#NetGalley Book Review: The PVC Pipe Book by Chris Peterson

This has many great projects.
The PVC Pipe Book
by Chris Peterson

Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Voyageur Press (December 18, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-0760360897
Genre: Crafts, D-I-Y, Home
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Put that spare PVC pipe to work with more than 50 inventive, step-by-step projects that yield tough and durable storage, furniture, gardening, toys, and much more, with The PVC Pipe Book.
With a few simple fittings, common home-improvement-store PVC pipe can be treated much like building blocks. Learn to engineer it in new ways for DIY projects that prove useful indoors and outside.
Whether you're a homeowner, gardener, homesteader, prepper, or just a parent looking for some new toy ideas, the projects in The PVC Pipe Book give you plenty of options. Step-by-step instructions, parts lists, and photographs of completed projects make sure you will have fun and love the results of your work.
Projects range from simple creations like chicken feeders and waterers, to much more complex builds like a rolling workshop table.
Other projects include:
Practical creations include a step-stool, toy bin, safety gate, and gardening caddy
Fun, fanciful ideas include a rocket launcher, water table, even soccer goals
Homestead projects include a pet washer, chicken feeder, birdhouse, and hanging herb garden
For anyone who needs some insight and a few tips on working with PVC, Peterson covers all the basics, as well as finishing techniques.

Review:
This book is direct and easy to follow. Peterson opens with an interesting history of the material polyvinyl chloride. The introduction identifies fittings, types, sizes and grades. It then proceeds to a PVC toolbox indicating items that are needed or useful for projects, including zip ties and glue cement. There are explanations for working with the pipes including some homemade techniques.

There are practical projects and fun projects. Some of the projects particularly caught my interest as there were chicken feeders and waterers. The difficulty ranges from easy to medium to hard. The projects are introduced by a description of reason, purpose and summary. Then there is a detailed list of needed tools, materials and cuts that are needed. Next there are step by step instructions with many illustrations. A couple projects offer quick variations to expand the numbers of results available.

We have some unused PVC pipes and elbows in our yard and garage. I wish my Hubby was able to work on these projects; maybe my son or s-i-l could. If I had a bit more time, I might even try some of these! I certainly recommend this to those interested in D-I-Y projects. Take a look at the table of contents and you can see there are projects that can attract almost anyone.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley and Alphabet Goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Out of the Box by Jemma Westing

This looks like great fun with imaginative projects for kids.

Out of the Box
by Jemma Westing

Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Lexile Measure: 0870 (What's this?)
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: DK Children (April 18, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1465458964
Genre: Children, Crafts
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Twenty-five interactive cardboard model projects that engage kids' creativity and "out of the box" thinking skills through hands-on learning and the application of science-based principles.
Kids can bring old cardboard to life and build recycled creations they can play with, sit in, and wear.
Supporting STEAM education initiatives and the Maker Movement, Out of the Box includes 25 interactive cardboard model projects to inspire kids' creativity through engaged and hands-on learning, and, as the founder of Maker Faire Dale Dougherty says, "to realize with their hands what they can imagine in their minds."
From small-scale gifts to large constructions, author and award-winning paper engineer Jemma Westing uses clear, step-by-step instructions to show kids how to make dinosaurs, masks, race cars, and so much more, and inspirational images encourage them to make their own unique models when they are feeling more confident. The projects utilize only recycled materials, including cardboard rolls and boxes, so all the supplies should be easy to find right at home.
Build something brilliant with Out of the Box. The possibilities are endless!

Review:
This is a fun resource for crafts made from boxes and recycled materials. The book starts with tools that may be needed and techniques for cutting, curling, taping and gluing. It closes with templates for many of the projects.

There are smaller items like tube owls, butterflies, flowers and lizards to larger items like outdoor games such as Ring Toss Challenge and Feed the Monster games. There are Racing Rabbits and an alternate version for Penguin Skate race. There are fun items to wear like helmets, masks and body costumes. There are settings like a play theater, aquariums, castles and a city. Finally, there is a large geodesic den to serve as a clubhouse and an ambitious project to build a recycled racer.

The projects show the difficulty range as easy, medium or hard. Each project ends with an extra tip to try another version or add on. Although I suspect that working with cardboard may not be as easy as this makes it look, this clearly gives a chance to encourage the imagination of young people with crafts, variations and colors! I like that it uses recycled materials. If I was home with children I would give this a try.

Source: NetGalley 2018. This adds to my NetGalley and Alphabet Challenge.