Reviewer: Andreas Hitzler
Age: 9

The book is about how to make rubber band cars, but it is not just about rubber band cars. The author includes how to make other things like an elastic-powered dog that moves and a clown named Oscar whose jaw moves and appears to laugh (all powered by elastic bands).

The book was easy to follow with detailed instructions and photographs. There was a good range of easy and hard projects. However, I think the book definitely had some hard projects. These projects involve small pieces you have to make out of cardboard and it was quite challenging.

I liked the different designs of cars you could make which included a two-wheeled car, a car that looks like a dog, a high speed car, and car you could actually ride on. I had fun building the projects, especially Oscar the clown. I also enjoyed working with my dad and granddad on some of the projects.

I learned a few things from the book, that recycling can be fun, for example! (Some designs called for using old CDs as wheels.) Also, elastic force is a form of energy that can power cars. The author, however, could have explained more about elastic forces and how those forces work. If I was to change anything, I would add colour and instructions for a racetrack and a scoreboard so that you could race the cars. A design for a launching device would be nice, too.

The word I would use to describe this book is ADDICTIve! I picked this word because once you make one type of car, you want them all. Out of 10, I would give this book an 8.

(Originally published in the July/August 2008 issue of YES Mag.)