Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series) (Paperback)

by Maxine Anderson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Anderson has combined biography with doable activities that mirror ideas found in Leonardo's notebooks. Using common household objects (duct tape, foil, cereal boxes, paper-towel tubes, etc.), readers can make a parachute, hydrometer, invisible ink, walk-on-water shoes, etc. Anderson introduces each project with an explanation of why Leonardo came up with the idea and whether he created just the sketch or the sketch and the object. Detailed steps and illustrations provide clarity. Adult supervision is noted where appropriate. Readers will probably be more interested in the activities than in Leonardo's life and the Renaissance background that Anderson provides, but this title will be a welcome addition to schools in which cross-curricular teaming is in place. Science classes can re-create Leonardo's ideas while English classes can read excerpts from his notebooks and history classes can discuss the Renaissance.-Delia Carruthers, Sunset Ridge Middle School, West Jordan, UT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Anderson regales us with tales of Leonardo's brilliant, often mischievous nature, and the nearly unfathomable range of his inventions."  —The New York Times Book Review

"More than an activity book, this nifty volume explores Leonardo's life, times and endless imagination."   —Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Will keep the kids occupied with constructive activities and is sure to spur on their own creative inventions."  —Old Schoolhouse Magazine

"This is a book of fun and creativity."  —Children's Literature

 

"Bring[s] an immediacy to da Vinci's life and work."  —Publishers Weekly

"Creative, curiosity-provoking, informational, and just plain fun—kids will find it irresistible."  —Home Education Magazine

"The book is perfect for capturing a middle schooler's attention! Highly recommended."  —Science Books and Films

See all Editorial Reviews

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Product Details Reading level: Ages 9-12 Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Nomad Press; illustrated edition edition (January 1, 2006) Language: English ISBN-10: 0974934429 ISBN-13: 978-0974934426 Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,047 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #4 in  Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Renaissance #16 in  Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Models #18 in  Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Renaissance

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	72% buy the item featured on this page: Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series) 4.8 out of 5 stars (5) $10.17
	13% buy Leonardo's Machines: Da Vinci's Inventions Revealed 5.0 out of 5 stars (3) $16.49
	7% buy Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids series) 3.9 out of 5 stars (9) $12.21
	4% buy Leonardo's Notebooks 4.8 out of 5 stars (16) $26.40

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5 Reviews 5 star:  (4) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.8 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 14 of 15 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Hands on History, October 17, 2006 By  Cracked Harp - See all my reviews We are homeschoolers using this book in part of a unit on Inventors. My eight year old is able to read and enjoy the history behind the different inventions. I thought it would just be a "how to" book, but we are both really enjoying the well written historical information in this book. It really makes Leonardo and the world he lived in come alive. I like to just browse through the book and look at all of Leonardo's sketches as well. The pictures and instructions are fairly easy to follow. The inventions do use common items, but we don't always have the right "common" items at the right times. We have modified most of the directions to use what we actually have in our house. Today we wanted to make the camera obscura, but we just threw out our last empty Pringles can... guess we'll be eating lots of chips in the next week :) 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, October 3, 2008 By  Andrea D. Lopez (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews I purchased this book after I saw the "Leonardo di Vinci" exhibit at my local museum. This particular exhibt showcased his inventions, not his artwork. There were many full size replicas of machines that he thought of that were actually built for this exhibit. I was intrigued by the bridge that could be built with just a few stick and got stronger the more weight you put on it. After putting the dowel sized replica together at the exhibit, I had to have one for myself to build. That's the primary reason I purchased this book. Now that I have it in my hands, I've been going over the different activities I can do with my baby siblings, and I'm so excited I have this book in hand. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in "how things work" and science in general. 5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, May 27, 2009 By  sweet pea (La Mirada, CA) - See all my reviews We received this book within five days, and before the sun set that afternoon, my nine-year-old grandson had constructed three sizes of the trebuchet by following the instructions.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series) I purchased this book as a cross curricular lesson. Although I teach science there is history, strategies, art, and exposure to building simple machines. Read more Published 10 months ago by Joseph A. Degraff 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing facts Wonderful book for kids who love to learn. Great info and facts even for adults. Highly recommend. Published on March 19, 2006 by R. Bhakta Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Nomad Press; illustrated edition edition (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974934429
• ISBN-13: 978-0974934426
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,047 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Renaissance
  #16 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Models
  #18 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Renaissance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hands on History, October 17, 2006

By	Cracked Harp - See all my reviews

We are homeschoolers using this book in part of a unit on Inventors. My eight year old is able to read and enjoy the history behind the different inventions. I thought it would just be a "how to" book, but we are both really enjoying the well written historical information in this book. It really makes Leonardo and the world he lived in come alive. I like to just browse through the book and look at all of Leonardo's sketches as well.

The pictures and instructions are fairly easy to follow. The inventions do use common items, but we don't always have the right "common" items at the right times. We have modified most of the directions to use what we actually have in our house. Today we wanted to make the camera obscura, but we just threw out our last empty Pringles can... guess we'll be eating lots of chips in the next week :)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, October 3, 2008

By	Andrea D. Lopez (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews

I purchased this book after I saw the "Leonardo di Vinci" exhibit at my local museum. This particular exhibt showcased his inventions, not his artwork. There were many full size replicas of machines that he thought of that were actually built for this exhibit. I was intrigued by the bridge that could be built with just a few stick and got stronger the more weight you put on it. After putting the dowel sized replica together at the exhibit, I had to have one for myself to build. That's the primary reason I purchased this book. Now that I have it in my hands, I've been going over the different activities I can do with my baby siblings, and I'm so excited I have this book in hand. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in "how things work" and science in general.

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, May 27, 2009

By	sweet pea (La Mirada, CA) - See all my reviews

We received this book within five days, and before the sun set that afternoon, my nine-year-old grandson had constructed three sizes of the trebuchet by following the instructions.