Stripy the cat likes colors and tries on clothes in different hues. Index tabs make the book very easy for older babies and toddlers to handle. Each piece of colored clothing is presented on a black-and-white background, so it is easy to tell which item is the subject of each page. My eleven-month-old loves this book.

I heard this story once-in 1975 as a first grader-and have been retelling it ever since. Something about the magic paint, the mysterious tree and the little painter's absolute commitment to his heart's work make this entirely captivating to everyone who hears it-young or old.

This is a book I remember from when I was a kid. It is unfortunate it's out of print. The pictures are wonderful, and the story is better.

This book is everything you could ask for in book on contemporary artistic automata.

Each chapter has a brief summary of the topic in question -- say tools and materials. Next, each chapter moves on to showcase the work of two or three automata artists with many pictures and a page or two of information about each artist.

The photographs of automata in this book are outstanding. You can really get a sense for the devices, their construction, and most especially, their finishes.

If you love automata, want to see more of them, and want to learn about some of the top automata artists in the contemporary scene, this book is a must-have.

This has got to be one of the best books on the subject of automata and mechanical theatre. There are lots of great color pictures and diagrams to build your own automata. Worth the money!