This book is an incredibly useful collection of 20 outdoor woodworking projects, ranging from beginner-friendly builds to larger weekend challenges. With clear instructions and expert input from DIY veterans, it’s packed with inspiration for anyone who wants to transform their backyard. Bonus: it includes gardening tips and smart outdoor living ideas that help you make the most of your space.

Making Practical Backyard Projects in Wood is a tutorial collection with 18 projects curated by the editorial staff of Woodcarving Illustrated. Released 25th March 2025 by Fox Chapel, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is an excellent group of intermediate to advanced woodworking projects for the DIY enthusiast. They run the gamut from entirely practical (benches, and sheds) to whimsical and fun (lawn dominoes and a stylish "gnome door" for a garden tree. The book presupposes prior knowledge on the part of the reader, there's not a lot of hand-holding. There's an abbreviated safety tutorial and disclaimer, but otherwise, readers should have some experience or some help from an advanced handyman.

Tutorials are written with an introduction, supplies list in a bullet point sidebar, and very good step by step directions in a photo tutorial style. Full size schematics are provided in the back of the book. Photos are clear and in color throughout. The photography is one of the highlights of the book. Materials are given with both imperial (American) and metric units where applicable. The materials will be readily obtainable from any big-box lumber store in North America.

The projects are appealing, and very "middle Americana" (in a good way). They're fun and useful and there's nothing that would get any HOA inspectors upset for being outré or offensive in any way.

Four and half stars. Includes a wide range of projects. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition as well as for the home handyman's library.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.