The New Yankee Workshop Kids' Stuff

I wanted to build a cradle for my to-be granddaughter, and figured 'ol Norm could come to the rescue. Can't say I wasn't warned-one of his first instructions was, "Set your blade to make a crosscut of six-and-a-half degrees." Six-and-a-HALF degrees?!? I'm usually lucky if I can get plus/minus two degrees. So, okay, it is best if you have an industrial-grade shop, and twenty years of experience, but that's not the book's fault. A project like the cradle is beautiful BECAUSE it is difficult to produce the compound angles, and finger joints, etc. So far, I'd say his instructions were clear, dead on, and the sequence of operations make sense. The only thing I'd suggest that he didn't is to get a fair amount of extra wood so you can make practice cuts. Most home woodworking equipment is not precise enough to set cuts with his kind of accuracy, but you can get there with good measuring tools (protractor, especially), and a fair number of trial cuts on scrap wood (of EXACTLY the same thickness of your finish stock). I also got the DVD and it was very helpful, although it almost scared me off when I saw the tools he was using--but in reality, those industrial tools won't really enable you to do better work-just faster work.

I received this as a gift, and I'm simply not equipped to produce any of the six pieces included. I don't have the tools, or the time, and the previous reviewer is correct that - if I *did* have the tools and time - I'd probably want to buy the plans for the projects.That said, if *you* have the tools and time, and particularly if you're crafty and know what you're doing with wood and tools, there are six fantastic projects here that would suit a wide range of ages, something to keep you (and, then, your child) busy through various stages of their development.

This book presents a very nice collection of Norm Abram's kid-related projects, and the text and photos are a great help to actually building any of the projects. Having built the cradle project, though, I'd certainly recommend purchasing the set of plans that goes with each project . The plans are indespensible.

This book is aptly named and is loaded with "Kids' Stuff". Projects include a cradle, toy chest, a block wagon, and a 1/16" scale model of the New Yankee Workshop, and more! I just got this book yesterday and will be getting started this weekend on the marble roll which I know my 2 year old will just Love! If you have a child or know one you want to make really happy get this book and get to work!