March 1, 2014
Gr 3-5-These three titles provide interested readers with a brief background on these tech-related topics. Each volume features bright and enticing photographs with clear captions that closely match the text. The writing style is engrossing and straightforward, and each book includes sidebars with additional information on subjects such as construction safety or funny projects exhibited at Maker Faires. Readers interested in 3D printing, engineering, programming, robotics, or anything STEAM-related will find Makerspaces and 3D Printing particularly engrossing, as each offers intricate descriptions of software and hardware associated with both. 3D Printing covers the current state of the craft but disappointingly provides only one simple sentence on its history and evolution, instead focusing on one type of 3D printer made by MakerBot, a leading company in the world of 3D printing, crafting, and making. Maker Faires and Makerspaces themselves are also closely associated with MakerBot and Make magazine, and purchasers should know that both are noted throughout the texts of all three books. Because the three subjects are so intrinsically tied to the MakerBot company, it would be difficult to remove mention of MakerBot without leaving out key details about each subject. Solid additions for libraries serving populations with a keen interest in 3D printing and Maker culture.-Amy M. Laughlin, Darien Library, CT
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2013
Grades 4-7 As the maker movement of tech-based DIY enthusiasts becomes an increasingly important presence in libraries, it's great to have a series of related books targeting young readers. The Makers as Innovators series does just that. Each slender title presents a single topic in a straightforward manner, giving novices a good idea of what's happening without getting bogged down in a great many details. Sidebars offer tips, intriguing facts, and historical perspective. Like the movement itself, the texts communicate a level of energy and involvement that adds to the overall appeal. Page design is simple and attractive, and the illustrations, mainly color photos, are effective. In 3D Printing, readers will learn how the new printers replicate three-dimensional objects in hard plastic. Libraries looking for materials to support community interest and programming in these areas should consider this useful series, which also includes books on Arduino, e-textiles, game design, and makerspaces. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)