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What Can You Do with a Toolbox?
“Carrino and Colaneri, HGTV personalities known as the Cousins, bring their design and construction know-how to a young audience in this sprightly introduction to the tools of their trade.” — Publishers Weekly
From HGTV stars, cousins, and best friends John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino comes a fun-filled picture book that introduces young readers to the tools in a toolbox and how to use them.
A hammer. Nails. A screwdriver. How do we use them?
Using simple language, cousins Anthony and John introduce kids to tools and their uses. As their construction project grows, so does the number of kids helping. At the end, they reveal exactly what you can do with a
We can build a playground!
From HGTV stars, cousins, and best friends John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino comes a fun-filled picture book that introduces young readers to the tools in a toolbox and how to use them.
A hammer. Nails. A screwdriver. How do we use them?
Using simple language, cousins Anthony and John introduce kids to tools and their uses. As their construction project grows, so does the number of kids helping. At the end, they reveal exactly what you can do with a
We can build a playground!
32 pages, Hardcover
Published August 28, 2018
1 person is currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 10, 2018
Authors Anthony and John are known as The Cousins. They have multiple hit shows on HGTV. Anthony and John have loved design and constructions for many years.
In this book, the men start out by introducing some children to safety equipment and the need to have adult supervision when using tools. The kids are then shown various tools including a wrench, bolts, a shovel, a screwdriver, a tape measure, a level, a hammer and nails, a saw, a drill, ladder, and paintbrushes as they are being used.
The final spread shows what the men were building.
My Thoughts
What Concerned Me: Perhaps these things will be trivial to some, but first, I was concerned that the title of the book doesn't really correlate with many of the things that the men were showing the children: ladder, paintbrushes, a level, etc.
Secondly, the descriptions weren't much:
"This is a wrench. We use a wrench to turn a nut."
The illustration shows a man holding a wrench over a nut on a swing set while a child is swinging.
"We use a wrench and nuts and bolts to assemble the swing set."
So what's a bolt? Nothing shows or explains that.
While there is a squirrel holding a screwdriver the text is:
"This is a screwdriver. A screwdriver turns a screw to fasten the cargo net."
We see kids climbing on the net, but no explanation where the screw is or how the screwdriver really works.
We see a man holding a drill but the reading really doesn't know how it works or where it has been used.
There are other explanations of tools that feel close to correct, but not clear either. While I was prepared to really like this book, it didn't completely work for me.
What I Liked Most: I really like the idea of learning about tools and the fact that safety was addressed.
Authors: Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri
Illustrator: Maple Lam
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers/Paula Wiseman Books (August 2018)
Approx. Word Count: 267
Ages: 4 - 8
Pages: 32
http://www.pickagoodbook.com/2018/11/...
In this book, the men start out by introducing some children to safety equipment and the need to have adult supervision when using tools. The kids are then shown various tools including a wrench, bolts, a shovel, a screwdriver, a tape measure, a level, a hammer and nails, a saw, a drill, ladder, and paintbrushes as they are being used.
The final spread shows what the men were building.
My Thoughts
What Concerned Me: Perhaps these things will be trivial to some, but first, I was concerned that the title of the book doesn't really correlate with many of the things that the men were showing the children: ladder, paintbrushes, a level, etc.
Secondly, the descriptions weren't much:
"This is a wrench. We use a wrench to turn a nut."
The illustration shows a man holding a wrench over a nut on a swing set while a child is swinging.
"We use a wrench and nuts and bolts to assemble the swing set."
So what's a bolt? Nothing shows or explains that.
While there is a squirrel holding a screwdriver the text is:
"This is a screwdriver. A screwdriver turns a screw to fasten the cargo net."
We see kids climbing on the net, but no explanation where the screw is or how the screwdriver really works.
We see a man holding a drill but the reading really doesn't know how it works or where it has been used.
There are other explanations of tools that feel close to correct, but not clear either. While I was prepared to really like this book, it didn't completely work for me.
What I Liked Most: I really like the idea of learning about tools and the fact that safety was addressed.
Authors: Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri
Illustrator: Maple Lam
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers/Paula Wiseman Books (August 2018)
Approx. Word Count: 267
Ages: 4 - 8
Pages: 32
http://www.pickagoodbook.com/2018/11/...
September 2, 2018
The first great thing about this picture-book is it talks about wearing your safety glasses as the very first thing. When working on a project, safety is one of the things that is skipped over in other construction books. I was glad to see it here.
The second great thing about it is the actions that go along with each of the tools. This is something that we have seen before in other toolbox books, but here it's paired up with a specific task vs. a general. The level makes sure the monkey bars are straight; the wrench turns a nut on a swing set and so on.
The third and final great thing that I like about "What Can You Do With a Toolbox?" is that it is geared toward slightly older children. It's just a level above toddlers. It is perfect for the 3-5-year-olds who are still interested in construction and construction sites. The text is simple enough for younger kids to grasp the concepts and the story is complex enough to still hold the attention of those who are older.
The second great thing about it is the actions that go along with each of the tools. This is something that we have seen before in other toolbox books, but here it's paired up with a specific task vs. a general. The level makes sure the monkey bars are straight; the wrench turns a nut on a swing set and so on.
The third and final great thing that I like about "What Can You Do With a Toolbox?" is that it is geared toward slightly older children. It's just a level above toddlers. It is perfect for the 3-5-year-olds who are still interested in construction and construction sites. The text is simple enough for younger kids to grasp the concepts and the story is complex enough to still hold the attention of those who are older.
December 26, 2018
Apparently this is yet another book for children with "celebrity authors". I have never heard of these people, but they are somehow famous on TV. Whatever. The book itself is nothing special, and I found it odd that although safety is emphasized, the overview of tools provided in the book makes mention of hardware that is not defined in most situations. Wouldn't it be nice to see an image and label of a nut, bolt, or screw along with its mention? Not a useful or very fun book, but maybe I'd appreciate it more if I knew who the celebrity authors actually are.
September 26, 2018
Simple picture book for toddlers with colorful illustrations that introduces very young children to basic tools and what they are used for. I saw the cousin TV show authors on Rachael Ray and wanted to read it before I purchased. If this book were accompanied by a set of tools or a visual chart, a terrific extension lesson could be created with it. I liked the brief but emphatic rules for tools that appear throughout.
December 29, 2018
In terms of celebrity picture books, this one isn't terrible, as it serves as a useful introduction to tools and slowly leads to building a playground. It didn't capture my preschooler's attention, but I appreciated the illustrations and subject.
May 26, 2023
In What Can You Do with a Toolbox, readers will learn about various tool, how they’re used, and how to use them safely. After reading all about these tools, readers will be pleasantly surprised about what can be built with them.
May 14, 2018
Great book about tools that will appeal to kids. Simple text and a definition that kids can relate to about each tool.
August 25, 2018
What you find in a toolbox.
August 31, 2018
Kids are introduced to a toolbox and some of the tools inside.
September 8, 2018
Encouraging engineering and construction (3.5 stars)
December 11, 2018
Explains what various tools do, and could be fun to have the kids guess "What do you think they are building?" even though it's pretty obvious, haha.
February 5, 2020
A simple story introducing the most common tools in a toolbox and what you might do with them.
May 9, 2024
2.5
Preschool and school-age
Preschool and school-age
September 29, 2018
this is a great book with pictures and words.!! my nephews like this book too.!! I recommend this book!!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews