Have you ever wondered how the Etch-a-Sketch works? Or maybe the Yo-Yo? Even the seemingly simple Hula Hoop needs lots of physics to explain the way it moves. If you have an inherent curiosity about toys, The Way Toys Work by the father and son team, Ed Sobey and Woody Sobey, is a very enlightening book indeed. I happened to pick up a copy to read during a long flight I had to take and I couldn't stop turning the pages.
In the book, the authors explain the intricate workings of popular toys in a simple and easy to understand way. They use illustrations to make it easy to get the whole picture. I'm sure you must be wondering how the authors know how these toys work, right? Well, they've reverse-engineered the toys themselves - the best way to get the information. What I liked about this book is that there's a little bit of history provided about the toys along with interesting facts too, in addition to the actual explanations about the inner mechanisms in question.
Each of the authors are well known in their own fields. Ed Sobey founded the National Toy Hall of Fame and Woody Sobey is the state co-ordinator for Invent Idaho and the director of education for the Discovery Center of Idaho. If you have an inventive mind and want to find out more about how to get deeper into The Way Toys Work, pick up a copy for approximately $14.95.
Adding a child to a tub filled with water and bubbles is a sure fire recipe for a fun-filled time. Bramble Berry’s soap making kit offers a little bit of mess and a whole lot of splashy fun for kids. Whoever said bath time was a drag? Now kids can design their own soaps in their favorite shapes, colors and scents. From mermaids to fairies to exotic animals, anything a kid desires can be catered to.