How Machines Work: Zoo Break is an exciting book that will most definitely appeal to any child above 7 years old. The 32 paged book written by David Macaulay introduces young readers to Sloth and Sengi who are hilarious characters in the book.
My kids totally loved how the comical story is narrated with the use of flaps, pop-ups and inset booklets. After having gone through the book with my two kids, they all believe that they are good to be engineers having known some terms in the construction machinery, hydraulics and levers.
David Macaulay uses models as well illustrations to show how the technology of six different but simple machines work. The comedy is narrated using levers, pulleys, wheel, wedges and inclined planes. The book only has two characters Sloth and his side kick partner Sengi. Their aim is to try as much as they possibly can to find their way out of the zoo with the great help of the different machines. How they try to get out is brought out by pop-ups, lift-the-flaps and pull-outs allowing the young readers to explore deeply how all these machines work.
In various places the two characters fail as they attempt to find an exit. My kids were delighted to help them out by launching them over the fence with their newly acquired see saw. Taking Sloth and Sengi out of their pockets and slotting together their arms at the bases is so much to do. Your kids will most definitely love to prop up the fence by sliding their little tiny arms into the slots provided. To help them prepare for takeoff, readers will be required to place their two friends on the seesaw and tap, flick or slap the other side in order to send them over the pop-up fence.
They get in trouble with the zoo keeper as they try to escape. This is when an avalanche of dirt falls on them and they get buried therein. While lying in the heap of dirt Sengi notices a book. “One of the workmen must have forgotten it behind,” he thinks to himself. He reaches through the fence, takes the book and quickly starts leafing through the pages. A book inside a book, amazing!
Children will meet various machines such as wheels and axles and get to know what exactly they are. They will also find out how they work and what happens when a certain action is applied. On the moving day at the zoo, children will learn the use of cranes and how pulleys and power come into play. They will also find out that a bicycle is a very complex machine that uses simple machines to get around faster and safer.
I have two kids and they were very amazed to learn that some of the things they use and see frequently were actually machines of some sort. They were glad to find out about simple objects such as scissors and clocks, mixers and whisks and bikes and brakes. David Macaulay has used very simple and clear language to engage the readers. The story is not just funny but educative and informative. If you are looking to introduce your kids to the world of machines and simple scientific principles then this book How Machines Work: Zoo Break would definitely be a great start.