Maker Dad: Lunch Box Guitars, Antigravity Jars, and 22 Other Incredibly Cool Father-Daughter DIY Projects

by Mark Frauenfelder

As the editor in chief of MAKE magazine, Mark Frauenfelder has spent years combing through DIY books, but he’s never been able to find one with geeky projects he can share with his two daughters. Maker Dad is the first DIY book to use cutting-edge (and affordable) technology in appealing projects for fathers and daughters to do together. These crafts and gadgets are both rewarding to make and delightful to play with. What’s more, Maker Dad teaches girls lifelong skills—like computer programming, musicality, and how to use basic hand tools—as well as how to be creative problem solvers. The book’s twenty-four unique projects include: Drawbot, a lively contraption that draws abstract patterns all by itself Ice Cream Sandwich Necklace Friendstrument, an electronic musical instrument girls can play with friends Longboard Antigravity Jar Silkscreened T-Shirt Retro Arcade Video Game Host a Podcast Lunchbox Guitar Kite Video Camera

Innovative and groundbreaking, Maker Dad will inspire fathers to geek out with their daughters and help girls cultivate an early affinity for math, science, and technology.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference, How To, Ebooks, Childrens

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2014

About the author

Editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine. Founder of Boingboing.net.

My books: The Happy Mutant Handbook (1995, Riverhead), a guide to offbeat pop culture. Mad Professor (2003, Chronicle), science experiments for kids. Worlds Worst (2005, Chronicle), a guide to the worst stuff on Earth, The Computer (2005, Carlton books), an illustrated history of computers. Rule the Web (2007, St. Martins), a guide to online tricks and tips. Next book, The World in Your Hands, to be published in 2010 by Penguin,"

Reviews

[Andrea Lorenz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a refreshing take on the nonfiction craft book. I enjoyed the variety of activities that Mark Frauenfelder dreamed up to take advantage of with his daughters (could be sons too). I love that the author chose to focus these projects on his daughters - especially since they are power-tooly, getting-dirty kinds of projects. So often we see craft books for girls that are delicate, lace, and don't get your hands dirty. Women should definitely feel encouraged and empowered to do the same kinds of creating as men. The projects presented here were reminiscent of those in MAKE magazine (only fitting since Mark is the editor-in-chief of MAKE) - use of circuits and arduinos in every day kinds of projects. I did read this on my iPad - as it was a net galley so there were times when I would read the instructions for a project and not be able to visualize what exactly I would need to do for each step. Usually pictures on subsequent pages would clarify. I had two gripes with the book - one, there were usually no end product pictures at the end of the tutorials and two, there weren't difficulty ratings on the activities themselves. There was a list of difficulties at the very beginning of the book, but it would be helpful to have the difficulty present on the tutorial itself. Overall, I think that this is the best kind of craft book around - new, exciting, and full of engaging crafts for everyone.

[Shawn L’s Book Notes & Quotes · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If things didn’t work out the first time, I often gave up. I know other people feel the same way. A big reason for this crippling mind-set is that we’ve been trained in the classroom to equate mistakes with bad grades. If our educational system teaches us one thing, it’s this: ‘Be perfect. Avoid mistakes or you will be penalized.’ ...
When I finally learned to embrace mistakes, the world of making opened up to me.”

[Mike Owings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely compendium of fun tasks both easy-to-tackle and challenging in all the best ways!

I found no activity out of bounds for just about anyone, especially with the encouragement to fail, learn and try again.

[Jack Guritza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several projects are really easy but spur other ideas. There are a few that my girls' ages 4 and 8 really got into.

It is not a book really to read cover to cover but something to leaf through and pick out a project for the family to do.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of nice projects that I will hopefully be able to do with my daughter when she gets older.

[Yani G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, bought it for my son & granddaughter. :D

[Tom Donaghey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maker Dad: Lunch Box Guitars, Antigravity Jars, and 22 Other Incredibly Cool Father-Daughter DIY Projects by Mark Frauenfelder is, like the title says, incredibly cool in both concept and execution. Some of the projects included are:
• Ice Cream Sandwich Necklace
• Friendstrument, an electronic musical instrument girls can play with friends
• Longboard
• Antigravity Jar
• Silkscreened T-Shirt
• Retro Arcade Video Game
• Host a Podcast
• Lunchbox Guitar
• Kite Video Camera

Each project is fully illustrated with easy to follow instructions specifically designed to give young girls beginning engagements with tools, musicality and creative ideas while gaining self-assurance and a great bonding experience with dad (although mom can pitch in also.)
The author is editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine, a publication I have enjoyed in the past, and he has brought with him to this endeavor all the straight talk and open plans evident in the magazine. I highly recommend this book to all dads out there and look forward to giving this to my own son who has recently become a father of a little girl.
I won this book through Goodreads.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I am not a dad, but someday I might be a mom, and I feel like a mom could want to do the sort of experiments with her kid(s) that are featured in MAKER DAD just as much as a dad would (or help a dad out). There are dozens of activities here, some of which I couldn't do, since I don't have the typical masculine tools like a band saw or a solder sucker (I can wield a mean hammer, though). But all the activities look eminently doable and are presented in a very appealing way. The easy activities need little in the way of materials or time, but the more challenging ones could take many trips to the hardware store and a few days. It says father-daughter on the cover, but many of the activities are gender-neutral, good for introducing your DIY-savvy little ones to STEM education in a fun way. When I have kids, I will be glad I know about this book. My only gripe is that some of the activities don't interest me enough to outlay the time and money to get the necessary materials.

