How do cranes lift heavy loads? What makes a car move? Walter Buehr's The First Book of Machines introduces children to the fascinating mechanics behind everyday tools and vehicles. The book explores the six simple machines-the inclined plane, wedge, lever, wheel and axle, screw, and pulley-and demonstrates how they combine to create complex machinery. Through detailed illustrations and straightforward explanations, young readers discover how machines have evolved and how they assist us in work and play. This timeless resource ignites an interest in engineering and the marvels of human innovation.