5 comments about Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love.

1. My daughters saw me looking through this book the day it arrived and they are just in love with so many of the completed items that my Christmas is going to be easy - so long as I find the time. I am knee-deep in the middle of two of the projects right now and have plans for more soon. Awesome book for a sewist with little girls (or nieces, grand-daughters, etc. - even a few boy-friendly projects).



2. I am new to doll making and I absolutely love this book! It is fresh and inspiring with so many different designs! My favorite it Margot... the topsy turvy doll. If you are looking for a book on doll making that is relevant for today's crafter/artist then this is a great book to add to your library!



3. Wee Wonderful is a very well rounded craft book. There is a real variety of items in this book; not just minor variations and tweaks to the same 'blueprint' to fill the pages. I love that the patterns in the back of the book do not require me to blow them up to use them. This happens all too frequently anymore.
   
   While the front cover shows only dolls, a good half of the patterns are not dolls (bears, elephant backpack, trolly car, giraffe, etc.) so you won't end up with a pile of dolls at the end of the book, if you choose to make them all.
   
   As with any good sewing book, there is a short section of basics which breaks down the process by explaining the sewing terms and showing illustrations of common stitches used in the patterns. It is a quick reference, and includes many 'specific to doll/stuffed animal' tips. Illustrations show steps well and directions are straightforward and concise.
   
   I own many sewing books, but this one in particular will get good use due to the diversity of projects.



4. 
   I love Wee Wonderfuls' blog so I was anxious to see the book. I was not disappointed. The little people in the book are so cute it was hard to decide which to make first. I went with the Sleepover pals; they turned out so cute and my granddaughter loves them. The directions and illustrations are great and easy to follow. One of the best things is that I will be able to make most of the creations without going out and having to buy new supplies; I'm able to use little bits and pieces that I have in my sewing room. I'm anxious to start on the the little pixie, she is so sweet. I think I will keep her for myself.



5. For some reason, I had it in my head that this book had tiny (wee) doll patterns. Now that I've gotten over the disappointment, I can say that this is a good book, and will stay in my collection.

5 comments about Make These Toys: 101 Clever Creations Using Everyday Items.

1. I was given this book as a gift and it sat on a shelf untouched for several weeks because I'm not one of those craft-crazy moms. However, during a play date where I saw 3 seven-year olds start fighting over a DS toy, I grabbed the book and in less than 3 minutes had all the kids focused on making mini-marshmallow poppers out of items I had around the house. They made their own toys and then played happily for the next hour making up various ways to use the poppers. The next day we made them again with the neighbor kids and then the next day after that another friend came over and my son immediately asked if we could make more toys. I highly recommend this book for those parents out there who are not as clever (like me!) as this author with simple household items. Another benefit is that I have started to recycle more stuff I used to throw out automatically. I now have a special bag where I deposit stuff like the rolls from used paper towels and rubber bands that the kids can go to when they want to make toys. This book also made me feel better about getting rid of about ten boxes of toys we had accumulated over the years that were clogging up our home. Having one bag of recycled household items to make into toys feels a lot better (and takes up much less space) than all those unused toys. When the homemade toys get used up (usually after hours of play) they go straight into the garbage. Less clutter all the way around!



2. I became acquainted with Heather Swain's work before she became a mother, when she was dealing with the pain of two miscarriages. The novel she wrote drawing on those experiences, Luscious Lemon, was so skillfully written, I've kept my eyes out for her work ever since. When I learned of Make These Toys, I bought a copy for my god children. Their mother is always looking for ideas and I know will make good use of the book. I'm going to buy several copies and have them ready to give as baby shower gifts for my other friends in the future.
   
   Make These Toys is not only full of great creative ideas, it is written in a fun, engaging style.
   I love her prose and also appreciate the historical fun facts, e.g., on the history of ballooons.
   
   Just as some people enjoy reading cookbooks even when they have no immediate plans to cook, this book is fun to read even if you don't have young children readily available. Furthermore, I don't think the ideas in this book are strictly for little ones. Next time my 19 year old has friends over, I'm going to show them how to make mini-marshmellow poppers!



3. Very clever use of everyday objects and materials. Its these kinds of activities that will spark your children's imagination and creativity. A great way to spend quality time with your kids.



4. Ever been desperate for something to do on a rainy day? I have two kids and this book has saved my sanity. Now I don't have to dread snow days anymore - I can pull out this book and the kids will be happily creating for the next few hours. And ALL of the projects are with stuff you really do have around the house - [which again, makes it perfect for a snow day ...]. Save yourself - buy this book!



