For ages 9-12. From armoured tanks and gliders to 'plastic glass' and drawing machines, this interactive book explores the incredible mind of Leonardo da Vinci through hands-on building projects and activities. Most of Leonardo's inventions were never made in his lifetime and remained sketches in his famous notebooks; kids examine some of these original sketches, and learn about the models Leonardo made of his inventions. From there they delve into detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates for each project, which are interspersed with historical facts, biographical anecdotes, and trivia. Most of the building can be done using simple household supplies: construction paper, tape, markers, glue, cardboard tubes, aluminium foil, and cardboard boxes. Background about the Renaissance as a period of remarkable achievement in art and science appears throughout the book.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Leonardo the Artist and Dreamer; Leonardo's Useful Machines; Leonardo and Water; Leonardo in Flight; Leonardo's War Inventions; Glossary, Index.

Reviews

"Anderson regales us with tales of Leonardo's brilliant, often mischievous nature, and the nearly unfathomable range of his inventions." --"The New York Times Book Review"