Book Description

Marc Andreessen and the Development of the Web Browser is part of the series, Unlocking the Secrets of Science. This series profiles the achievers of the 20th century in the fields of science, medicine, and technology. Written especially for young adult readers, the series helps place each significant invention, discovery, or development in historical perspective while exploring the life of the person responsible for each breakthrough. No science fiction story even approximates the mystery and suspense contained in these true science biographies.

Marc Andreessen grew up in the 1970s and 1980s when computers were just coming into their own. It was not long before Marc found himself drawn to computer technology. He spent hour after hour at the library reading everything he could about computers. But it would take a British researcher named Tim Berners Lee, who invented the World Wide Web, to cause Andreessen to have a dream of his own.

Originally, the World Wide Web displayed only text. Marc wanted to find a way to make the web more user-friendly. He wanted a program that would make "surfing" the web really fun. Working at the University of Illinois, Marc, along with his friend, Eric Bina, invented "Mosaic", which was the first enhanced web browser. You'll be intrigued with the rest of the story about how this invention led to his partnership with Jim Clark and the development of Netscape. ... Read more

Book Description

A computer game convention becomes a hunting ground when the monsters from a new game escape-and attack the Net Force Explorers in virtual reality!

#11 in the thrilling young adult series ... Read more

Reviews (3)

All the Net Force Explorers in one book! Hurray!
All the Net Force Explorers are excited to visit the annual computer gamers' convention in Los Angeles. One of the top new computer game designers, young Peter Griffeth, is about to give a preview of his newest creation. But monsters from his game attack Matt Hunt and Maj Greene in virtual reality, then they are almost kidnapped in real life! Something is going on and it's up to the Net Force Explorers to figure out what. But their mysterious foes are turning out to be dangerous and violent, people who will do anything to achieve their evil goals. Will the NFEs be able to solve the mystery before it's 'game over'?

I'm a BIG fan of the Net Force Explorers series! The NFE series are a great Young Adult fiction series, especially those with a love for computers and the Internet. Since the Net presented in the books have no boundaries, you will never know what to expect next. But there IS one thing you can come to expect: stories that have plenty of twists and turns, having the whole plot well balanced with mystery, excitement, and adventure. And sometimes, there's a good romance! The Net Force Explorers include Matt Hunter, Megan O'Malley, Leif Anderson, Andy Moore, Mark Gridley, David Gray, Maj Greene, Caitlin Murray, and P.J. Farris. Occasionally other characters are introduced though they show up rarely.

One of the reasons I find this book to be one of the best is that the action and excitement start from basicaly page one of the book. A page turner, "Gameprey" has in my opinion the most action put in any of the Net Force Explorers Series. Another point in "Gameprey"'s favor is that ALL of the NFEs are in this book! From my favorite characters Leif, the smartest NFE Mark, to the jokester Andy, everyone's involved in this mystery. Another interesting aspect in the book is that we're given the viewpoints of the bad guys, too though Maj Greene is the main character.

The series is for Young Adults and I strongly recommend only older kids since at times the computer and Net 'talk' is a bit confusing and hard for younger kids to understand. I can highly recommend the whole series!

One little thing, though VERY small. There's a typo on page 125, around the upper middle half of the page. The word 'by' is used instead of the correct form, 'buy'. Just a little nitpickers trivia.

A great read!
The dragon soars above the trees. The sun reflects of the multitude of scales covering the huge beasts back. It's great wings stretch as they beat against the air propelling the creature forward.....

This Tom Clancy created book is an easy read and is entertaining.

This series of books is aimed at the younger reader and takes you into the lives of a group of kids that are part of the "Net Force Explorers". The Explorers are a program created by Net Force, the agency charged with fighting crime on the internet.

Follow the groups latest adventure as they try to figure out what's going on with one of the hottest games on the internet.

This is an action packed story that kept me hooked until I was finished. Buy this book today, you won't be disappointed.

Grrrrrrrrrrreat!
As usual, Clancy's teen novels deliever a good plot, awesome technology, and familiar, believeable characters. Things happened a bit fast at the end, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. WONDERFUL book, a must-read, whether you're new to the Net Force series, or an old fan. ... Read more

Book Description

As a teacher, student and Christian mother of a computer-literate teenager, Valerie Petro understands well the attraction, as well as the danger, of allowing children access to the Internet. Surfing the web can inspire young minds, ignite creativity and introduce tolerance of different cultures, just as easily as it can result in fruitless hours of mindless searching, or at worst, exposure to age-inappropriate material.