5. If you've ever wondered how you might make time with your grandchildren more interesting, meaningful, and fun, pick up a copy of this book. The materials you need to help your grandchildren create a treasure to take home from their visit with you are likely already in your kitchen and desk drawers, and if not, they are easily obtainable and inexpensive to purchase. Do yourself a favor and use this resource to make a memory and help cement the ties that bind your relationship to your grandchildren. Some day, the little wine-cork deer they made at your house just might go with them to college to help remind them of where they came from, and the people who have been important in their lives.

5 comments about Easy Crochet Critters (Leisure Arts #75266) (Vanna's Choice).

1. I had troubles learning how to do this the first time I tried. But I was determined to make it work. So using the internet I went to youtube to see if someone had a video on how to do it. I found one where a women made a cherry and copied that video several times.
   [...]
   With the help of this, I figured out how to make the animals and the instructions became clear and easy to do. So if you need help with anything in this book, I'd look on youtube. It also helped with the decrease.



2. My daughter wanted to learn how to crochet little animals, so she did a bit of searching on amazon and this was her first choice.
   Upon the book's arrival, she immideately got to work and made a lion for me- I thought it was pretty cute even if it didn't turn out like the picture (how she wanted it to look)! She told me that it was hard to understand at first but then once she followed the instructions of 'what 2sctog means' in the back of the book she was able to understand it easily. Her second animal was a giraffe and it more like the picture.
   
   Daughter's testamony:
   being a beginner your animal will probably not be perfect the first time around. i chose to start making amigurumi with the animal that was a little more tougher than the others, the loin, and the end result of mine was pretty horrible. my mom doesn't think so (being my mom and all).
   id recommend trying out the hippo or seal first. but be sure to read the tutorial in the back when you don't understand something.



3. I am really into crocheting, especially Amigurumi and had gotten this as a gift for a friend. I also received this book as a gift myself and love it. The directions are well written and self explanatory.



4. Easy Crochet Critters is a small, portable book with crochet patterns for the cutest animals. I've made 3 or 4 of them for my coworkers and everyone loves them, even the guys! My coworkers who don't have one yet are jealous. These animals are my first crochet projects and I had no problem reading the patterns. You do have to know the basic crochet stitches--this is not a "how to crochet" book, although simple, terse explanations are given in the back of the book. But after you are done practicing, this is an excellent first project book. Great value, perfect for making stocking stuffers!



5. _Easy Crochet Critters_ contains 10 patterns; an elephant, hippopotamus, monkey, giraffe, alligator, lion, seal, walrus, snowy owl, and penguin (I would contend that there are actually only nine distinct patterns. The snowy owl and penguin are the same pattern replicated, with beak and color changes). The finished animals range in size from four to eight inches.
   
   While Lion Brand Yarn's website contains countless free amigurumi patterns, there's something extra special about owning a book of patterns with glossy color photos, and not having to print patterns out! This book even features cute extra photos of the animals doing such things as fishing and housework.
   
   Probably my favorite thing about them is that, for all but one pattern, the head and neck are one piece. This cuts out the step of sewing the head to the torso piece.
   
   There are a lot of things you can do to personalize or adapt the patterns. For example, I made the Emperor penguin in wools, adding an orange band on the chest for a little more resemblance to its genuine counterpart, and felted it.
   
   They're tiny enough to create and own the whole zoo!

5 comments about How to Blow Up Animals: A Beginner's Guide to Fun With Balloons.

1. I bought this book to use with my grandchildren at the family carnival we organize together. As other reviewers have stated, the book is small and it is illustrated in black line sketches...no step by step photos. Even that would be okay if they can be followed easily. I will not know for awhile, however, because I sent for the 20 free balloons ONE MONTH AGO, and they have not arrived. Kind of annoying because since this was just a fun little project, I thought I would learn how to form the animals myself before buying a large quantity of balloons for the kids to try. And yes, I am literate enough to have properly filled out the form, enclose a copy of my dated Amazon invoice and affix a .44 stamp on the envelope! I also don't think it's the author's responsibility to supply me with free balloons, but if they are offered...well, please....SEND THEM!



2. Easy to follow. I was able to make a balloon animal in no time at all. I was able to impress the kids with my new ability. Not always an easy task. Recommended



3. Have attempted these before with no luck. I got this book and it made it very easy!! All the kids at my daughters birthday party loved them!!



