Product Description

“This nicely illustrated how-to goes beyond wood, glue, and nails to explain woodworking techniques and a variety of tools.”—Booklist. “An attractive, well-organized introduction...[with a] wide variety of toys and games, instruments, and art items that will appeal to boys and girls alike. Numbered step-by-step directions are clear and easy to follow....Sure to be a hit.”—School Library Journal.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #178140 in Books
• Published on: 1994-12-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-8-An attractive, well-organized introduction. McGuire explains where lumber comes from, describes basic tools and supplies, and covers the fundamentals of safety, stressing the need for adult help. In his discussion of how to use the tools, he includes directions for left-handed youngsters. To help with learning simple construction, he suggests building five basic wood-shop devices: a bench hook, miter box, bit bin, tool box, and a work bench. The remaining projects-each of which lists materials, tools, and a cut list for the sized boards required-include a wide variety of toys and games, instruments, and art items that will appeal to boys and girls alike. Numbered step-by-step directions are clear and easy to follow. Full-color photos of the finished projects, as well as in-progress shots augment the directions. Where necessary, black-and-white, three-dimensional diagrams are provided. A good update to craft sections that is sure to be a hit.
Beth Irish, Orange Public Library, CA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 6-8. This nicely illustrated how-to goes beyond wood glue and nails to explain woodworking techniques and a variety of tools. A selection of projects, numbered to indicate difficulty, follows, including gifts for family and friends and items for pets and for play. The instructions are detailed, and McGuire emphasizes the importance of adult supervision both in helping kids assemble a project and in helping them learn a particular technique. Although McGuire explains size measurements of lumber and includes a list of metric equivalents, he does not discuss rulers and how to read them. Such information would have been helpful, especially for beginning woodworkers. A color photograph of the finished item is included, with some projects also illustrated by exploded-view drawings and photographs demonstrating technique. Children will have fun assembling the projects, but this is definitely a book for kids who have an adult nearby. Christie Sylvester

Customer Reviews

good book for a beginning woodworker
I bought this book a year ago. My son and I have had fun building some of the projects. The book puts the projects in easy to understand steps and gives a cut list for what you need. My son is 7 and understands the directions although it is aimed at a slightly older age level.

Great intro
This is a graeat kids' introduction to tools and how to use them. It starts with a section on basic wordworking tools: hammer, saw, coping saw screwdriver, hand drill, brace and bit, and a few others. (Note to nervous parents: no chisels, planes, kinves, or other sharp blades, and no power tools.) After that, the author presents more than three dozen kid-friendly projects. Most can be completed in an afternoon, and none require the kind of precision that would just frustrate a new tool-user. A few projects, like a doll crib, have obvious girl-appeal - tool use isn't a boys' club any more.

Kids are all different in their abilities and familiarity with tools before picking this book up. Some kids will be able to follow the directions on their own. Others will need some amount of parental help, at least at first. Most projects involve only pieces of wood under two feet long, so any shop with a lot of offcuts will alredy have most of what's needed. Materials aren't expesive or exotic, though. I don't think any project in this bok would cost as much as a movie ticket, even if you had to buy all the materials - and, unlike a movie, you'd have something real to show for your work at the end.

Kids that have already had shop classes might find this too easy. Most kids will appreciate a supportive parent close at hand, even though there's lots of "I can do it" reward to be had here. Pictures of intermediate steps aren't all they should be, but generally adequate. And, although all of the projects can be adapted in many different ways, especailly in finishing, there's not much mention of how to change proportions to suit your needs or to suit the materials at hand. Still, it's the best book I know for kids at this level. I recommend it highly for beginning tool users and for the adults who encourage them. Just add safety glasses - something this author rarely mentions, if at all.

-- wiredweird