With just a few basic tools, scrap wood, and safety rules outlined in this fun introduction to woodcarving, children will soon be on their way to creating personal keepsakes and hand-carved gifts for their family. Offering an overview of wood and its varieties, this book examines the anatomy of a tree, how to choose the best wood for carving, defects commonly found in wood, and where to find "free" wood in nature. Stressing safety above all else, the guide teaches junior carvers how to correctly size protective gloves, make their own thumb guards, properly handle tools, and how to use wood finishing supplies. Woodcarving tools are covered in depth, with each tool's use explained, illustrated and accompanied by step-by-step, confidence-building exercises. Working from the most basic tools, such as a pocket knife, toward the more advanced, such as a chisel and gouge, carving techniques are taught gradually. Young carvers are taught how to properly open and close a pocket knife, how to make basic woodcarving cuts like the push, pull, stop, incised, score, and chip cut. Kids are then taught when they need to use other tools, like a coping saw for curved cuts, or a clamp for attaching wood to a table. Once youngsters have mastered the tool exercises, they can confidently put their new skills to practice with seven projects for carving a fun wooden whistle, a musical frog, a relief-carved eagle head, a snowman ornament, and more.