levels in crocheting, techniques, and contains different patters for each level of difficulty. This is perfect for a beginner like me or even someone who’s bee crocheting for years. One of my favorite designs is the penguin which is an intermediate level. I hope to be able to make my own one day soon.