The Arduino is a popular, low-cost, and easy-to-use microcontroller that opens up a world of possibilities for building with electronics. It's a great hands-on way to learn about the magic of electronics.

“Arduino Project Handbook” (http://tinyurl.com/hmqs65b) a $24.95, 272-page book from No Starch Press — provides a collection of 25 step-by-step projects anyone can build with the Arduino. Clear instructions, full-color images, simple circuit diagrams, and the complete code make it easy for even the newest maker to build fun projects right away.

Author Mark Geddes, a lifelong tinkerer and gadget enthusiast, originally wrote this book to teach his kid the joys of electronics and microcontrollers without having to wade through a hundred pages of theory first. “Arduino Project Handbook” is for anyone who wants to build interesting things with the Arduino right away, regardless of their experience level.

The book's projects progress in difficulty and include: a Simon-style arcade memory game; a fortune-telling 8-ball simulator; a laser trip wire alarm; an electromagnetic card entry system; a rainbow light display and disco strobe light; and a music maker.