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Wacky Contraptions: Gadgets That Whiz, Whoosh, Whirl and Twist With Hands-on Engineering Activities
A hands-on project book for kids who love building wacky contraptions!
How do we make contraptions that zoom, bounce, tower, and collapse? By using hands-on STEAM engineering!
In Wacky Gadgets That Whiz, Whoosh, Whirl, and Twist with Hands-On Engineering Activities , young engineers ages 9 to 12 brainstorm, design, and build devices using the engineering design process. Kids learn about simple machines, mechanical advantage, forces, energy, motion, electricity, and other physical science concepts while creating fun and fascinating prototypes that do different kinds of work. Plus, this book encourages kids to adopt a growth mindset and understand that when their projects don’t work, that’s a sign that it’s time to revise and try again!
Built around a plethora of hands-on projects—a conveyor belt, magnetic slime, and a water wheel are just a few examples—a fun narrative style engages kids in discussions of the forces that define our world and the work we do in it. Tension, magnetism, electricity, and chemistry affect our daily lives in ways we often overlook—but armed with the power of knowledge, kids can identify and use the science that surrounds them. Graphic novel style illustrations, photographs, fun facts, sidebars, links to online resources, and more make Wacky Contraptions entertaining and educational.
Additional materials include a glossary, a list of media for further learning, a selected bibliography, and index. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.
How do we make contraptions that zoom, bounce, tower, and collapse? By using hands-on STEAM engineering!
In Wacky Gadgets That Whiz, Whoosh, Whirl, and Twist with Hands-On Engineering Activities , young engineers ages 9 to 12 brainstorm, design, and build devices using the engineering design process. Kids learn about simple machines, mechanical advantage, forces, energy, motion, electricity, and other physical science concepts while creating fun and fascinating prototypes that do different kinds of work. Plus, this book encourages kids to adopt a growth mindset and understand that when their projects don’t work, that’s a sign that it’s time to revise and try again!
Built around a plethora of hands-on projects—a conveyor belt, magnetic slime, and a water wheel are just a few examples—a fun narrative style engages kids in discussions of the forces that define our world and the work we do in it. Tension, magnetism, electricity, and chemistry affect our daily lives in ways we often overlook—but armed with the power of knowledge, kids can identify and use the science that surrounds them. Graphic novel style illustrations, photographs, fun facts, sidebars, links to online resources, and more make Wacky Contraptions entertaining and educational.
Additional materials include a glossary, a list of media for further learning, a selected bibliography, and index. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.
122 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2025
1 person is currently reading
About the author
Laura Perdew
94 books15 followersI am a mom, author, writing consultant, and former middle school teacher. I write fiction and nonfiction for kids, including over 30 books for the education market on a variety of topics including wetland conservation, renewable energy, extinction, and animal adaptations. BIODIVERSITY: EXPLORE THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE ON EARTH (Nomad Press, 2019) earned a starred review from Booklist and is a Junior Library Guild selection. My first fiction picture book is THE FORT (Page Street Kids, 2020). My goal is to inspire the next generation of conservationists through books.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 13, 2025
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: In Wacky Contraptions: Gadgets That Whiz, Whoosh, Whirl, and Twist with Hands-On Engineering Activities, young engineers ages 9 to 12 brainstorm, design, and build devices using the engineering design process. Kids learn about simple machines, mechanical advantage, forces, energy, motion, electricity, and other physical science concepts while creating fun and fascinating prototypes that do different kinds of work. A hands-on project book for kids who love building wacky contraptions!
How do we make contraptions that zoom, bounce, tower, and collapse? By using hands-on STEAM engineering!
In Wacky Contraptions: Gadgets That Whiz, Whoosh, Whirl, and Twist with Hands-On Engineering Activities, young engineers ages 9 to 12 brainstorm, design, and build devices using the engineering design process. Kids learn about simple machines, mechanical advantage, forces, energy, motion, electricity, and other physical science concepts while creating fun and fascinating prototypes that do different kinds of work. Plus, this book encourages kids to adopt a growth mindset and understand that when their projects don’t work, that’s a sign that it’s time to revise and try again!
Built around a plethora of hands-on projects—a conveyor belt, magnetic slime, and a water wheel are just a few examples—a fun narrative style engages kids in discussions of the forces that define our world and the work we do in it. Tension, magnetism, electricity, and chemistry affect our daily lives in ways we often overlook—but armed with the power of knowledge, kids can identify and use the science that surrounds them. Graphic novel style illustrations, photographs, fun facts, sidebars, links to online resources, and more make Wacky Contraptions entertaining and educational.
Additional materials include a glossary, a list of media for further learning, a selected bibliography, and index. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: A bright sixth-grader who likes doing stuff with their hands will get a real lexical workout with this book. It keeps the language on the edge of their vocabulary; it will get many concepts across in infographics...the layout looks like a screen design...and it has a glossary included, to get them used to looking up words to figure out how to do something. Of course, starting out the usual stuff appears:
This is how we're starting out. It's really good at not being too far ahead of the bright ones, nor too "now look at the screen's left corner" for the average twelve-year-old.