4. Rhode Island magician and all-around entertainer Lon Cerel has published a charming and funny little book with the intriguing title, "How To Blow Up Animals." No, it's not for sadistic children; it's a manual on making your own animals and other interesting objects out of balloons.
   
   Lon himself says, "I make over 300 animals. They all look like dogs." There is a small element of truth in this, since nearly everything in his balloon menagerie uses a basic dog-like form to begin with. But from there he stretches them into giraffes, swans, elephants, even swords and crowns.
   
   As far as learning Lon's skills for oneself, this book is helpful. What's going to happen is, kids are going read this, to ask their parents for help, and then they'll never get the book back because Dad will be in the den every night making inadvertently flatulent noises by twisting balloons.
   
   A friend took a look at the book, and had two comments. First, the instructions are primarily for right-handed people (she's a lefty). Second, she believes that Lon's ulterior motive is to get people so frustrated they will pay him to come over and make the darn balloons for them. She may have a point.
   
   All this aside, if you have the capacity to read and follow instructions, you can indeed learn to make some wonderful balloon animals, and , as the back cover says, "Amaze Your Friends." I myself just made an elephant.
   
   It looks a little like a dog, but I love it.



5. Lon Cerel's book is amazing...when I wasn't giggling, I was actually tying balloon animals for my godchild! A keeper!

5 comments about Amigurumi Two!: Crocheted Toys for Me and You and Baby Too.

1. great amigurumi pattern book as her first one! the amis are so cute and the patterns are very easy to follow. even though you are just a beginner, you can follow her patterns to make cute amis! i love both of her patten books!



2. There are several good patterns, but most of them work off of a basic increase in the round formula. I'm very pleased with the cake, and once you get the increases in the pattern, it's very easy to increase and decrease size of almost everything in the book. I recommend using variegated yarn for the fish, it makes a fun little "aquarium." The tea set is unsophisticated, very rough, but adorable. It would be more fun in thread, and I'll try that the next time I pick up the book.



3. 
   Just like Amigurumi World from Ana Paula Rimoli, Amigurumi Two is full of a large variety of cute patterns! While the first book was an overall look at amigurumi, Amigurumi Two! has more of a focus on toys for babies. And if you are like me you really don't have any need for that but there are still some great patterns in there besides those and I think if you wanted to you could modify the patterns for babies to fit your own tastes and needs. The baby patterns include mobiles, stroller toys and rattles.
   
   I think it's so great that she could create another whole book with brand new and different patterns, together they make the perfect set! Like the other book this one also has the parent and child pattern sets (bees, tigers, squirrels, and my personal favorite the robots!) Other great patterns include little animals hidden inside of fruits and flowers, sweet peas, and animals in pjs!
   
   Overall, I could have done without the baby toys but for some people that will be their favorite part of this book and they can be easily modified to serve a different purpose! Definitely recommend!
   
   **I added some photos into the customer gallery as well**



4. This book has a lot of great projects that are really cute. However there are some things to be aware of. First of all when you are working on a project that requires you to decrease several successive rows if you follow the intructions in the book you will end up with lines in your work. The pictures in the book don't show the lines so they must have been following a different pattern. You can fix this problem and still use the patterns by varying the pattern in which you decrease. For example when you are making the Peas when you get to the sc5, decrease and repeat 6 times, the following row you wouldn't start with sc4 as the book tells you to, instead you would sc1 or sc2 or even sc3 followed by the pattern: decrease, sc4 until the end of the row, ending with as many sc as it takes to make up for the in the beginning pattern. Then you could go back to the books directions for the next row and switch it up again for the row after that. (Hope that wasn't too confusing. The point being that you can't repeat in succession like that without having it show in your work) Second there are no directions to make the handle for the teacup. Third, I tried the pattern for the flower mobile also and the directions do not match the pattern in the picture. The grain of the work is different if you follow the books directions. I agree with the other person that gave this book three stars that it needed more instructions on how to attach pieces together. It would have been good if someone would have re-worked these patterns using the book to check for mistakes before the book was published.



5. I'd pretty much just started learning how to crochet and wanted to learn to make amigurumi. Her pattern's are easy to read and pretty uncomplicated. Definitely worth it.

5 comments about All Dolled Up: Sewing Clothes and Accessories for Girls and Their 18-Inch Dolls.

