Since Making Makers: Kids, Tools, and the Future of Innovation was published this fall, I've had lots of fun giving talks and interviews about it. I've also been delighted to learn of classes, teachers/parents groups, and book clubs that have been reading it or considering using it in the coming months. However, I've also been trying to cut back my travel. Thanks to the magic of Google hangouts and Skype, though, I am happy to make"virtual" visits to your book, teaching, or parenting group to discuss the book. There are so many great stories to share that didn't make it into the book!
The discussion can include topics such as popular projects for young makers, encouraging maker mindset in kids and adults, making in the classroom, or an in-depth look at any of the maker traits discussed in the book.
If your teacher, parent, or book group would be interested in having me Skype/Google Hangout into one of your meetings for a discussion of "Making Makers" please contact me! There is no charge for such visits, though I do ask that your group buy at least ten copies of the book (from the vendor of your choice.) I can be reached at [email protected]
I am the aunt who always gives her nieces and nephews books as gifts when they're small. However, this gift buying strategy isn't one I reserve just for the children in my life. As many of my friends know, my favorite gift to give to others is a carefully picked book. Just this week a friend was hospitalized and I sent a book for her to read as she recovered (note, it was #3 below.)
On the other hand, gifting a book is so personal that you run the risk of showing the other person how little you know about them. I'll leave out details, but I can still remember being disappointed when the books someone gave me showed that he really had no idea what I was interested in. My husband, thankfully, has always been able to pick perfect books for me read. Now that I think about it, I used to use borrowing his books as a way to see more of him in college. I had never had an interest in science fiction, but he did. I ended up reading a lot of science fiction my first year of college.
Ordering a book for my friend last week made me reflect on how much I love passing books on to others, and made me want to share my "go to" list of books to gift. (Please do keep in mind that this is my "gifting books" list, which is rather different than a list of my own personal favorite books.)
Please leave your own "gifting books" suggestions in the comments.
This is an incredibly eye opening book about the way children's relationships with nature have changed in the last century. Many of you know that I tend to be a bit outspoken when it comes to learning and children, and this was the book that started it for me.
Give To: friends who are parents and educators.
#2. Make Good Art words by Neil Gaiman and design by Chipp Kidd
In this beautiful, and thought provoking, book, Neil Gaiman's 2012 commencement speech at the University of the Arts is turned into a visual treat by Chip Kidd. (I recommend watching the video below, unless you might one day be asked to give a commencement speech. In which case, don't watch this. It's an impossible act to follow.)
Give To: makers, writers, and graduates from my research lab
I have never seen a book like this before. When I first opened it it felt as I imagine I must have felt when I first learned to read and the squiggles on the page suddenly became words. This book is like a reading a movie. (Note, I've never seen the movie that was made from the story in this book. I fear it would ruin the book for me.) The pages in this book sometimes include words, sometimes beautiful drawings, and sometimes photographs. It is magical.
Give To: makers, those who enjoy surprises and whimsy
First of all, the cover of this book is printed in conductive ink! Second of all, it's a mindblowing book full of projects to do, and artists to learn about. I'll admit that I feel a bit funny giving people this book since I'm in it. But the fact that it is an AMAZING book, with incredible projects, makes up for that.
Give To: teachers, parents, artists, and... my parents (there are some photographs of my daughter's work in it.)
#5.The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas that Make Computers Workby Daniel Hillis
I got my first copy of this book in a used bookstore while visiting my boyfriend's (now husband's) family. In college I remember sitting in a computer lab at the MIT Water Tunnel, where I used to write FORTRAN code and help run lasers, having a debate with the grad students there about how best to explain how computers work. It made me realize that I, and quite possibly those grad students, didn't completely understand it. When I came across this book, years later, it was eye opening. I recommend this book constantly to friends who are trying to explain how 0s and 1s can turn into Minecraft. (Amusingly, I later went on to know and work for the author. It wasn't until years of knowing him that I put together that my friend was the one who wrote this book. Which seemed like an odd thing to realize.)
