Build Your Own Periscope, Flashlight, and Other Useful Stuff

School Library Journal

Gr 5–8—Those who choose to mix epoxy instead of watercolors and feel more comfortable in a hardware store than an art store are the target audience for this series. With a utility knife, electric drill, and handsaw included in the list of needed tools, there are recurring reminders to ask an adult for help. Other more-than-appropriate suggestions deal with safety concerns—securing the area before letting the helicopter launcher fly (Car), making sure the old-fashioned tree swing is far enough away from the tree trunk (Mini Golf), etc. Though there is not a discernible progression for the projects' difficulty, there is a sense that the best has been saved for last. Some of these showstoppers are a pop gun (which the writer assures is a toy and not dangerous), a water blaster rocket, and an igloo, all of which require some tool savvy and a meticulous nature. Snowshoes and a leaf hut made from branches have an outdoor, survival gear appeal, but no matter what the project, readers will need a good amount of elbow grease and patience to see it through to its completion.

Children's Literature - Amy S. Hansen

As the title implies, this is a do-it-yourself book. As Enz's introduction explains, "It's always a good idea to keep useful things like a flashlight or a compass nearby. But what do you do if you need something and don't have it? Build it yourself!" With straightforward instructions and photos showing almost every step, these are projects that kids could do themselves. This book shows them how to make a telephone talker (two-liter bottles on a tube), a candle, a compass, a telescope and a periscope, a burglar alarm, snowshoes, and a flashlight. There is not an obvious common theme with these items, other than they are interesting. Many of the materials are repurposed containers, such as a milk carton or a plastic jar with a lid. The flashlight and burglar alarm are basic electronics projects. While the periscope and telescope emphasizes some basic optics. However, the book does not explain these lessons in physics, but simply tells how to build good and useful the stuff. Backmatter includes lists of more resources. Reviewer: Amy S. Hansen