1. I loved this book. Instructions are clear, photos are great. Definitely a good investment!



2. Even though I've only made a few of the items, I know I will enjoy this book for many years. The CD is great for beginners or as as a refresher course.



3. This book is great for those of us who have daughters/grandaughters who are caught up in the 18 inch doll craze {American Girl Dolls). The instructional video is great too. All you need is a little sewing experience (not much) and you can produce adorable doll outfits and matching pieces for their owners. The handy carrying bag - to hold the doll, her clothes & accessories - is the first piece we made and was a great hit. My grandaughter and I highly recommend this book.



4. This collection of clothing designs for 18 inch dolls and their owners is charming and sweet. The part that impresses me most is the simplicity of construction. Joan Hinds has streamlined a lot of techniques for this collection.
   The collection includes dresses, skirts, aprons and accessories as well as tips for scaling designs to suit dolls and girls both. Even the most complicated outfits wouldn't take more than a couple days to make and many of them could be done in an evening.
   Skirts include a darling pleated skirt sewn on a pair of old jeans with a matching vest and a tiered gathered skirt.The dresses are wonderful. There is a simple jumper set that's just too cute made with the right fabrics.
   The techniques include a method for making straps that doesn't use interfacing and an alternative to basting to gather fabric that is very clever and quick.
   The included video shows the sewing techniques that you'll be using to sew the outfits. Nancy Zieman hosts the video with Joan Hinds.
   Many of the techniques and patterns are things that can be very easily sized up so that Mom and daughter can having matching aprons or dresses and match the doll as well.
   It also makes a wonderful introduction to sewing for children who are just getting interested in learning how to use a sewing a machine. The adult can sew the child's dress, and help the child with sewing a matching outfit for their doll.
   A lot of the clothes remind me of the things my mom used to make for me when I was 7 or 8. Classic designs that have stood the test of time, so if you do invest in the book,it's not unthinkable that you would make some of the same styles of clothes for your granddaughter that you might make for your daughter.



5. Wow! This is one of the best kids clothes/ doll clothes pattern books out there. Great pictures, fun outfit ideas as well as great accessories for your little girl's dolls. Very happy with this book. Well worth the money.

5 comments about Little Felted Animals: Create 16 Irresistible Creatures with Simple Needle-Felting Techniques.

1. This is a wonderful guide to creating little felted critters. Good photos and excellent descriptions. I like the time spent with laying out materials and even measuring how much wool to use. I also like the suggestion of how to make the legs by wrapping thread. I can tell I will be spending time with this book when the weather gets nasty.
   The only thing that would make it better: a spiral spine so that it can be opened and lay flat for reference while felting.



2. I previewed this book at a bookstore and found both the step-by-step photos and directions lacking in information. For example, it does not explain how you connect a head to a body or how you get the coat of the animal to look seamless or create features. I am glad I did not buy it.



3. This book is so cute and sweet. The directions are clear and easy to follow and the suggested projects are perfect for children to follow too!



4. Great book easy to follow instructions both written and picture.
   
   Will certainly look for more lkie this one.
   
   Rgds
   Lesley



5. This book has beautiful pictures and gives 3 basic animal-forms, so you can use them to make as much animals as you want. Although the technique is more difficult than it looks on the photo's, I find this book a very good source of information and a musshave in my collection!

5 comments about Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects.

1. Yes, wee felted folk are cute. The book shows variations on the felted characters, but I'm not 100 % sold on them. Yeah they're cute and small and very easy to make, but I'm a little stumped as to their sellability.



2. This charming arts and crafts book focusing on the fairy folk of the wood is a beautiful edition to any craft lovers library. Salley Mavor is a true artist.
   
   Read more at Suite101: Felt Wee Folk -- Enchanting Projects by Salley Mavor [...]



3. When I received this book from the publisher and opened it I was very impressed that the first few pages in this book is autobiographical. most books we read give us little information about the authors and now I feel as if I know This author. Salley Mavor takes us on a journey from her childhood making doll clothes with her mom in about her grandma's treasures of bits and pieces of fabric, buttons, threads and numerous other items that she uses today in her creations of the wee folk. The illustrations in this book are charming and the instructions are clear so you can complete your first project in an hour or two. One of the things about these types of projects is that they are completely portable so you can take him from your easy chair or your worktable to your bed while you watch TV. Salley has illustrated a number of storybooks and one is more extraordinary than the next. The reviews on Amazon about this book are fun to read and not one reviewer gave it a low score. The price of the book is affordable and the cost of the materials you will need is minimal. What better time of the year to think of wee folks with St. Patrick's Day only a few weeks away. Salley is an amazing artist with a vivid imagination and I'm sure all you felters will love this book. Take trip over to Salley Mavor's Wee Folk Studio and see all the wonderful things she does and creates.



