Ever wonder how a suspension bridge can cross a gap thousands of feet wide? Want to know how to build a comfortable lounge chair out of cardboard boxes? Or what keeps a massive cathedral dome from collapsing? Discover the answers to these and many more questions in Steven Caney’s Ultimate Building Book, a wonderfully comprehensive exploration of design, construction, and invention that will stimulate the curiosity of children and adults alike. Much as David Macaulay's blockbuster The Way Things Work did for machines and devices a decade ago, this definitive volume from best-selling author Steven Caney details the ins and outs of construction in all its fascinating forms. Packed with exciting building projects guaranteed to engage anyone from age 4 to 104, the Ultimate Building Book gives easy-to-follow instructions for creating amazing models and toys that are as much fun to make as they are to play with! Readers are also introduced to a wide variety of household materials and tools that can be used for building, along with fascinating insights into the architectural and design properties of everything from drinking straws to yurts. A mammoth project in its own right, this book has been under construction for more than a decade. The result is hundreds of superbly illustrated pages that will enlighten and fascinate armchair architects of all ages for years to come.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 4–8—Caney examines "building" in its broadest sense, encompassing everything from skyscrapers and bridges to bird feeders and peanut-shell "bricks." Opening sections investigate the history and techniques of construction, with clearly written explanations supported by black-and-white photographs and diagrams. By examining such wide-ranging examples as tree houses, chimneys, and beaver dams, the author reinforces important concepts of design in a way that is fascinating and effective. Background sections on topics such as "adhesives, tapes, and mechanical fasteners" offer useful reference data, and are also thought-provoking. The engaging overview provides strong context for the more than 300 pages of creative and appealing projects that follow. Mosquito traps, newspaper tepees, and a usable greenhouse are just a few intriguing examples. Instructions are clear enough for kids to follow, but also open-ended to encourage creativity and experimentation. Diagrams delineate key steps, while photos show kids constructing and using the products. Building materials are either household items (including toothpicks, plastic straws, and coat hangers) or easy-to-obtain supplies like PVC pipe (used for a lemonade stand, cat playground, and more). Grouped by material type, such as blocks, rods, and panels, the projects successfully demonstrate how choices of design, construction, and raw materials apply to key principles of tension and compression. Portions of this book are especially useful for reference facts and science projects. Taken as a whole, it's a comprehensive exploration of building presented in a way that leads to true learning and a lot of fun.—Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Steven Caney is an inventor and designer who consults with major corporations and is renowned as a creative problem-solver. He has written many best-selling and award-winning children’s titles, including Steven Caney’s Invention Book and Steven Caney’s Kids’ America. He works outside Boston and resides in rural New Hampshire.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 5-Star children's book of creativity,
By Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Steven Caney's Ultimate Building Book (Hardcover)
Do you have a child who is fascinated by creating? Do you have a child that you wish would be more creative? Have I got a book for you!
Steven Caney's Ultimate Building Book is not only a book about how to build "stuff," nor is it a book of "stuff" to build, it is a comprehensive book that answers nearly every question a child (and many adults) would think to ask about structures, how they are built, and how they can do it themselves. Do you want to know what type of tent you see at the side of the lake? Did you know there were actually many types of tents? Who wants to build a greenhouse? Build people out of pasta? How about recipes for various types of modeling clay? With loads of information about structures from nests to castles and back to musical instruments, this book is a one-stop shop for the creative thinker. My six-year-old hauls around this nearly 600-page tome like it weighs nothing and will lie on his tummy, turning page after page and asking questions for an indefinite period--right up until he finds the next thing he'd like to try to create, and then he's off. An interesting tidbit that surprised me, but doesn't seem to bother the kids, is that all the photos are black and white and the children in them are from several decades. Though, quite frankly, had the photos been only of the current generation, they would be out of date long before you'll get rid of the book. This one's a keeper. Armchair Interviews says: The ultimate resource for the creative child. 5 STARS!
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Steven Caney's Ultimate Building Book: Including More Than 100 Incredible Projects Kids Can Make!,
By
This review is from: Steven Caney's Ultimate Building Book (Hardcover)
There are projects in this book for young people age 5 through college age, and even for the young-at-heart. Many of the projects use materials commonly found in the home. A child who begins with simple projects and advances to complex projects would be learning geometry and physics and the basic building blocks of architecture and the construction industry. I could see this book used by children who enjoy building projects or as a resource for family nights or home schooling or as a grandparenting resource. Congratulations, Steven Caney!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great information and activities for kids,
By Linda (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Steven Caney's Ultimate Building Book (Hardcover)
Wow, this book is hu-u-u-ge and has a lot of really cool information appropriate for a wide range of ages. I can't imagine a kid ever getting bored with this book around.
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