woodworking Archives - Awful Library Books

Carpentry for Kids

January 23, 2023 Mary Kelly For the Kids 10 comments

Carpentry for Children
Walker
1982

My general rule of thumb for kids nonfiction is that it shouldn’t be older than the age of the kid. Please don’t write us about all your examples of the exceptions. I get it. There are probably thousands of exceptions. But I digress…

This book was brought to me by one of my co-workers. Topic is fine, but this particular book was old and tired looking. (As I am old and tired looking, I feel qualified to judge.)

In this example, the date published makes me question the following:

Is the instructional component and other content appropriate for the age group?
Are the tools/equipment/materials available and safe? (Beware of products/materials that are no longer available.)
Do any of the projects or commentary use outmoded or inappropriate language when describing people or things?
Are the projects something kids would be interested in now? (Not 40 years ago.)

Again, I am not saying that just because it’s old, doesn’t make it an automatic weed, however it does mean we need to check further.

Housebuilding for Children

November 20, 2017 Holly Home and Garden 12 comments

Housebuilding for Children: Six Different Houses that Children Can Build By Themselves Walker 1977 The six houses featured in this book are: The Post and Beam House The Tree House The Factory-built House The Junkyard House The Glass House The

More Grave Matters

September 10, 2014 Holly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 9 comments

Fancy Coffins to Make Yourself Power 2001 Submitter: This book was weeded from our public library collection because it hadn’t circulated in more than 5 years. The front cover was enough to make me laugh and post a picture to

A Grave Matter…

July 22, 2009 Holly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 41 comments

Do-It-Yourself Coffins: For Pets and People
Power
1997

An ALB tipster put me on to this title. I was DYING to get my hands on it. With a bit of gallows-type humor (mostly puns), this book details wood carving for coffins for both humans and pets. Really. No, there is nothing WRONG with this book. It really is a good choice for a wood working collection. Given the condition of the copy I saw, this particular book has been well loved. I will not “out” the owning library because maybe they have a huge woodworking patronage (or a rather macabre clientele).