Little woodchucks Offerman woodshop's guide to tools and tomfoolery

Review by Booklist Review

From popular actor and author Offerman (Where the Deer and the Antelope Play, 2021) and his lifelong woodshop comrade Buchanan comes an irresistible invitation to children and families to learn the art of woodworking. Twelve simple, appealing projects guide children ages six to ten and their grown-ups through learning the foundations of this time-honored craft. Step-by-step instructions with plenty of photographs and an emphasis on adult involvement and supervision help kids build skills that go beyond the woodshop, like problem-solving, creativity, resourcefulness, and respect for tools, materials, and safety. Whether it's a box kite, a set of toast tongs, a hand-carved animal, a toolbox, a bench, or another practical, fun project, the learning process takes the upper hand over perfect results, and Offerman's upbeat coaching and advice--featuring his trademark dry, irreverent humor--take perfectionism and any fear of making mistakes out of the picture. Perfect for families who are seeking fun new ways to get away from screens and build something together with their own hands.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Actor Offerman (Good Clean Fun) and woodworker Buchanan deliver a humorous guide to woodworking projects for kids and adults. Instead of purchasing corporate products out of convenience, the authors encourage readers to make things themselves, using tools and their "magic human brain." They give instructions for 12 projects that vary in difficulty, from simple "toast tongs" to the more complicated sawhorse. An opening chapter instructs readers on how to set up their workshop, including what tools they'll need, like a handsaw and utility knife, and safety tips, like ensuring kids wear protective goggles and particulate masks. Each project is marked with the targeted age range, the approximate time expected for the craft's completion, and whether an adult should be present. Standouts include an elaborate planter station, where readers can make "mud pies," as well as easier "carved creatures," twigs and tree branches carved to resemble animals like pigs or sheep. Step-by-step directions for each project are provided, and Offerman's signature wit is on display in the text and the plethora of photos of him hamming it up with kids in the workshop. The result is a boon for parents seeking to get their kids away from screens and immersed in the world around them. (Oct.)

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

A woodworking ambassador shares the love of his craft. Offerman's talents extend beyond Hollywood to woodworking--a subject the actor explored inGood Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop (2016). In his latest book, he imparts his wisdom to younger readers. Yes, the book is for little woodchucks, as he endearingly calls them, but more grizzled neophytes will also benefit. Neither young nor old will be able to resist his folksy, dry wit. "Historically, everybody knows the easiest way to make a bench," he writes. "First off, you need to locate your personal sittin' parts, also known as the caboose, booty, or butt.…I usually find mine by determining the area halfway between my kneecaps and my armpits and then heading around back. If that doesn't work, just put on some funky music and watch out for the part that first begins to shake." More useful, perhaps, are the instructions for making a bench. As with all the projects--among them carved creatures, whistles, and box kites--this one comes with a handy list of materials and tools. A helpful photo shows all the tools laid out; a note reads, "power tools eventually die, but this hand drill has been in Lee's family for 3 generations. Suck on that, capitalism." "Lee" is Offerman's co-author, Buchanan; they appear in photos alongside adorable kids hard at work, including one in which a mock-terrified Offerman is being transported on a forklift…operated by a tot. In an introduction that's funny and earnest, Offerman rhapsodizes about the joys of making things with one's hands. He observes, rightly, that "when we learn to make things for ourselves, we can then make things for other people, and that's a great way to tell those folks that you love them.…Beyond the fondness that your new powers will engender, those tool skills will carry over into your everyday practice, and you'll become a betterthinker in every aspect of your life." A thoroughly enjoyable book that'll leave you with a craving to get creative. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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