LEGO Mindstorms NXT Zoo!

When Fay Rhodes, co-author of The LEGO Mindstorms NXT Idea Book (No Starch Press) and contributor to The NXT STEP blog, realized that most NXT enthusiasts were primarily focused on building large battling robots, she decided to explore an entirely new creative genre - animals.

The result is her new book, The LEGO Mindstorms NXT Zoo! (No Starch Press). The book walks readers through the basic process of using the NXT kit, how to program with the NXT-G language (including how to make mini-programs called My Blocks), and shows how to build and program nine robots that act like their real animal counterparts.

The completed animal robots mimic the movement of the real life creatures, two of which, Ribbit the frog and Bunny the rabbit, have become the first hopping NXT robots ever created! In addition to these two creatures, the book will show readers how to build such animals as a camel, spider, peacock, and more.

The LEGO Mindstorms NXT Zoo! is in stores now for a suggested retail price of $24.95.