Reviews - Hands On Books

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With the demise of the shop class and the rise of the Xbox and iPod, fewer kids than ever are working with their hands. That leaves parents and grandparents wondering how to introduce young people to the pleasure of building things. The trick is choosing projects that children will actually do, and safely. Enter Jack McKee... his 52 projects include toys, games, gadgets, musical instruments, signs, stools, stilts and boxes, all designed to excite kids, not overwhelm them. Introductory chapters give excellent advice on safety and tools. All I had to do was leave this book lying around; my 8-year-old daughter found it and picked her projects.
Asa Christiana, Editor, Fine Woodworking

Woodworking instructor McKee advocates teaching woodcraft to children with projects they will actually enjoy - games, instruments, and toys. He covers safety at length ... the project instructions are well thought out. ...recommended.
Karen Ellis, Library Journal

If you have children or grandchildren, buy this book. It's likely one of the best investments you'll make in 2006.
Canadian Woodworker

I love this book! ... Woodshop for Kids is a great guide to growing a new generation of creative kids.
Roy Underhill, host of the PBS series The Woodwright's Shop

I just finished my first week of a woodworking summer camp. It was a ton of fun! I can't thank you enough for the advice and projects. I hope to start an after school program and definitely have more camps next summer. Thank you again for all your help.
Brian Kaplan, Craftsmen Kids summer camp

Woodshop for Kids is a real treat for parents and grandparents who want to introduce woodworking to their little ones.
Jennifer Hicks, Woodshop News

You might be interested in just how helpful your book has been. I found myself in a 'big box' store looking for someone to help me choose sandpaper. Needless to say, not one orange apron was to be found. Muttering to myself, I flipped to the part in your book about sandpaper... and there it was! Everything I needed to know... You've thought of everything. I wish I'd found this book years ago.
Cynthia Dyer, Nanaimo Montessori School

Woodshop for Kids by Jack McKee is a breath of fresh air. The toys and activities available in today's world do not challenge children to be inventive, creative or to learn skills that are useful for meaningful work. Jack's book reflects a different view of children's capabilities and the kinds of activities that will engage their minds and enhance their confidence. Woodshop for Kids systematically and simply demonstrates how to help children of all ages use real tools and make useful objects. Any adult whether knowledgeable about woodworking or not, will become a good teacher as well as a more skilled woodworker themselves. Thanks Jack, for putting us back on the right track in our work with children.
Deb Curtis, child care teacher, author and adult educator

Far too many books that are supposedly geared towards a child's level of ability and interest seem to have been written for adults who will wind up doing most of the work as the projects exceed what a child might be able or interested in doing. Not so with Woodshop for Kids. From a library perspective, I know Woodshop for Kids will be used often.
Ann Garland, Former president, Dyer Library Board of Trustees, Saco, Maine

As a Montessori teacher, I am always looking for activities that encourage problem solving, build independence and confidence, and allow for individual creativity. The projects in Woodshop for Kids are a perfect fit!
Kathie Wilson, Childlife Montessori School

Woodshop for Kids shows how to be safe and have fun. All who try woodworking with kids will be thanking Jack McKee for years.
Cathy Karlsen, Sultan Montessori School

Written by Jack McKee and illustrated by Rusty Keeler, Woodshop For Kids: 52 Woodworking Projects Kids Can Build is a thoroughly "user friendly" guidebook of creative and entertaining woodworking projects that young people can create, given age-appropriate adult supervision and guidance. Individual chapters include detailed instructions for 52 different projects, from a marble roll to a sailboat letter holder to a step stool; tips on how to find free wood and use woodworking tools safely; advice on acquiring woodworking tools appropriate for kids; and much more. 179 black-and-white photos and illustrations round out this helpful and constructive guide to a stimulating, family-friendly activity.
Midwest Book Review

Jack McKee's love of children and wood, his fond memories of old-time toys, his passion for recycling, and his ability to learn from his own children and students makes this book a gem for those who want to do woodworking with kids.
Jean Swanson, a grandparent, after building some of Jack's projects with her grandson

The wonder of this book is that I could even use it with my limited woodshop and tool experience...
Stephanie D. Scarborough, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Woodshop for Kids is a great guide to mentoring youngsters, or non-mechanically-handy adults in woodshop practices.
Kevin Jones, Director, Mindport Exhibits

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BUILDER BOARDS

Go to Woodshop for Kids

Builder Boards is a book, a concept and a project that will have children of all ages working together to create play structures of their own design. Jack McKee, a teacher from the northwest, with a background in construction and carpentry has designed notched boards that link together to form play structures. His design is so basic, yet unique, you will look at it and say, "why didn't I think of that?"
If you have kids or know kids get this book, build these boards, and strike fire into their imaginations.
Daniel Carter, This Old Workshop

Builder Boards are a great success at the Maine Discovery Museum.
Andrea Stark, Director of Exhibits

Jack McKee has written a great little book.
Becky Rupp, Home Education Magazine

Builder Boards are the first thing the children go to when they enter the playroom. They have hours of fun making the most creative 'houses'.
Maureen Baker, Women care shelter

It was great watching the kids share ideas and work together. A wonderful classroom experience.
Margie Sawyer, teacher

The Children's Museum of the Shoals loves Builder Boards. We had two sets fabricated and will be adding more in the future.
Leslie Martin, Director, The Children's Museum of the Shoals, Florence, Alabama

Builder Boards are perfect anyplace young children are encouraged to learn through play and hands-on experience.
Mindport Exhibits

You have a winner here. Your Builder Boards are fantastic!
Kathy Baker, Country Cradle Family Day Care, Leavenworth, WA

Now here's a wonderful approach to play structures: kid built! Builder Boards will be a hit!
Reenee Mathis, The Big Book of Home Learning

This heavily illustrated book shows how to build a set of notched Builder Boards that let children plan and assemble playhouses and other structures using their imagination and problem-solving skills. Children may visualize a structure, build it, modify it, take it apart, and start over again.
Tech Directions

Robin's drawing of Builder Boards

My favorite thing was the Lekin Logs.
Robin, age 8

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Hands On Books - 1117 Lenora Court - Bellingham, WA 98225 - 360-671-9079 - fax 360-714-0774

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