Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop's Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery

by Nick Offerman, Lee Buchanan

From New York Times bestselling author, Emmy-winning actor, and charismatically carnivorous woodworker Nick Offerman, an illustrated woodworking guide with projects for the whole family

In his long running hit book Good Clean Fun, Nick Offerman brought us into his woodshop with personal reflections on woodworking alongside instructions to create some of his favorite projects. Now, in Little Woodchucks, the Offerman Woodshop is opening its avuncular doors to woodworkers of all ages in the form of twelve brand-new, family-friendly projects perfect for kids, from beginner projects like a handmade box kite to more challenging offerings like a little free library/meat locker.

Combining his signature wry humor with clearly written and joyfully illustrated project instructions, Little Woodchucks is the perfect way to encourage eye contact and other old-fashioned familial engagements, while introducing young woodworkers-to-be to the satisfaction and good, clean fun of hands-on crafting.

* This audiobook edition includes original music by Mark Rivers and Nick Offerman and a downloadable PDF containing instructions and photos for all twelve projects in the book.

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Woodwork, Childrens

208 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

Nick Offerman is an American actor, writer, and carpenter who is best known for his breakout role as Ron Swanson in the acclaimed NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. For his work on Parks and Recreation, he received the Television Critics Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy.

Reviews

[Meredith Dimon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last night my husband and I saw Nick Offerman’s about this book and it made me want to go out a buy copies for all the future woodworkers/lil woodchucks I know! NIck’s woodworking partner Lee made me miss El Cerrito’s Pastime Hardware, and wish I was young enough to be one of their woodchucks! Here’s to building community, joy and love (out of wood or not!)

[Ivy Eckart · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very sad that a book intended for children and families is littered with curse words in just the first few pages, is clearly pushing a socialist/communist/LGBT agendas with pictures of the author and someone reading Das Kapital by Karl Marx and It’s OK to be angry about Capitalism by Bernie Sanders, also has pictures of a child flipping off the camera in the introduction. After using several curse words, the authors also state that woodworking has allowed him to “discover many opportunities to practice my cussing!”
Pictures depict children sitting around a table holding wine glasses full of wine and a bottle of wine on the table, other pictures include bottles of liquor in their work/craft areas as well. The authors, pictured throughout the book, which I thought were two men, but after a quick google search and further reading in the book, discovered that one was a woman, and she mentions her partner and children multiple times. The book, again that I thought was going to be about woodworking projects, ends with that same author thanking the Conversion Therapy Survivor Network and pro- trans sentiments.
To each their own, but if you’re going to make a book about woodworking projects, make it about woodworking projects. Why do you have to fill it with so much unnecessary bullcrap and confusing ideas that have nothing to do whatsoever about the supposed topic of the book.
I guess I should have read the entire title- Offerman woodshops’s guide to tools and TOMFOOLERY- tomfoolery is right! Foolish and silly behavior for sure- laying the foundation to confuse children and adults- so sad.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd listen to Nick Offerman talk about anything. if you want to teach your Little Woodchuck how to build stuff though, you should skip the audiobook and get a paper copy.

[Emily Rundle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Libro.fm and Penguin Random House Audio for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I am normally not in the business of reading books about wood crafting. I dabble in all sorts of crafts, but I'm not a reader of craft books or manuals, but if they were all written like this I would read nothing else.

Little Woodchucks is a laugh-out-loud, positive, and well written guide to woodworking for children and their adults. It is full of excellent project ideas for all ages and provides and excellent basis for getting into wood crafting at any age, with specific safety instructions and recommendations for introducing children to the craft.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the book has plenty of Offerman's signature deadpan humor and it makes it a great read for all ages. I was impressed by how little Offerman seemed to tone down his usual voice, this book does not condescend to young readers and I think that they will love it for that reason. Do be warned sensitive parents, there is a bit of what I grew up calling "barn talk" in this book, but it doesn't go any further than hell, damn, and ass. All curse words are used to augment phrases in a positive way, such as "damn cool" "bad ass" and recommendations to do fun things because "why the hell not".

The book does not just provide projects and guidance for their completion, but rather offers up advice for life and philosophy for readers of all ages. Overarchingly these are self-reliance, recycling, respect for nature, community service and respect. The book and its authors aim to create "little woodchucks" who are interested in making things, who minimize screentime, and who can become "big woodchucks" who build others up and offer assistance where possible.

