They will adore it! I love doing crochet. I taught myself from a book when my oldest was a baby, and it has been one of my favorite crafts. These days there are Youtube videos and helpful websites that would make it much easier to learn.
VWquilting, the problem with the piece you purchased was more likely to be the quality of the yarn than the work, although sometimes people pull up the stitches too tight when joining their squares. It might be possible to block it by pushing it into shape while wet and letting it dry flat.