“Catapult” works because of its aw-shucks quality. Despite the sidebars into prickly themes, the book never strays far from what its subtitle promises. We watch two young men, men who can use “a ...

Two teams of kids design and build catapults to fling a tennis ball as far as possible. Two teams of kid engineers design and build catapults to fling a tennis ball as far as possible.

The workshop promised a Father's Day lesson fit for a Renaissance man -- a three-hour exploration of the intersection of abstract art and mechanical engineering. But for the kids in attendance, it ...

Q: I think my dad could design a really good pumpkin catapult. Are there any contests around this area to enter? -- M.L., Bettendorf A: I could find one that’s not far away. Morton, Ill., which is ...