How does toothpaste get into the tube? How do CDs come to be? Addressing the curiosity that kids have about the origins of familiar objects, author/illustrator Bill Slavin explains the processes involved in making 69 commonplace things.

He has chosen the items thoughtfully, considering both children’s interests and the complexity of the explanations required. Items are organized into chapters that are easily accessed by an alphabetical table of contents and cross-referenced in an index. Soccer balls and surfboards appear in the fun and games section, for example, while household items, food, and clothing make up the other main categories. A final chapter, “Back to Basics,” deals with raw materials – such as glass, paper, and petroleum – that come from nature and are essential to many processes. A glossary explains words that are part of manufacturing vocabulary.

Clear and concise, Slavin’s text is laid out sequentially across double-page spreads. His watercolour and quill ink drawings (similar to those in his popular comic-book-style Good Times Travel Agency series) enhance and enliven the text. Steps in the process are accompanied by playful pictures of workers in overalls and caps who participate in and provide amusing commentary on the action.

A valuable addition to any personal, classroom, or library collection, Transformed breaks down the mysteries of manufacturing more simply than an encyclopedia or Internet article. Its entertaining approach encourages the reader to consider other everyday things not explored here. What about hockey pucks and granola bars? This book is a compelling model for school research projects.