The Great Kite Book - Hardcover

Schmidt, Norman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1895569362 ISBN 13: 9781895569360

Publisher: Sterling, 1997

Fill the sky with animals when you build these 19 brightly colored kites. These beauties include a blue, red, and purple butterfly, an iridescent dragonfly, a richly hued barn swallow, and 16 more, all pictured here in full color. Each design has its own flying pattern--some soar above the clouds; others zoom low to the ground--and you get all the aerodynamic background to understand why! Above all, you'll experience the pleasure of seeing a kite you construct emerge and fly in all its glory. And if you want to go on to design your own, the general instructions on building kites will help you even after you've finished these. So now when someone tells you to go fly a kite, you'll ask, "Which one?" Schmidt...has expanded his horizons into the realm of monster, bumblebee, bird, and butterfly kites. [The] chapter on wind dynamics and kite stability is necessary reading for anyone willing to trust his or her masterpiece to the mercies of the wind. These kites are truly works of art and would make fantastic mobiles when not flying aloft."--Booklist. Sterling/Tamos 96 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 6 Up?This book's best feature is the collection of designs for 19 kites. All but one are reproductions of birds or insects. Each project is illustrated with a line drawing on a grid that demonstrates how to copy the design onto the kite material, along with a full-page, full-color photograph in which the intense hues and contrasts are highlighted, adding to the stunning results. A page of kite lore is included with each design. Schmidt uses modern materials that are easy to handle and readily available. They have certain advantages over traditional paper and cloth such as greater strength and resistance to stretching. The directions are excellent, proceeding in clear and manageable steps. This is not a book for novices. The introductory material, which includes a history of kiting, is both dense and technical. However, the originality and beauty of the kites and the excellent instructions make it an attractive book that will inspire kite lovers to stretch their skill and interest. A good addition to collections that have Gail Gibbons's Catch the Wind! (Little, Brown, 1989) and Barry Caldecott's Kites (Watts, 1990).?Jean Pollock, King Country Library System, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal:

Schmidt, the master of paper aerodynamics (Super Paper Airplanes: Biplanes to Space Planes, LJ 11/1/95), has expanded his horizons into the realm of monster, bumblebee, bird, and butterfly kites. He uses a spunbonded polyethylene resembling paper that does not tear easily and can be sewn, glued, and colored to make his kites. Each project has a detailed list of materials and a square-grid pattern suitable for enlarging. Detailed general instructions are applicable to all the projects. There is also a chapter on wind dynamics and kite stability?necessary reading for anyone willing to trust his or her masterpiece to the mercies of the wind. These kites are truly works of art and would make fantastic mobiles when not flying aloft.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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