Over the Counter #225

What books caught my eye this week as they passed over the library counter and under my scanner? Tinkering....

First up is The Art of Tinkering: Meet 150+ Makers Working At The Intersection of Art, Science And Technology by Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich.

From the publisher, Weldon Owen:

"This is not your average art book. Brought to you by the Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio, The Art of Tinkering is an unprecedented celebration of what it means to tinker: to take things apart, explore tools and materials, and build wondrous, wild art that's part science and part technology. Join 150+ makers as they share the stories behind their beautiful and bold work–and learn a few lessons in tinkering yourself.

The Art of Tinkering is a collection of exhibits, artwork, and projects that celebrate a whole new way to learn, in which people create their own knowledge through making and doing, working with readily available materials, getting their hands dirty, collaborating with others, problem-solving in the most fun sense of the word, and, yes, oftentimes failing and bouncing back from getting stuck.

Each artist featured in The Art of Tinkering goes through this process, and lovingly shares the backstory behind their own work so that readers can feel invited to join in on the whimsy. Whether it’s sharing their favorite tools (who knew toenail clippers could be so handy?) or offering a glimpse of their workspaces (you’d be amazed how many electronics tools you can pack into one pantry!), the stories, lessons, and tips in The Art of Tinkering offer a fascinating portrait of today’s maker scene."

Next up was Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors by Rachelle Doorley.

From the publisher, Roost Books:

Design, Build, Concoct, and Discover—55 creative experiments for curious kids! Kids are natural tinkerers. They experiment, explore, test, and play—and learn a great deal in the process through problem-solving and hands-on experiments. From art making to simple robot building, magic potion testing, and nature exploration, this book is about creative experiments, in all fields, that help kids explore the world. Perfect for young children up to age six."

 (Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)