4. I first saw Wee Felt Folk at a home education get-together, and was immediately enchanted. About the fourth time I maxed out my renewals at the library, I decided to buy my own copy. It's a family favorite!
   
   We took Wee Folk supplies to a family reunion this past summer, and kept sixteen children, ages 13 and under, thoroughly occupied for hours, first in choosing colors and clothes for their Folk, and then in creating houses and hideaways in the edges of the homestead clearing. My teenager and I did the majority of the construction, though--this may be a bit too complex for smaller hands, but they certainly enjoy the end results.
   
   We have since adapted the techniques, and made a variety of characters as Christmas ornaments and dollhouse people; my daughter even turned one of the babies into a necklace for her little sister, and has given many Felt Folk as presents to her girlfriends.
   
   My one complaint: they are addictive. I had to buy a new lock-lid craft tote to store the Folk Supplies, and we keep looking at things in terms of how well they might work for making new people.
   
   If you like to follow directions, you'll enjoy the diagrams, templates, and images in the book. If you like to chart your own course, the book's instructions give a fantastic jumping-off-point for your own creative endeavors.



5. I fell in love with this book at a quilting store, bought most of the supplies, and my grandson and I found acorn caps galore in a park. He and I worked on constructing these little mini-dolls, but frankly he (age 6) was more of a consultant than an actual hands-on constructor! I let him choose the colors for the clothes, the expressions on the faces, etc. Not having the "wool fleece" for the hair (and I am still trying to locate THAT product), we either colored the heads brown, black, or yellow with markers or we used cotton balls pulled apart for the elder folk and snippets from a yellow pom pom for two girl dolls. But the wee folk dolls are charming, and grandson loves them! I am eager to make a few more and spend a bit more time perfecting my skills. I found the wrapping with embroidery floss hard to perfect, but I'll keep trying. I do agree with one other reviewer that more tips on the hair are needed! Perhaps gluing on yarn would work, but the dolls in the book have "wool fleece" hair, but as I mentioned, that product is difficult to locate.

5 comments about The Pop-Up Book: Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating Over 100 Original Paper Projects.

1. So far, this well illustrated and step by step book, is one of my bes shopping I've ever made! My school class really enjoyed making some of the samples. I really recomend it!



2. Each year, I take a look at some of the most valuable resources for creative artists, graphic designers, crafts people and anyone who enjoys participating in the visual arts. And, each year I stress that it doesn't have to be expensive.
   
   In this year's column, "Creative books to give... and get!" I review this book along with many others that offer exceptional opportunities in low-priced packages. They're all excellent, and represent probably the biggest bang for your book or gift buck!
   
   The Pop-Up Book: Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating Over 100 Original Paper Projects is the mother of them all. While the exercises can at times be complicated and frustrating -- the outcome can be uniquely spectacular. After you've accomplished the exercises, you move on to your own creations. There's nothing more fulfilling than completing some of these projects. And once you do, they get easier and easier.
   
   The bottom line -- design your next business marketing piece, leveraging some of these techniques, and I guarantee-- you'll get a call-back or thank-you note! For the business person, sending your own creations like these to your clients will lock in your esteem in their eyes!
   
   For less ambitious exercises, try these:
   
   3D Pop Up Greeting Cards is particularly good at this time of year -- nothing sends a more sincere or flattering message than a hand-made card. And these are really cool
   
   Pop-Up Cards: And Other Greetings that Slide, Dangle & Move is not only freshly written and illustrated, for all ages it's and easy way to really appreciate the craft of paper engineering. As a gift book, it offers another very important benefit :: you learn how to easily and inexpensively make MORE GIFTS to give away.
   
   Be careful though! Once you circulate some of these creations, you'll be swamped with people's requests ... "Can you create one of these for me?" (Of course, there's nothing wrong with being a successful paper engineer or greeting card designer!)
   
   I'll share more at the [...], but you can count on these three to bring hours and hours of enjoyment to yourself -- or those lucky recipients on your gift list!
   
   Thanks for reading,
   [..]



3. Another book without templates. The tester shows you a cute Santa pop up and several other things and no instructions or templates on how to do it. I am sending it back.



