Space Machines: Build your own working machines!

Space is an endlessly fascinating topic to small children. What are the planets? How do they move? How much of space have we explored? And how? It’s this last topic that this clever book explores in depth. Space Machines is a new take on a possibly tired topic: it allows kids to actually build two-dimensional models of many famous spacecraft. And they move! Each is built with a set of cardboard wheels, cogs, and washers, held together with plastic nuts and bolts. Each two-page spread of the book highlights a machine in some way and includes instructions for how to build it. The spread for “Living in Space” discusses various aspects of space life, and young readers get to build a space station module; “Lift Off” details how a spacecraft actually leaves Earth’s surface behind and includes instructions for building a rocket ship. This is a clever idea that will engage kids on many levels, whether they’re already interested in space or not. This book would make for many fun afternoons of parent-child bonding time, and the machines can even be built solo by slightly older children.