This new entry into the extensive Build It Yourself series gives an overview of the era known as the Industrial Revolution as well as the consequences, good and bad, of each new development upon the average citizen. Topics covered include the transformation of textiles from homespun to manufactured, the birth of labor unions, advances in transportation and communication, the inventions of Thomas Edison, and brief profiles of "Captains of Industry," such as Carnegie, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller. Each chapter ends with enticing projects related to the topic, ranging from crafts like making a zoetrope to activities like interviewing adults about union activity. The crisp, clear format, featuring ample black-and-white sketches and diagrams and pleasingly arranged type in a large font, is in sync with the straightforward text. A helpful time line is placed front and center, while the back matter consists of an extensive glossary (words are also defined unobtrusively throughout the body), an index, and a short list of websites.

Gr 4-8 This title covers 200 years of discovery and innovation with projects to extend learning and generate further interest. Each well-written chapter covers a different aspect of the time period in clear, lively text; small line drawings; intriguing sidebars; and "words to know" defined on the page. Topics include textiles, labor unions, transportation, communication, electricity, and big business. The information is presented in digestible chunks with just enough background to keep readers moving forward. Mooney offers a well-rounded look at the era by presenting the costs (social, economic, personal, environmental) of progress. The 25 projects will indeed bring history alive and provide hands-on opportunities to explore the subjects. The activities range from super simple to fairly involved, from no cost to the acquisition of a few specialized supplies. Kids can make an origami steamboat, light a light bulb with the static electricity from their hair, or build an electronic telegraph. Students interested in science or technology might accidentally learn to like history after reading this book. Heather Acerro, Rochester Public Library, MN