Received as a free digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Cariadne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love that a guy created a book to help other dads bond with their kids/gals. That needs to happen more. And expanding a girl's idea of DIY creativity, such as knit/crochet-jewelry making(Rainbow Loom rubber band bracelets, anyone?)-typical girlie stuff is a great idea. I have daughters and want to challenge them to tinker and go beyond the usual girl stuff to find other activities to create their own cool trend.

The book's projects didn't seem too challenging. The one I think might be a sneaky hit is the Anti Gravity Jar.

I've seen other books for dad-kid hobbyists and they tend to be packed with more ideas in categories. While this one was pretty to look at, I think I would have liked to see a wider selection and I would have loved for it to be accompanied by stories to really help make the connection. It fell short on that.

Unfortunately, there aren't any projects here that my dad or my kids' dad are interested in making for my girls.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sons aren't the only ones who like to spend time making things with their dads. The author has created an interactive book that daddy/daughter teams can use to make projects together. The projects range from easy and quick to challenging. While the title implies it's for dads, moms with some decent diy skills will enjoy this book as well.

The pictures in the book are bright, colorful, and very informative. I was impressed with the amount of instructional photographs and graphics. The projects all sounded fun, but I would warn any parents away who don't already have some diy skills. Most of these looked a bit above my level. But my husband could easily handle them all and I know that both my son and daughter will enjoy working on them.

I received this book free of charge from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.

[Lynne Vanderveen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is just slightly misnamed... So Frauenfelder did these activities with his daughter, but I think there are lots of sons out there who would love doing these projects with their dads as well! And given how my son and my daughter-in-law each work with tools, it could be mother with the kids too! This book has some great ideas for things to make with children, and they go way beyond the little kid type crafts in most books. Some of these are pretty complicated, but I think the time spent together is as much the point as anything. Besides, the things that are being made are just really cool.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are lots of great projects in this book, and just in time for summer break.
My daughter and I will be undertaking a few of these.
I was very excited to receive this book for review as I am a stay at home dad, and consider myself a DIY kind of guy. I was hoping for more things that we could do together.
This book has a very limited scope in that your daughter has to be very DIY oriented, and of a certain age group to be able to tackle these tasks.
Most of these projects instead seem to be things for Dads to build and kids to play with. I found very few things we can do together while holding my daughter’s attention.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know, I am not a dad. I still like DIY books and this one is really no exception. Lots of really cool activities in here. I was impressed with all the computer stuff, not my thing and it looked very complicated. The most important thing through the whole book is this is a parent who spent some really great time with his kids. That is the goal. Bonus: you might make some really neat stuff too! I liked how he stated that they tried some activities multiple time until they had something they felt they could share. I will definitely look into his magazine MAKE and website boingboing.net.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maker Dad was written by editor in chief of MAKE magazine, Mark Frauenfelder. If you've picked up MAKE magazine, you've seen the fun, amazing, creative DIY magazine. Maker Dad shares 22 projects that Dads (or other caring adults) can share with their daughters (or sons). Projects range from "easy and quick" to "challenging - a real skill-builder!" The projects also range between a variety of interests and activities. There are science projects, music projects, electrical projects, games, and more! There is something for everyone. This book is a great addition for libraries with makerspaces or maker programs.

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Steph Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! I'm now super-psyched for him to present at the Colorado Association of Libraries 2014 conference! The projects are all really easy to do, but with big impact results. I definitely want to make the retro modern rocking chair and the giant bubble makers are sweet! Mark is the Editor in Chief of Make Magazine and started Boing Boing, so you can count on quirky creativity. Enjoy!

[Rebekah Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who works with middle aged kids, this book is awesome. These projects are great for those kids, especially the curious ones. I'm excited to try Mr. Frauenfelder's instructions for the lunch box guitar and the friendstrument.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book in the vein of "cool crafts for kids by Dads." Most are useless, but this has some interesting stuff. It's geared toward Dads at the geeky end of the spectrum with kids at the higher end of single digits.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fun thing about the DAD "Maker" books is that they have so many cool ideas that could double as science fair projects. This book includes "girlie" projects too. Includes lots of step-by-step color photos.

[Jillian]

My husband already has everything he needs to be a cool-nerdy "Maker Dad" someday... I want this book for myself!

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas in this book and material suggestions that I have never used before. I'll be ordering some food grade silicone molding compound, pronto!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite inclusion of the usual (soap, polymer clay), Frauenfelder's book includes many far out projects we'd never seen!

[Lou Yuhasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book. Not too many projects, but the price was right. The Scratch Lesson was pretty good.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked 2 of the projects in this book, the make-your-own-mold-for-soap-making and the giant-bubbles-using-dish-soap.

[Joseph Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun projects

Son loves the lunch pal guitar, so much his scout troop is making them now. I had fun doing the projects with my boys.

[Patrick Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too age-advanced for me to make use of with my daughter, but so many great ideas that we'll undoubtedly come back to when the time is right!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some neat DIY projects to do with your kids, and I liked his perspective on building with kids. Not too cutesy or precious, and the projects were not too outlandish (just outlandish enough).