Bookcase: Machines

How to Build a Robot

ehuyck — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:26:46 -0400

Why build robots? Well, because humans are curious creatures and just can’t stop tinkering. If this sounds like a good description of you, this funny, cartoon-filled book lays out some of the basics in a very amusing way and in language that's easy to follow, so you too can get started building robots. (Though it is not step-by-step instructions for building an actual robot; for that, see our Walking Paper Bot). Have you always secretly wanted to know, but were afraid to ask, what is a robot exactly? How is it different from a toaster? And how they can use electricity to think?

Robots

ehuyck — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:22:18 -0400

Would you like a robot pet? Or a robot doctor? How about a vacuum cleaner that runs by itself, or a robotic jockey for your camel? Or how about a robotic hand? This book is full of lots of different kinds of robots doing all kinds of jobs, including some surprising ones, like learning to move in swarms like bees, or doing surgery, or flying spaceships. Everything you want to know about robots, in one book!

Wind Power: 20 Projects to Make with Paper

ehuyck — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:48:54 -0500

If you are inspired to find out more about wind power and want to try making some windmills yourself, this is the book for you. It’s both a book about how windmills work and a craft book, at the same time! Which is just the right kind of book if you like to make things and also like to know all about why they work. It has good step-by-step picture instructions for how to make lots of different kinds of pinwheels and different shaped windmills out of paper and wire, and maybe a pencil or two. I'm going to make some and decorate the Clubhouse!

Building Big

ehuyck — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:50:28 -0500

Bridges, tunnels, dams, domes, skyscrapers: people are always trying to build things bigger and better. This book shows you step by step just how they do it, with lots of drawings of what big constructions look like on the inside and how they're put together. If you are outgrowing your room and want to build big, this book will give you lots of ideas.

Engineering the City

ehuyck — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:47:54 -0400

Building a modern city takes a lot of clever engineering. How are you going to get water and electricity to everyone? Bridge rivers? Build on swamps? And most important, where does all the garbage go? Not to mention what happens when you flush the toilet. This book takes you on an engineers tour of modern cities, looking at all these exciting challenges, and some of the clever solutions both modern and ancient city builders have come up with.

The Story of Inventions

ehuyck — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:05:00 -0400

This is a wonderful book about inventions and inventing, with lots of great drawings that show how things work and how they got that way. It groups inventions together so you can see how inventors borrowed and built on ideas, and how people at different times solved the same problem, like how to make light or how to get from one place to another. We sure are an inventive species!

Mistakes That Worked

ehuyck — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:50:38 -0400

Who do we have to thank for the existence of the amazing potato chip? A sarcastic chef with a cranky customer, who kept sending his dinner back, complaining that the potatoes weren't crisp enough. This fun book full of surprising stories of mistakes and accidents that turned out unexpectedly well, often with the help of a little creative thinking. An inspiration for all inventors to take those moments when things go horribly wrong—who knows, maybe you’ve just accidentally invented something really great!

Toys

ehuyck — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:38:49 -0400

What is it about humans that makes us want to play with things? I have no idea, but whatever it is, thank goodness for it, because a lot of otherwise fairly boring inventions have found brand new life as really excellent toys. This is a book of stories about some of them. Have you ever wondered who had the bright idea of sticking plastic face parts onto a potato? Yes, of course, it was a Dad. And a pie company that inadvertently invented the Frisbee, by making their pie tins so much fun to throw. And who invented books of funny stories about how things got started?

The Art of the Catapult

ehuyck — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:46:49 -0400

Have a tricky castle you need to get into? Roman army pounding at the door?

Roller Coasters, or, I Had So Much Fun, I Almost Puked

ehuyck — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:31:37 -0500

Building roller coasters would be a really fun job. Up, up, up, down down down, around, upside down!