Some other minor mentions of things I appreciated about this book:
-Frequent butt jokes, kids love them because they are funny
-Mentions of Lord of the Rings and especially Aragorn
-Respectful discussions of Native American artwork and craftsmanship

Overall I would recommend this to fans of Offerman's comedy, to adults or children looking to get into wood working, and to anyone who needs a good laugh and positive read.

I would highly recommend the audiobook version of the text, it includes PDF versions of all the project instructions, and includes more of Offerman's comedic life advice. It would make a great listen before or while working on any of the listed projects.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half woodworking guide, half love letter to making things with your hands, so much FUN.

This book has real weight to it beyond the projects. Offerman makes a quietly persuasive case that in a world where we're all staring at screens and yelling at strangers on the internet, the radical act might just be sitting down with someone you love and building a box kite. He wraps that message in enough dry humor that it never feels preachy.

The projects are the star. Twelve of them, organized from simple to ambitious, with clear instructions, honest materials lists, and photos that are worth the price of admission alone, including a toddler operating a forklift while Offerman stands on the lift guiding. The progression is smart...by the time you've made a slapstick and carved a creature, you've quietly picked up enough skills to tackle a bench or a Little Free Library. It's sneaky good teaching.

Lee Buchanan deserves serious credit here. As co-author and the person who ran Offerman Woodshop for a decade, she brings a practical, parent-tested sensibility that grounds the whole thing. The safety guidance is thorough without being paranoid, and you can feel her experience building things with her own boys in every project layout. She's not a sidekick I believe, she's the reason this book actually works as a guide and not just a funny read.

We went to the Santa Rosa live show and seeing Offerman and Lee live only confirmed what the book already makes clear: this guy is the real deal. Woodworker, musician, comedian, writer, and somehow he seems really normal and grounded. He played a ukulele he built, sang ridiculous songs, and Lee did actual woodworking on stage. It was funny and earnest in equal measure, which is exactly the tone of the book.

If you have kids, get this book. If you don't have kids but you've ever wanted to make something with your hands instead of buying it, get this book. If you just want to read something that makes you feel a little more hopeful about humans and their ability to create things that matter, get this book.

[Gary Geier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick Offerman is funny. Period. This book is no different! I know the intent of the book is to be sort of a powwow about woodworking for like a parent and a child, but I found a lot of joy reading this. I won't spoil this too much for those reading the reviews to see if they should get it, but just know there's a lot of useful skills top be had in this book.

I hope those who feel negatively towards Nick Offerman, because of the imagery in the book can simply grow up. If you don't like tomfoolery then don't read the book or at the very least read the title before getting upset. It's on the tin. Cursing is part of life and has been throughout all of America's history. Got a problem? Tough.

[Ashley V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook while sewing together some patchwork pieces that I’m going to turn into a giant bow to decorate my hand embroidery vendor booth for holiday markets and truly, I don’t think there’s any other way I could have spent the last hour and 47 minutes (I listened on 1.5 speed lol) that I would have enjoyed more :)

[Jenny GB · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book! The pictures and the text are funny and the projects look like lots of fun. I’m afraid that I would need additional video guides or something to get me through the projects, though, because a lot of the pictures are from far away and more for being funny than to provide visual steps. I suppose if you have more experience than I do the book would be enough!

[Hannah Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible step by step guide to wordworking with young people in a safe and creative way.

I initially planned to just flip through this book, but ended up reading it cover to cover and learned so many tips and simple skills as I read.

While the crafts might be kid focused, the learning is perfect for anyone wanting to be more handy!

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another batch of fun projects for kids and fun loving adults. The free library and box kite look like fun, sawhorses, etc. We made things in early grade school using a miter box and brace and bits. For the young at heart.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free through the Goodreads giveaway. It will be a great help to the parents of our cub scout group who are not always familiar with wood working. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

[Sara Planz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful how-to book for families! Featuring 12 projects that everyone can enjoy creating, Nick Offerman walks you through step by step in making things with humor and heart.

[Dalen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes fun and funny. Interesting projects. But I expected more.

[Kiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not exactly the target audience, but I adore Nick Offerman and really respect his woodworking abilities. Some great project ideas for the aspiring woodworker.

[Daniela Gerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure!!! I adore LEE and Nick together, building items with kids.