Guitars: Made By Hand by Patricia Lakin

What worked:

The nonfiction book shares a broad range of information about guitars while keeping it relatable to young readers. The narrator’s voice speaks semi-casually to readers, and this helps to keep the text easy enough to understand. It opens by defining the meaning of guitar, its history, and how it creates vibrations to make music. It explains the processes of making acoustic and electric guitars and has a section focusing on a female luthier named Meredith. The book wraps up by highlighting famous guitarists and memorable moments in the guitar’s history.

An abundance of colorful pictures will grab the eyes of readers and help them understand some of the technical language. A glossary is included to help with any unfamiliar vocabulary. Sharp photographs and enlargements present a pictorial display of the history of the guitar and important people in its development. Diagrams help readers learn about the different parts of guitars, and timelines assist readers by summarizing significant moments and guitarists from the past. There’s even an illustrated, step-by-step guide explaining how guitars are made and how they make music.

What didn’t work as well:

The book will appeal to music lovers, but it might not attract the interest of general readers. The information and illustrations are very engaging for readers wanting to learn about guitars, as the material isn’t overly complicated and the book is only thirty-two pages long. These same reasons may be enough to keep the interest of young readers, for a short time.

The Final Verdict:

Good vibrations. This book offers a revealing introduction into the world of guitars. The material isn’t overly technical or detailed and spans a wide range of topics that will appeal to many readers. I recommend you give it a shot.