SuitabookUnderstanding simple machines
The book demonstrates six simple machines and connects them with everyday objects, including scissors, clocks, mixers, bikes and brakes.
Loading your next page
Book details
David Macaulay - Author
A playful, hands-on way to meet fundamental machines, linking practical explanations with a comic escape story and familiar objects. Its interactive design appears central to exploring the ideas rather than merely decorating the pages.
How Machines Work: Zoo Break! uses models and illustrations to demonstrate the technology of six simple machines: levers, pulleys, screws, inclined planes, wedges, and wheels. Follow the mad antics of Sloth and his sidekick Sengi as they try to find their way out of the zoo with the help of machines. Their efforts are brought to life through novelty elements including pop-ups, pull-outs, and lift-the-flaps, allowing readers to explore in greater depth how and why machines work. Spreads highlight the use of simple machines in everyday objects, such as scissors and clocks, mixers and whisks, bikes and brakes, while the story contains clear and simple text to engage the reader.
Book Brief
Sign in to see how this book fits your child and family preferences.
Sign in for personalised guidanceA playful, hands-on way to meet fundamental machines, linking practical explanations with a comic escape story and familiar objects. Its interactive design appears central to exploring the ideas rather than merely decorating the pages.
The book demonstrates six simple machines and connects them with everyday objects, including scissors, clocks, mixers, bikes and brakes.
The book presents technology through playful characters trying to leave a zoo. You may wish to notice how the escape premise relates to, or differs from, the factual explanations.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: the current material supports only a cautious reading; another book-specific source is still needed.
Book information
Limited information
Anything not established here remains open; it is not being treated as absent or safe.