Explores the fascinating world of 3D printing. With colorful spreads featuring fun facts, sidebars, and a “How It Works” feature, the book provides an inspiring look at this exciting technology.
Interest Level: Grades 4-7
Reading Level: Grades 3-5
Dewey: 620
Lexile® Measure: 790
F&P Level: W
Library Bound: $31.35 (List) / $21.95 (S/L)
978-1-63517-009-2
Paperback: $9.95
978-1-63517-065-8
Multiuser Hosted eBook: $24.95
978-1-63517-120-4
NSTA, March 24, 2017
All About 3D Printing
http://www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspx?ProductID=23283
All About 3D Printing by Tracy Abell, is a recommended sturdy hardcover book that would be integrated easily into the grade three to six curriculum as science or STEM content non fiction reading. Very few books exist on this topic for the elementary or middle school curriculum yet 3D printing is being integrated into curriculum everywhere. It contains leveled reading, simple textual facts in caption form beside pictures that would allow it to be easily accessed by ELL or SpEd populations, as well as additional fact areas for students in need of more enrichment information. The overall text is accurate, interesting and on grade level. The pictures are mindful of diversity, in fact, the front cover represents both genders and multiple races. Additionally, it contains guided reading questions, a glossary, and working links to further information and links to worksheets and lesson plans. Although it is priced at $19.95, which is a bit high for a small volume, I do recommend it and stress that the binding is the long lasting library type. This book would be easy to base a unit off of. No matter how the technology evolves the core operating mechanisms to 3D printing will still remain relatively similar. — Brandy Whitney
Booklist Online Exclusive, May 18, 2017
All about 3D Printing
From forming small-scale action figures to assembling entire apartment buildings, 3D printing, devised in the early 1980s, is a rapidly expanding and increasingly commonplace technology—and this slim entry in the Cutting-Edge Technology series introduces youngsters to the basics of the budding tech trend in five breezy chapters. Following a brief overview of the printing process and the products it provides—prosthetic arms, jewelry, tools, and more—Abell also illuminates four primary printer categories, the materials used in each, and remarkable real-word manufacturing feats, such as 3D-printed braces and vehicles. Notably, the penultimate chapter addresses two problems commonly associated with 3D printing: safety concerns and pollution. At once straightforward and chock-full of fun facts, Abell’s text, peppered with boldface vocabulary words, will both engage and educate. With vivid full-page photos throughout (including a step-by-step closeup of the printer itself), as well as an appended glossary, reading-comprehension quiz, and suggestions for further reading, this is a well-rounded classroom resource sure to jump-start scientific curiosity—and creativity—in even the youngest readers. — Briana Shemroske
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