Transformed: How Everyday Things Are Made [Hardcover]

Bill Slavin (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

CDs start out as sand. Blackboard chalk comes from tiny sea creatures. The objects all around us -- every single product in the world -- is made from elements found in nature. Discover how nature is transformed into more than 60 things we eat, drink, play with, wear or use every day. Technology changes constantly, but the stages raw materials go through to become finished objects remain much the same. On every page of this big book, these processes are described and illustrated step by step. The text and artwork combine playfulness with encyclopedic attention to detail. This unique and fascinating book will inform and entertain every step of the way. Includes a glossary, index and further resources to help children, parents and teachers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–This lively presentation looks at how 69 familiar items are made. Fun and Games includes baseballs, guitars, teddy bears, CDs, and marbles; Around the House includes books, dental floss, erasers, toothpaste, and wire; and Soup to Nuts covers bread, ice cream, peanut butter, and yogurt. The last section describes the raw materials used in the manufacturing processes, including aluminum, glass, paper, petroleum, and rubber. Historical information is included, such as the fact that the earliest form of football was played with a pig's bladder in Virginia in 1609. The steps needed to manufacture each item are numbered in bold type so that readers can follow along, and whimsical cartoon art helps them understand the process. Although reminiscent of David Macaulay's The Way Things Work (Houghton, 1988), this book is less technical and is written for younger children.–Ann Joslin, formerly at Erie County Public Library, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. A jaunty and enthusiastic foray into how stuff is made: interesting stuff such as baseballs, plastic dinosaurs, toothpaste, cereal, paper, and bricks. Each two-page spread covers the making of one of the 69 items in numbered paragraphs. The pictures are the best part--clear watercolor and ink images, made all the more engaging by folks in overalls directing the action. The processes for making guitars, cat litter, and cheese are drawn large, but the figures (both genders, all colors) are elf-tiny. There's always a sentence or two of history, which is sometimes weak (soccer is older than the Middle Ages), but the process is the point, and young researchers will be fascinated to learn, for example, why bubble gum is pink (the first manufacturer had a lot of that color dye sitting around). GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553371798
• ISBN-13: 978-1553371793
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #758,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book stands apart in subject matter and presentation, December 30, 2006

By 

John Call (Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformed: How Everyday Things Are Made (Hardcover)

The authors have managed to achieve a rare and delicate balance in their book Transformed: How Everyday Things are Made--a book that is at once informative and delightful. This book belongs to the "how things work" genre, and while it invites comparison with David Macaulay's The Way Things Work, this book clearly stands apart in subject matter and presentation. The book is so clearly written, edited, and illustrated that my son (age 4) who does not yet read, is capable in many instances of identifying not only the product being manufactured, but many significant steps in the process. Granted, some topics such as polyester and rayon just aren't that impressive to a child that categorizes his clothes by the characters printed on front rather than the printing on the label--but other topics such as guitars, toothpaste, bricks, and marbles are significant enough to warrant careful "studying" and evoke interesting questions that invariably lead to some eureka moments. One such observation elicited from reading the brick section "Dad, bricks are squishy before they are baked in the oven." There is delight and wonder in knowing the secret of bricks. There are many pages of delight waiting to be discovered. I expect that long after the process of making tap water has lost its excitement there will still be treasures waiting to be discovered in learning about plastic resins, surfboards, and wire.

The interplay between text and pictures is outstanding and this aspect alone would merit five stars for the book. The authors do not lose sight of their mission to show what goes on in the complex processes that make everyday things possible--and they do this so well the complex becomes understandable. The delight in reading this book is the pleasure that comes from learning, not just collecting new information or facts, but a knowing understanding of something that just minutes before was hidden and mysterious.

It is easier to interest someone in how things work if you start with familiar household items--and this book does an excellent job of focusing on items of interest. If you are hoping for an encyclopedic description of the basic types of machines, the foundations of chemistry, or the fundamentals of material engineering this book is not for you. This is a must read if learning how things are transformed into everyday items holds even the smallest of interest. While this book is more suitable for younger children than Macaulay's popular book, this is not because it is too simplistic, but rather because it is so well executed. Adults will also enjoy the accessible style and playful pictures. If you already have The Way Things Work on your bookshelf I would recommend adding this title to your collection--it really is worthy of consideration in its own right.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 5 year old won't put it down!, August 22, 2006

By 

Scott Davis (Troy, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformed: How Everyday Things Are Made (Hardcover)

We originally checked this book out from the library and from the first day, my daughter just loved it! She's looked at it for hours and when we finally had to return it, she was so upset. Now I'm ordering it for her birthday! She loves the pictures, the step-by-step diagrams and the funny comments from the illustrated characters. This is a must have book!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informational & Inspirational, July 5, 2006

By 

M. Fitzgerald "wire wizard" (Mystic, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformed: How Everyday Things Are Made (Hardcover)

As a US based manufacturer, I am always interested in learning how things are made & trying to provide this information for my children to peak their interest in manufacturing. This book is easy to follow, has great graphics & good layout. It is not too technical & easily explains manufacturing concepts. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in learning about different manufacturing processes.