Books with author Rob Ives

A bravura display of imagination by Rob Ives has produced this delightful collection of working automata to cut out and make. As you operate the mechanisms, the Hopping Sheep hop energetically and the Pecking Hen pecks keenly into its feeder. The rather sad Motley Man bows and acknowledges the applause he has earned and while The Flying Fish does not actually fly, it does flap its wings and undulate in a delightfully unexpected manner. Each of the mechanisms uses a different principle to generate motion, so this book is of special interest to those who like to see what remarkable things can be achieved with paper.

Simple directions and complete materials make it a cinch for crafters ages 12 and up to construct these charming paper models. All you need is a few pennies to make them move—the weight of the coins will help set the models in motion. Six automata include a nodding donkey, a gift box decked with a fluttering heart, a rocking robin, rolling bones that will tumble down an incline, a pair of tapping feet, and a tail-wagging dog.

Be your own robotics engineer and watch these clever machines come to life. But remember, you're in charge! Learn how to create robots like the Intrepid Eggsplorer, the Tightrope Trickster, and Perfect Penbot with materials like paper clips, rubber bands, cork, and other everyday objects. Put all the pieces together, add some googly eyes, and prepare for some super-mechanized fun and games.

Discover the magic of animation with this complete guide to creating a paper zoetrope. A forerunner to the modern movie, the zoetrope offers the illusion of motion from a series of individual pictures. Suitable for ages 13 and up, the book contains simple, well-illustrated instructions for assembling a viewer as well as a guide to designing custom animation strips using photographs and drawings.Five pre-made animation strips — a walking dog, an exercising man, a rocking fox, and other images — help you get started. The book explains a variety of animation techniques for creating your own features, including stop motion animation, classical animation, and poseable paper characters. The approaches are as simple as pen-and-paper cartoons and as sophisticated as video clips taken with a digital camera — and using your imagination is the best method of all.

This is a perfect introduction to origami - the delightful art of paper folding. Packed with a full range of appealing projects, with different levels of difficulty, but with plenty of simple starters that will inspire confidence in the art. Learn the clever basic techniques and be amazed at the results. Just creasing and manipulating paper can create, animals with jointed limbs and wings, something that moves or items that are tough enough to use! This book will show you how to make…. Fierce and friendly dinosaurs A Mars lander or a space rocket A desk tidy or some origami flowers as a special gift A small dog and a perfectly cute mouse. You’ll see upfront what you need to make the projects – very little – and follow clear, step-by-step instructions with illustrations showing exactly how to make each one. They nod, hop, pose, zoom – and are useful as well as funny! And each book includes a free pack of Origami paper!

Packed with scientific activities, using items you’d find at home, this brilliant book makes science cool and fun. Become an expert on chain reactions in a bottle, playing with light, understanding how things move, making home-made lightening and more… Over forty great projects making science accessible and easy to understand, including… making a camera from an old box, a mirror and a pair of glasses using a potato to harness electricity making a balloon hovercraft growing crystals from sugar, water and a piece of string Clear step-by-step instructions with simple illustrations show you what to do (safely), as well as explaining the science behind each project. Plus, an easy to understand explanation on the science behind each project. It’s not magic – it’s way better than that!

Landlubbers can make a splash with these easy-to-make watercraft using simple, everyday items! You'll be surprised how you can use two soft drink cans and a rubber band to make a catamaran, a plastic bottle and baking soda to make a jet boat, and more! Get your materials together and see how these boats float and race. There's something for all wannabe sailors.