4. First, I was born without a genetic predeliction for anything that involved cutting paper; following written instructions for folding things; coloring maps,paperdolls etc., pasting; or, heaven forbid, having a clean looking product when I did finish. After 70 years of being mesmerized by pop-up books, I decided that if I started with children's books, I might just get something to work for me. It took time, lots of time, but I finally graduated from three tiered cakes amd simple 'v' cuts, to a grown up book. Other reviews convinced me that this author had a successful teaching method and after five prior books, I decided I was ready to test myself against Mr. Jackson's claim. After many, many, many, hours of working with his book, I finally mastered the free standing dove on the front of the book. I cried.



5. I was tentative about buying this based on other reviews here, because I had never made pop-ups before, or even done very much paper cutting, but wanted to learn advanced techniques. This book is great because it shows the basics without spoon-feeding you; instead of giving precise patterns or instructions to be printed or copied, this book shows simple diagrams that explain only the necessary components to make the pop-up work, like which cuts/folds need to be the same size as others, where certain folds should be in relation to edges, and so on, so they can be applied to any shape and size of paper or pop-up. When I first opened the book and looked at the gallery of examples, I was daunted, especially when I compared them to the first few step-by-step examples. But I've found that I can figure out and replicate most of the designs that use the methods I've used so far, and I'm hopeful that by the time I work my way through the whole book I'll be able to more or less duplicate every example in the gallery. I've already been able to implement some of my own designs from some of the most basic techniques in this book, and I'm hopeful about continuing to create my own pop-up work.
   
   Simply put, if your goal is to actually master the skills involved rather than simply to produce the designs pictures, this book is a wonderful tool, visually inspiring and formally instructive. Being math-minded might help somewhat, but not in the sense of understanding specific measurements of lengths and angles. Being visually-minded is probably a batter match for this book.
   
   One reviewer mentioned that there are no specific instructions for the dove picture on the cover. This is true. However, all of the techniques necessary for creating it are in very early pages of the book. I was able to recreate the dove within the first hour of working from the book.

5 comments about Forbidden Lego: Build the Models Your Parents Warned You Against!.

1. My son LOVES Legos. Is a wiz at the kits and really enjoys making his own stuff. He was so happy when we gave him this book.



2. This book has piece by piece directions for building different objects. You use household items with the legos to make things work.



3. Forbidden Lego has some innovative and fun designs, and the description of the process Lego uses to design, approve and produce models is especially interesting.
   
   The models in this book would not pass this rigorous approval process, and the authors tell you exactly why - they might fire projectiles too fast or too quickly or require the alteration of an approved Lego piece. But the building instructions would also not pass Lego's quality control process, either. Some illustrations are missing the box that shows the pieces needed for that step, leaving the builder to search the diagram to find what has been added and where (Step 14 for the Candy Catapult, for example).
   
   The instructions are definitely for experienced builders, as they do not always show the intermediate building steps - you may have to partially insert an axle piece before placing an assembly on the main model, for example, and fully insert it after the assembly is in place. This shouldn't give experienced builders any trouble, but might be frustrating for younger builders.
   
   These models call for some parts that are uncommon, but the best thing about Lego pieces is their adaptability. It is possible to modify the models to accomplish the same function with other more common pieces. Advanced builders will enjoy this challenge, but it may frustrate those who want ready-to-build models. A similar challenge faces those of us who don't want to alter our Lego pieces to find a way to do the same thing with whole pieces.
   
   If you are considering this book for yourself, you'll know if you're the kind of builder who enjoys this kind of challenge. The completed models are worth the effort. If you are considering this as a gift for a young builder, you'll want to be sure they have an advanced builder around to help them out. If not, you might consider a book like Lego Crazy Action Contraptions: A LEGO Inventions Book (Klutz) which is not only geared toward younger builders, but also includes all the pieces needed to build the models.



4. I can't wait to send this stuffed inside my son's stocking for Xmas ... I'll include the requisite parts so he and his fellow airmen can have a blast



5. I was excited to get this book for my 12-year-old budding engineer. He was too, until he looked through it and saw that he would need to have a Lego robotics kit to make a good number of the creations. Since the kit is $250, that ain't happening, so back it goes.
   
   And as other reviewers mentioned, they show pictures of the pieces you need, but they don't label them with names or part numbers. It would be EXTREMELY hard to find the parts you need to build most of these projects. It's amazing to me that the authors would create such great projects but then provide such incomplete info, rendering their book virtually useless to most users. What a waste of the return postage!