Hasta La Ideas

LEO the Maker Prince is a children’s book by NYC native and designer Carla Diana that could well enlighten anyone, young or old, about the growing 3D printing community around us. Not only does it humanize the mechanical process of 3D printing but it breaks down the different subcategories of 3D technology and the types of materials that are out there. I bet some of you didn’t even know there was more than one way to get the job done (no shame).

Although utterly fictional—as most children’s books are—this story is oddly relatable, especially for New Yorkers. “I wanted to pay homage to the blossoming creative technology scene in New York City, Diana says. “In particular, I wanted to highlight Brooklyn as the birthplace of a lot of the first DIY 3D printing kits like the MakerBot.” Set on the stormy night of October 29, 2012, the main character finds herself in trouble on the her way back to Manhattan, when she’s looking to beat Hurricane Sandy home and her bicycle chain breaks. I won’t spoil the plot, but a tiny, personable MakerBot named LEO shows up, asks Carla to draw a sheep while guiding her through the various methods of 3D printing. Trust me, it makes sense in the most adorable of ways.

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