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48 pp.
| Little
| July, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-43679-3$17.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-316-43678-6
(2)
K-3
In these action- and information-packed picture books, self-proclaimed "Invention Hunters," a group of cheeky, clueless scientists, barge into a child's home to gather objects for their "Museum of Inventionology." The adults hypothesize ludicrous uses for each item, prompting the child to share nonfiction vocabulary, diagrams, historical information, and additional facts. The comics format keeps the tales moving quickly; the narratives shift back and forth between informational spreads and the scientists' wacky antics. Review covers these titles: The Invention Hunters: Discover How Electricity Works and The Invention Hunters: Discover How Machines Work.
Reviewer: Elisa Gall
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2019
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Maple Lam.
The authors (HGTV stars and cousins) are depicted showing a diverse group of children how to build a playground using various tools: "This is a level. We use it to make sure the monkey bars are straight." With child-friendly, soft-hued watercolor illustrations and very simple, accessible text, the book invites younger audiences into the world of construction through a friendly if not terribly original story.
40 pp.
| Chronicle
| March, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4521-6505-9$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Eda Kaban.
In this charming follow-up to Old MacDonald Had a Truck, the farm's mister and missus use an electric saw ("With a BUZZ BUZZ here and a BUZZ BUZZ there"), a hammer ("BANG BANG"), and more to spruce up an old boat and build a ramp for the book's grand finale. The art teems with farm animals, many of them unexpectedly handy--and dexterous on water skis.
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Tuesday Mourning.
Dress-loving engineer Ellie navigates prescriptive gender roles and interpersonal misunderstandings in this middle-grade STEAM-championing series. Ellie prepares a doghouse for best friend Kit's birthday in the opener; in Next, Ellie and friends help an elderly neighbor woman, who gives boy Toby all the credit for Ellie's projects. Sufficient action and tension, enjoyable inventions, and appealing characters balance the stories' messaging. Illustrations include engineering sketches. Review covers these titles: Ellie, Engineer and Ellie, Engineer: The Next Level.
32 pp.
| Star Bright
| July, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59572-777-0$17.99
|
PaperISBN 978-1-59572-778-7$7.99
(4)
K-3
In a spare main text against static collage art, a stick becomes a flyswatter for an elephant, a spoon for a chimpanzee, bait for an alligator, etc.; additional information about each animal's behavior appears in italics (and is also appended). Finally, human children use the stick to play, draw, dig, and support a sapling they plant...which grows into a tree, bringing things full circle.
32 pp.
| Scholastic
| July, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-68520-7$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
James Dean.
A hammer, screwdriver, pliers, saw, and tape measure attend school in this rollicking rhyming book. "We may be small, but our skills are cool. / Let's go build on them at our new school!" After trial and error, the tools learn to cooperate and build something useful: a toolbox. Playful verse combines well with Dean's signature bright illustrative style, giving the tools personality and spunk.
(3)
4-6
Made by Hand series.
These books celebrate two entrepreneurial craftsmen who operate successful businesses constructing handmade sports products: Aaron Dykstra, designer and builder of bicycles; and Jake Eshelman, an avid skateboarder as a youth and now the creator of quality boards for others. The books illustrate the step-by-step process each man follows to construct one of his products. Appended suggestions encourage readers' creativity. Timeline, websites. Glos. Review covers these Made by Hand titles: Bicycles and Skateboards.
(3)
4-6
Made by Hand series.
These books celebrate two entrepreneurial craftsmen who operate successful businesses constructing handmade sports products: Aaron Dykstra, designer and builder of bicycles; and Jake Eshelman, an avid skateboarder as a youth and now the creator of quality boards for others. The books illustrate the step-by-step process each man follows to construct one of his products. Appended suggestions encourage readers' creativity. Timeline, websites. Glos. Review covers these Made by Hand titles: Bicycles and Skateboards.
(3)
K-3
Tool-festooned monkey Chico Bon Bon returns, this time to figure out why various supplies have gone missing from his school. Through industry and, yes, tools, Chico discovers that some squirrels have been building their own school inside the building's walls. The solution to the turf war is inspired, requires cooperation (and tools), and showcases author/illustrator Monroe's talent for detail in miniature.
(4)
K-3
I Like to Read series.
Told from the perspective of a screw living in a garage full of tools, this book uses simple words and short sentences to introduce tool purposes and tell the story of a boy building a treehouse. The personification of the tools is somewhat uneven, but the functional descriptions are clear. Bright digital illustrations follow the progress of the project and give the objects personalities.
