Mix It, Make It, Build It An Introduction to Materials from Metal to Wood

Crack open concrete and split apart wood in this compendium of the materials found and created on planet Earth. Learn how they are used to create everything from enormous skyscrapers to tiny chips inside smartphones, and even try your hand at some engineering activities.Have you ever wondered what makes concrete strong but smooth? Why would you build a skyscraper out of steel, but not plastic? All materials are useful, it just depends on how you use them. Brittle, strong, bendy or soft, the world around us is made up of many amazing resources that we use in our everyday lives.This non-fiction guide to raw materials is broken up into short, digestible chapters, complete with vibrant illustrations, amazing facts and a focus on sustainability. Learn about everything from concrete to ceramics, and try your hand at some brilliant activities including making your own wooden robot and a fuzzy felt friend.