Here again, Tom Wolfe has put out a book of patterns that should be regarded more as a collection of sketches. The drawings in his book are single-side views only and in no way represent true patterns for a wood carver.

Again, Mr. Wolfe states in his introduction that he prefers to work from the single view, as if that's the way the rest of the world should operate simply because he does. Mr Wolfe should realize that the people who buy these books are usually beginners in the field and many of us don't have the artistic ability to draw the other needed views ourselves. To anyone other than an experienced artist, woodcarver, this book is pretty worthless.

I wouldn't recommend it at all and it makes me angry that someone with Mr. Wolfe's talent and reputation would publish something like this and call it a book of patterns.

I do not recommened this book for several reasons the first and foremost being that the designs in my opinion are not safe for children.

While the book recommends the use of non-toxic paint so that the toys are safe for a small child to use, the designs call for nail heads and thin dowels to protrude from the toys and the joinery called for in the designs is so poor that small pieces could easily break off and choke a child.

The designs are crude and uninspired. A child with a crayon could do as well. The beginner woodworker will find only a half page of written instructions in the entire book. Among other things, these instructions make the absurb suggestion of using a hole saw with a hand (non-electric) drill.

The intermediate or advanced wookworker will be appalled at the shoddy quality of the finished toys in the photographs. Wheels are not round, joints to not fit properly, cuts have ragged edges that have not been sanded, a child with no experience could make a better toy from wood. This book should not have been published. I gave it one star because I could not give it zero.

Not recomended, save your money.

While the drawings in this book are well done and, many times, amusing, they by no means constitute patterns for the wood carver. The are nothing more than line drawings and as such, could be found in any coloring book of dogs.

True patterns should consist of front side and back, or top views of the subject and Mr. Wolfe doesn't provide this for any of his drawings. What he offers is one view, mainly side view, of the subject, not true patterns at all.

Mr Wolfe does state in his introduction that he shows only one view and that's because he prefers to work from one view, however Mr Wolfe is writing this book for the general public and most of us aren't quite as artistically inclined as Mr. Wolfe, something he should keep in mind. Also, I didn't know that the book contained drawings in the singular view until I'd order it, paid for it, received it, and read Mr. Wolfe's intro. By then it was too late.

I would definitely not recomend this book to anyone who isn't an experienced carver.