Reviewed by annieb123 on
Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things is a collection of ideas, projects, and tutorials for nifty STEM-based activities using easily acquired household items. Originally published in 2003, this reformat and re-release, due out 3rd March 2020 from Andrews McMeel has 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is a fun and layman accessible book with lots of science based tips and tricks. The projects are arranged roughly thematically, from making batteries from spare wire and plastic/glue from milk casein, lots of gadgets and gizmos, some survival techniques and tips (fire-making, water-gathering and more), and magnets and motor projects galore.
The author does a pretty good job of explaining at least some of the basic scientific theory behind the projects along with providing entertaining tidbits and factoids in the tutorials themselves. Each of the tutorials is written in an appealing and somewhat free-form manner. There are line drawn illustrations showing tools, ingredients, and some assembly diagrams. I loved the penny-into-a-radio tutorial, which sadly is on the way out, since most places are moving to digital transmission, but at least the tutorial was very fun (and it worked).
Although it's an all-ages appropriate book, this would be a superlative choice for a library activity day, makers group, or family friendly weekend activity book. There are a lot of really cool tutorials made (mostly) with easily accessible household items.
Five stars. I really liked this one. The lack of photographs with the tutorials could've been a minus, but the line drawings were charmingly naive and illustrative, so the lack of photography wasn't a minus.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 15 February, 2020: Reviewed