Give To: students of mine, parents, makers
#6. The Invention of Airby Stephen Johnson
I am an avid reader of books on the history of science and technology, and this is one of the best I've ever read. That said, one person I gave it to said it put them to sleep. That hasn't stopped me from giving it to others. Quite simply, I think its a fascinating, well written book.
Give To: a museum director, makers, engineers
#7. Brava Strega Nona!Words and illustrations by Tomie dePaola, pop ups by Robert Sabuda
I adore paper engineering. My office has stacks of pop up books and illustrated "how to" technique books. I also love the stories of Tomie dePaola. This book combines the paper wizardry of Robert Sabuda, with the lovely family/friends focused storytelling of Tomie dePaola.
Give To: relatives, friends
*****
Amusingly, as I write this, the book on my nighstand is one that was just given to me by my husband as a birthday gift. I love technology history, and chocolate, so he found a copy of The Emperors of Chocolate for me. Again, he's chosen well.
Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich of the Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio have produced the most beautiful book on Makers and their work that I have ever seen. The Art of Tinkering is filled with stunning pictures, intriguing maker profiles, and well-written how-to instructions for a wide array of Maker projects. Turning through the pages of this book feels like looking through a Maker yearbook. If you are at all interested in the Maker Movement, design, art, or education, this book is one you must get!
I feel incredibly fortunate that, as part of the launch, they invited me to "hack" a copy of the book. I decided to do this as a mother/daughters project, so my five year old daughter, Sage, and three year old daughter, Grace, helped. I proposed making a "child" sized copy of the book (complete with conductive ink on the cover) and having it snap together with a "mother" book. Since she was working on making a Pippi Longstocking costume for Halloween, Sage proposed that she create bright red braids for both books. She and her sister had fun decorating the books and creating pages (pop ups!) for the mini-book. Both books use the conductive ink on the cover to allow their LED "hearts" to glow.
My favorite "hacked book," is the delightfully devoured one created by Moxie. Ever since seeing this video, and then seeing her work at the Exploratorium, I have been dreaming of a way for us to work together! (Note to curators: Looking for a playful engineer and an amazing felt artist to do an installation piece? Moxie and I would love to chat with you! Email me!) Here's her amazing hacked book:
Since some of you have caught mentions of this on Twitter, I guess it's time to make an "official" announcement:
I'm in the process of finishing up my first full length book. (A short school library book on "Squishy Circuits" is done, proofed, and should be coming out in a few months.) Tentatively, it looks like it will be out this fall. The title is "Making Makers," and it will be published my Maker Media. The amazing Brian Jepson is my stoic editor, who is helping calm my first time author jitters.
As you can probably guess, the book builds off of many talks and articles (here's 1) that I have given/written over the last three years looking at the childhoods of makers. I've interviewed over sixty adult makers about what they were like as kids. It's been an amazing experience, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who shared their time and stories with me. Written from my vantage point as a mother, maker, and engineering professor, it's a look at the what some of the attributes/traits are that I believe make makers "Makers."
I'm going to be hunkered down writing/editing/finalizing for the next few weeks, but happily I also have some great trips coming up for teaching, presenting, leading workshops and consulting. It looks like I'll be in Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco, New York, Denmark, Philadelphia, and Albuquerque over the next few months. If you're a maker or educator in one of those cities who'd like to meet up for a coffee, or have me speak, please do let me know!
AnnMarie Thomas is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering at the University of St. Thomas. She is the Director of UST’s Playful Learning Lab and the UST Center for Engineering Education. AnnMarie is the author of “Making Makers: Kids, Tools, and the Future of Innovation.”
She earned an SB in Ocean Engineering from MIT, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Caltech, and a professional certificate in Sustainable Design from MCAD.
She lives in Minnesota with her husband and daughters.
