reference and nonfiction

I knew nothing about knots besides tying my shoelaces (and the book showed me a better way to do even THAT). This book is great because it gives you 24 of the most basic knots to tie (out of supposedly 4000 in existence) and gives you step-by-step instructions alongside thick-cardboard die-cut pages with a couple long strings to practice with. I've used it as a reference many many times since buying it.

The aim of this book is to tie simple knots. As an introduction for children, this book may serve its purpose, but even at that, it tries too hard. The format and illustrations, though good, do not provide the necessary support for children to achieve the goal of tying these knots by themselves. If you are a parent, you'll have to learn how yourself, then teach your kids how to do it - which is fine.

This is a fun and "cute" book for kids that provides more entertainment than learning value. Once viewed, however, I suspect that the fluffy content will not attract a second look. Hopefully, the book does provide an outlet for curiosity that may develop into long-term interest in acquiring useful skills.

The book comes with rope, ready to be tied through holes in the covers. However, kids will NOT follow the attractive illustrations intuitively. Other books in the same price range are better for learning how to tie knots using more and clearer diagrams and descriptive text - though less attractively. For diehard enthusiasts, the most authoritative (and difficult!) book on knot tying is the venerable Ashley Book of Knots, by Clifford Ashley. ...

As an alternative to deciphering diagrams on a page, you could search ... for "Beutner Multimedia" to find a series of multimedia software CD-ROMs on knot tying adopted by the Boy Scouts of America. The CD-ROMs use video to show any kid or adult how to tie, splice, and knot at various skill levels using high quality video instruction performed by an expert. (Remarkably, the software runs entirely off the CD-ROM, without installation, on a PC.)

The best solution? Find a senior citizen to teach you how to tie the knots! In a relaxing afternoon, you can learn all of the knots you'll ever need without the frustration of following confusing diagrams.

Because this book does spark interest in acquiring an important skill, it earns a conditional recommendation of 3 stars.

For learning basic knots, this book is a great resource. Author prioritizes knots, indicating the three most useful. Diagrams are great. Ropes included with book are helpful.