“Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop’s Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery” by Nick Offernam with Lee Buchanan

c.2025, Dutton, $35, 195 pages

Your child needs something to do this winter.

Boredom is bad, projects are good, so how about a parent-child undertaking, maybe introduce them to a new hobby, something that’s not electronic, something they’ll learn from and that you both can enjoy? Sure, grab your toolbox and “Little Woodchucks” by Nick Offerman with Lee Buchanan, and hammer out a great idea.

When he gets a little down-time, Offerman likes to make things with his hands, including books like this one. Creativity, he says, is really a super-power because it lets kids of all ages do all kinds of things. You can, for instance, make your own toys, or gifts for others, you can make a musical instrument and then you can make music. This will lead to learning problem-solving skills and a lot of other cool things you never thought about.

To start, Offerman says, it’s a good idea to get some help from a “Big Woodchuck” (also known as a parent or grandparent). They’ll need to help you find a place for your workspace, which doesn’t have to be fancy; they’ll help you to find wood; and an adult can help put together your tool kit, which also doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. In fact, Offerman says, wood scraps are cheap or even free for the asking, and you can find a lot of decent tools at estate sales or garage sales. Just remember that “used tools are great, but dull tools are not” and a “splurge” is usually worth it.

Also remember that safety is absolutely important here. Always. 

Launch your new hobby by making a slapstick, which is super loud but doesn’t hurt anybody when you play with it. Then learn how to carve animals and make-believe creatures you can play with (plus, carving is fun). Later, you’ll need a sawhorse, and making your own is really satisfying. So is making gifts for parents or siblings – or even for yourself…

The very first thing adults will want to know about “Little Woodchucks” is that it’s not a book for little woodchucks. From the introduction onward, Offerman uses grown-up language and one questionable photo here; that’s hilarious for you, but not so much for a kid. Lee Buchanan’s part is quite a bit tamer, but still.

Fortunately, none of this ruins the fun you and your child will find together inside this book, or the projects that are organized by skill-level, or the sense of accomplishment your child will get at each step. This is a book that will make your kids want to get started right away, and you will, too – just know that for a supervising adult, one good read-through is nearly imperative before launching any endeavor.

If you’re a total newbie at woodworking, “Little Woodchucks” will help you learn along with your kids. If you’re an old hand in the shop, it offers a launching point for you both so look for this book and get ready for fun. Your child will love it. Wooden you?