Your middle-school nibling who's in a poor school district could get fired up over this because it's got stuff to do, to make things that work and aren't simply *there* when they are done. If the kid is watching Mark Rober videos on YouTube, this is the gift of this Yuletide.
The Publisher Says: In Wacky Contraptions: Gadgets That Whiz, Whoosh, Whirl, and Twist with Hands-On Engineering Activities, young engineers ages 9 to 12 brainstorm, design, and build devices using the engineering design process. Kids learn about simple machines, mechanical advantage, forces, energy, motion, electricity, and other physical science concepts while creating fun and fascinating prototypes that do different kinds of work. A hands-on project book for kids who love building wacky contraptions!
How do we make contraptions that zoom, bounce, tower, and collapse? By using hands-on STEAM engineering!
In Wacky Contraptions: Gadgets That Whiz, Whoosh, Whirl, and Twist with Hands-On Engineering Activities, young engineers ages 9 to 12 brainstorm, design, and build devices using the engineering design process. Kids learn about simple machines, mechanical advantage, forces, energy, motion, electricity, and other physical science concepts while creating fun and fascinating prototypes that do different kinds of work. Plus, this book encourages kids to adopt a growth mindset and understand that when their projects don’t work, that’s a sign that it’s time to revise and try again!
Built around a plethora of hands-on projects—a conveyor belt, magnetic slime, and a water wheel are just a few examples—a fun narrative style engages kids in discussions of the forces that define our world and the work we do in it. Tension, magnetism, electricity, and chemistry affect our daily lives in ways we often overlook—but armed with the power of knowledge, kids can identify and use the science that surrounds them. Graphic novel style illustrations, photographs, fun facts, sidebars, links to online resources, and more make Wacky Contraptions entertaining and educational.
Additional materials include a glossary, a list of media for further learning, a selected bibliography, and index. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: A bright sixth-grader who likes doing stuff with their hands will get a real lexical workout with this book. It keeps the language on the edge of their vocabulary; it will get many concepts across in infographics...the layout looks like a screen design...and it has a glossary included, to get them used to looking up words to figure out how to do something. Of course, starting out the usual stuff appears:
This is how we're starting out. It's really good at not being too far ahead of the bright ones, nor too "now look at the screen's left corner" for the average twelve-year-old.
Your middle-school nibling who's in a poor school district could get fired up over this because it's got stuff to do, to make things that work and aren't simply *there* when they are done. If the kid is watching Mark Rober videos on YouTube, this is the gift of this Yuletide.
August 11, 2025
First comes the theory and knowledge, and then, comes the fun as this books invites readers to create their own machines.
These pages take on the five, basic mechanisms found in the engineering world, explains the basic theories behind them, and then, leads readers into a basic project before opening it up to so much more. Starting with inclined planes, levers, wheel/axle, pulleys, wedges, and screws, these pages then expand them with aspects such as magnets, tension, gears, water, and more. Each chapter covers one of the aspects and explains the basic theories, uses, and such. The information is easy to understand, fits the age group, and flows fine. Sidebars on each page slip in vocabulary words, QR codes to watch videos, and questions to push those thought gears. While this is all written with as much lightness as possible, the fun begins with the projects.
Each chapter introduces a basic project with the required items (most around the house) and easy-to-follow directions. Then, there are more possibilities suggested and other projects presented, too. The point of this is not only to have readers create something to help the themes and information sit, but to lead them to go beyond and add twists or projects of their own. It's stated several times that mistakes happen and are, actually, helpful...and that things don't always go as planned.
The illustrations assist in making the presented information clear, while adding bold colors to add a little more excitement. This works nicely not only for those, who want to learn more about creating machines and such, but even opens the door to projects for individuals, group settings, or homeschoolers.
These pages take on the five, basic mechanisms found in the engineering world, explains the basic theories behind them, and then, leads readers into a basic project before opening it up to so much more. Starting with inclined planes, levers, wheel/axle, pulleys, wedges, and screws, these pages then expand them with aspects such as magnets, tension, gears, water, and more. Each chapter covers one of the aspects and explains the basic theories, uses, and such. The information is easy to understand, fits the age group, and flows fine. Sidebars on each page slip in vocabulary words, QR codes to watch videos, and questions to push those thought gears. While this is all written with as much lightness as possible, the fun begins with the projects.
Each chapter introduces a basic project with the required items (most around the house) and easy-to-follow directions. Then, there are more possibilities suggested and other projects presented, too. The point of this is not only to have readers create something to help the themes and information sit, but to lead them to go beyond and add twists or projects of their own. It's stated several times that mistakes happen and are, actually, helpful...and that things don't always go as planned.
The illustrations assist in making the presented information clear, while adding bold colors to add a little more excitement. This works nicely not only for those, who want to learn more about creating machines and such, but even opens the door to projects for individuals, group settings, or homeschoolers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews