Excellent Engineering

Excellent Engineering teaches children interested in science how to do fun easy projects. With clear instructions and illustrations to go with each step, confusion and frustration is eliminated.

Really great mix of fun projects to create, all explained in simple steps with very helpful graphics. It's got a wonderful cartoony theme, but everything looks achievable and it really has done a fantastic job of making it all seem simple.

Would definitely want to attempt some of these with my older kids (6 & 4).

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a creative STEM book for older kids with lots of cool engineering projects they can do with simple tools around the house. Homemade speakers, bridges and other fun structures. The only thing I felt this book would benefit from would be real pictures. Sometimes sketched pictures do not represent the actual final product. Good book nonetheless.

Thorough ~ Accessible ~ Visually-Appealing
tl;dr: Bottle Rockets and circuits oh my

This book gives you what it offers, an excellent (age-appropriate) primer on engineering. How-to science books vary considerably in quality, often spending less on illustrations. This book is fully illustrated, with the images being concieved as integral to the directions. I am a sucker for this particular style of illustration, the sort of graphic quality of infographics or street signs. The simplicity of the illustrations makes this book easy to follow for readers of all ages. The text is equally strong, with a clear, age-appropriate glossary. Most of the projects are fairly common, like geodesic domes or circuits. But, the quality of the directions makes this an ideal book for the school library or for parents hoping to help children through these concepts. Overall, one of the best engineering for families books that I have seen.

4.5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lots of projects out of everyday objects to make with children that will help them explore engineering, rockets, bridges, robots, boats and submarines. Step by step instructions that are easy to follow.

My favourite project is the paper plate loudspeaker.

Excellent Engineering is full of really cool projects for kids. These types of projects are exactly the types of fun projects my kids would love doing and that I want them doing because it helps them with their math and science skills, gives them a sense of accomplishment when they have completed them, and for the most part you can find the materials around your house so it isn't super expensive. I love that they are having fun while learning new things and challenging their brains without even realizing it. I recommend this book to anyone with elementary aged kids.

Fantastic book of Engineering projects for a wide range of ages. All projects are color coded to show whether you can do it on your own (green), you need some parental assistance (yellow) or you must have an adult help (red). Simple step-by-step instructions and pictures and a not too long list of items you'll need. There are definitely quite a few projects that use items that you likely already have on hand. Great variety of projects ALL of which my 8 and 11 year old would like to do!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for allowing me to view an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Balance many books on top of just 4 pieces of rolled up printer paper! Learn about structural strength! That is just one example of a variety of projects that go across engineering disciplines, even a little of mine (biomedical engineering) with making a “hand” of sorts (no tissues involved ;).

I liked that it does some structural, mechanical, electrical, magnetic, physics, and more, with a relative simple cast of materials that is clearly laid out in the beginning of the book. I just made a big science box for my children to do experiments (we homeschool) out of an Usborne book. I am looking forward to doing this one along with it or after it but as an engineer flipping through this book I like what I see! Can’t wait to do these with my children!
I received an eARC copy through NetGalley but my opinions are entirely my own.

Kids need ways to express creativity, and building projects let them do that while they learn about engineering principles. In Excellent Engineering, Rob Beattie and Sam Peet share 35 projects for children to build from things that are either already on hand or easy to get.

There is a variety of projects to choose from, including paper speakers, a nightlight, and a bridge. Each one is written so kids can understand the directions and are well illustrated to further help with understanding. The supplies are listed, and short explanations of how and why the projects work are included.

Some of the projects can be done by kids themselves, others need adult help or supervision. There is a color code that tells who is needed for each one. Kids and parents can work together and spend time with each other. In fact, both kids and parents can have fun with the builds in the Excellent Engineering.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Excellent Engineering is a collection of 35 fun projects to do with your children or pupils at school. What I loved about this book is the sheer variety of things you can create. I have already incorporated one of the tasks in my classroom. We made a bionic hand and you should have seen how engaged the kids were!
The book has easy to follow step-by-step instructions and is also colour coded according to how much adult supervision and help is needed.
I would have loved a book like this as a child, a great opportunity to learn science principles by doing things instead of just reading about them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quart Publishing Group for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgallery for proving me with a digital ARC for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

Excellent Engineering includes a variety of thirty-five step by step STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities for older kids. Most of the projects can be made of things found around your house. This book has illustrations paired with easy to follow step by step instructions. My favorite part is that it's color coded so the kids can find projects for them to work on independently. The other half of the book are great for family bonding time that does not include the Tv.

This is a lovely book featuring 35 inventions the little ones can make at home - from the most simple things to the more complicated that require an adult's help. These little experiments will definitely teach the little ones while also having tons of fun!

This is a fantastic STEM book for students! I teach fourth grade and am looking forward to using some of these experiments in my classroom. Then illustrations are fantastic and truly help students and adults understand the experiment. A must-have for any science or STEM teacher or science-loving student!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Excellent Engineering was an incredibly empowering book for readers who really want to learn about engineering and try their hand at it along the way. The book listed many items you could create at home using simple engineering. The step by step, basic instructions were easy enough for even the youngest reader to follow. This would be great in a classroom STEM class or maker space.

A brilliant book with a number of great things to construct. Very clear instructions. Great illustrations. I think this one will be popular.

This is a well illustrated book that is loaded with engineering projects for kids. It would be a fabulous homeschool STEM book and also great for any parents who want to create a sort of DIY Tinker Box subscription. My 12 y/o got a subscription from a neighbor last year and loved it but the monthly cost was out of our budget. I was looking for some ideas to do it on our own and some of these projects would be fun for that, like making a paper loudspeaker or robot hand. Be prepared to purchase materials and for kids to require a fair amount of parent participation for most of these projects.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.