(3)
K-3
"Chico Bon Bon had never seen a pancake do so much damage" is the irresistible beginning to tool-wielding monkey Chico's latest story. Chico's challenge: party-throwing elephant Clark is wrecking the kitchen as he cooks. Fortunately, Chico has his tools...and his wits, which he uses to stop maniac muffins on the loose. Monroe's tidy art is as marvelously straight-faced as her text.
32 pp.
| Holt/Ottaviano
| March, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-8738-3$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Melissa Iwai.
When everything in the new house needs "fixing," Daddy brings the narrator and his younger sister to the local hardware store. As they shop, the text introduces simple tools and materials as well as more complex vocabulary. The straightforward narration and friendly mixed-media collage illustrations emphasize the child's perspective, warmly welcoming young tool lovers and others on this timeless small-town excursion.
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Kent Culotta.
With ready-made appeal for machine and tool lovers, this alphabet book shows a construction crew helping a family build an elaborate treehouse. Each letter introduces a tool or construction step with two rhyming couplets. Despite singsong tendencies, the text maintains alphabetic integrity without losing the work's flow. Soft-toned illustrations with rounded edges and smiling workers underscore the book's friendly vibe. Glos.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Renné Benoit.
"Now and then you'll see a few / animals who use tools, too." Alternating between arrhythmic rhymes about animals using tools and more valuable scientific explanations, this book is better read as two different narratives. The watercolor, colored-pencil, and gouache illustrations in muted earth tones feel rather lifeless. A lengthy author's lends additional context. Reading list, websites. Bib.
(2)
PS
A diligent T-square rallies its fellow tools to get to work building a shed. One helpful illustration shows the tools strewn about the lawn, with captionlike arrows to identify what's what. Meshon's lively text is full of tool-centric wordplay; a detailed note describes his process for creating the digitally colored mixed-media illustrations of smiley tools with a can-do attitude.
32 pp.
| Blue Apple
| February, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-60905-428-1$12.99
(3)
K-3
Think About series.
Illustrated by
Emily Bolam.
These animal behavior/social studies hybrids follow a similar pattern. Silly animal questions ("Does a squirrel cook?") and informative answers ("A polar bear sleeps on the snowy ground inside a den") are followed by simple discussions of human customs. Bolam's inviting illustrations make the most of the premise and reflect the text's informal tone. Prompts for further investigation are appended. Review covers these Think About titles: Does a Bear Wear Boots?, Does a Panda Go to School?, Does a Camel Cook Spaghetti?, Does a Beaver Sleep in a Bed?, and Does a Woodpecker Use a Hammer?.
24 pp.
| Lerner
| August, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8977-4$22.60
(4)
K-3
First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work series.
"You can use a wrench to fix your bike." Using one or two caption-like sentences and a large photograph per page, each formulaic book introduces beginning readers to a common tool. After identifying the tool, the text describes how it is used; a final page offers more details. Two pages of safety tips (most are the same through the series) are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work titles: What Does a Wrench Do?, What Does a Screwdriver Do?, What Does a Hammer Do?, What Does a Level Do?, What Does a Saw Do?, and What Do Pliers Do?.
24 pp.
| Lerner
| August, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8979-8$22.60
(4)
K-3
First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work series.
"You can use a wrench to fix your bike." Using one or two caption-like sentences and a large photograph per page, each formulaic book introduces beginning readers to a common tool. After identifying the tool, the text describes how it is used; a final page offers more details. Two pages of safety tips (most are the same through the series) are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work titles: What Does a Wrench Do?, What Does a Screwdriver Do?, What Does a Hammer Do?, What Does a Level Do?, What Does a Saw Do?, and What Do Pliers Do?.
24 pp.
| Lerner
| August, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8981-1$22.60
(4)
K-3
First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work series.
"You can use a wrench to fix your bike." Using one or two caption-like sentences and a large photograph per page, each formulaic book introduces beginning readers to a common tool. After identifying the tool, the text describes how it is used; a final page offers more details. Two pages of safety tips (most are the same through the series) are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work titles: What Does a Wrench Do?, What Does a Screwdriver Do?, What Does a Hammer Do?, What Does a Level Do?, What Does a Saw Do?, and What Do Pliers Do?.
24 pp.
| Lerner
| August, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8976-7$22.60
(4)
K-3
First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work series.
"You can use a wrench to fix your bike." Using one or two caption-like sentences and a large photograph per page, each formulaic book introduces beginning readers to a common tool. After identifying the tool, the text describes how it is used; a final page offers more details. Two pages of safety tips (most are the same through the series) are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Step Nonfiction: Tools at Work titles: What Does a Wrench Do?, What Does a Screwdriver Do?, What Does a Hammer Do?, What Does a Level Do?, What Does a Saw Do?, and What Do Pliers Do?.