'Whacky Toys, Whirligigs & Whatchamacallits' is one of the only books that has actual plan drawings for building your own automaton. The 14 automata projects in this book have a wonderful, vintage feel.

Learn About Basic Mechanisms
If you would prefer to design your very own automaton, you need to know a few things about machines. These books will help you learn about basic machines and how you might employ them in your automata: 'Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements: Embracing All Those Which Are Most Important in Dynamics, Hydraulics, Hydrostatics, Pseumatics, Steam en' and 'Basic Machines and How They Work'.

You may want to try building an automaton in paper first. This will give you a sense for how they work without expending a huge amount of time and effort. 'Automata Too: Four Working Models to Cut Out and Glue Together' or 'Paper Automata: Four Working Models to Cut Out & Glue Together'. Walter Ruffler's book allows you to build mechanims commonly used in automata out of paper 'A Handbook of Paper Automata Mechanisms'.
 

Learn About Woodworking
I like 'Basic Woodworking (Sunset New Basic)' for basic woodworking reference; it is short, clear, and inexpensive. If you are more serious about building a woodworking library, this three volume set is amazing: 'The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction' plus 'The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery' and 'The Complete Illustrated Guide to Shaping Wood (Complete Illustrated Guide)'.

You can build your skills in a logical manner by making some mechanisms in wood. These books offer step-by-step instructions: 'Making Wooden Mechanical Models: 15 Designs With Visible Wheels, Cranks, Pistons, Cogs, and Cams', 'Making Working Wooden Locks', and 'Making Mechanical Marvels In Wood'

Learn About Woodcarving
Rick Butz's classic 'How to Carve Wood : A Book of Projects and Techniques' covers most of what you would ever want to know about woodcarving. Because properly sharpened tools are so important to carving wood, I'd like to suggest you read his book 'How to Sharpen Carving Tools: Woodcarving Step by Step With Rick Butz (Woodcarving Step By Step With Rick Butz)'

Learn About Wood Finishing
Paint or stain your masterpiece with the knowledge found in these books: 'Understanding Wood Finishing (American Woodworker)' 'Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Finishing (Complete Illustrated Guide)'

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Dug North is an artist who creates handmade automata out of wood and brass. He practices his craft in New England, USA and hosts www.dugnorth.com, a online resource and gallery for contemporary automata.