Ithaca Child
Engineer Tammy Enz illustrates seven projects with photos and step-by-step instructions. One project is “water shoes.” Leonardo da Vinci came up with designs for lots of things, she writes, including shoes for walking on water. Water-shoe inventors need to have a passing acquaintance with the principle of buoyancy, which describes why objects float. And they’ve got to think about ways to spread out their weight. This is a great guide for kids who want to get their “engineering” feet wet.
Library Media Connection Online
Each title in this series begins with a six step process for the budding engineer to follow; seven or eight projects follow the steps. While the statement of engineering principles is a positive, few middle school students will be able to state them without adult guidance. Full-color photos take the reader through the “create” step. The “improve” step lends itself to additional scientific or engineering processes and is a highlight of the series.
School Library Journal
Gr 5–7—These short volumes show readers how to create seven to eight "inventions." Enz starts each book with "The Six Step of Inventing" ("Problem," "Principle," "Ideas," "Plan," "Create," and "Improve"). Unfortunately, the steps do not naturally fit each project. For example, the "Problem" for the "Penny Battery" invention is that "It seems like every time you need to use a gadget, its battery is dead," yet the battery created will not be useful in traditional battery-operated items. Although couched in this sometimes awkward framework, the projects are interesting and educational. They vary in difficulty from simple activities that can be accomplished by a child without assistance using household items, to complex projects that require specialized parts, such as a voltmeter, power tools, and considerable adult involvement. Each project is explained with clear instructions and illustrated with color photographs of the process and final product.