In collaboration with her daughter, Lauren, Petro has compiled a selection of places on the Internet that are safe, fun and educational. The best of these sites are thoroughly reviewed, rated and categorized by age, with icons providing guidance at a glance. Each entry consists of a comprehensive description of content, information on commercial content or links, and advice on plug-ins such as RealPlayer™ and Apple QuickTime™.

Includes a glossary of computer and internet-related terms, "Rules of the Road" for young web surfers, technical information for both Mac and PC users, information on both the Child Online Privacy Act and software filters that limit access to inappropriate material.

-Glossary of computer terms

-"Rules of the Road" for young web surfers

-Kid tested and approved ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Well over 100 web URLs with suggested age ranges
In a day when public internet access is increasingly available in libraries, schools, and even shopping malls, a book like Valerie Petro and Lauren Marley's Family-Friendly Web Sites For Kids comes in handy even for those who don't yet own a personal computer! Compiled by Valerie Petro, a teacher and the Christian mother of a computer-literate teenager, Family-Friendly Web Sites For Kids features well over 100 web URLs with suggested age ranges, content summaries, and concise reviews that note whether sites contain advertisements, outside links, languages, etc. There is also a glossary of internet terms, from "adobe acrobat file" to "virus" and "worm", which will prove useful to young and old internet amateurs alike. Family-Friendly Web Sites For Kids is an excellent and "user friendly" resource for getting the family's feet wet in the exciting World Wide Web. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Author Comments on Homework Help on the Internet
Got homework? Need help? Then this book is for you! This handy little paperback is designed to take you directly to the information you need for American History, World History, English, Geography, Science, and Math homework. It is your guide to cyberspace whether you want a photo of a bacteria to spruce up a report, need help writing a poem, practice with math facts, or a timeline of history. All sites were carefully reviewed to be safe and tested with actual homework assignments from elementary and middle-school textbooks. So, don't waste time surfing from one useless page to another and ending up with a report full of incorrect data - use this book full of content-rich and reliable sites instead. Not only will you get your homework done by using these sites, you will amaze your teachers and friends with your expanded knowledge of all subjects. Then, I hope you'll have time to send me an e-mail and share what you've learned! ... Read more

Book Description

Explore the lost world of dinosaurs!Fun facts and excellentillustrations take you on an informative and entertaining journey intoprehistoric animal life. The most up-to-date information on the varieties,habits, evolution, and extinction of dinosaurs can be found in the main text andamusing cartoon side bars.The ever-popular T-Rex, Stegosaurus, and Apatosaurusare studied in-depth.Kids also learn about the scientists and technology thathelp us to understand what took place so long ago. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A World of Dinosaurs
This book is an excellent learning tool for all ages aboutdinosaurs. Within this book you learn about roughly twelve differentdinosuars. You learn what they eat, how big they are, interesting facts about each one. They even break-down how to say each ones name. The part that I liked was how they try to bring to scale how big things were on a dinosaur compared to a human. For example, did you know that "the plates on a Stegosaurus's back were so huge that you could have used one as a comfortable backrest?".

At the end of this book, they list "fast facts" about some of the dinosaurs. Within that information they list the height, weight, speed, special body parts, and other things. At the very end of the book they have a "puzzle" section, which tests what you have learned.

I bought this book for my young daughter, for when she gets older to learn from. However, I must admit I learned a few things from reading it first. I would also recommend the following books in the series: Sharks, Insects, and Snakes.

I hope that this review was helpful to you. Again this is a wonderful learning tool for a person of any age. ... Read more

Book Description

Franklin is totally into Beaver'snew computer game, Dam Builders. He keeps popping up at her house and spends all his time playing Dam Builders. He's so obsessed with reaching the next level in the game that he turns down Beaver's invitation to go swimming and even forgets his promise to Bear to show up for soccer practice--twice. One day Franklin finds himself alone; all his friends are at the pond. They are glad when Franklinjoins them for a real game of dam builders, and Franklin realizes that friends are the most fun of all. ... Read more

Book Description

Now every kid can master net-speak! This comprehensive guide includes hundreds of emoticons, cool text art, and plenty of great forwards, from funny quizzes to inspirational messages and good luck charms. A guide to basic net safety makes this a book for the wise as well as the wacky. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Cool Book
This book is very fun to read. If you and a friend have the book you can wright codes to tell them something instead of writting it all out ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great book for kids -- and their parents too!
This book is perfect for the family that just purchased their first modem. The authors break down the complex world of cyberspace into digestible nuggets. Thank you

A very useful book for teachers & students today
Just received this book today, so haven't had time to read the whole thing. It appears to have good practical applications. For example, Chapter 4, Playing It Safe On Line, is one I want to use in a new course which I'm teaching next semester, "Advanced Business Technology". The course is for high school seniors, for whom some of this book is a bit juvenile, but the practical uses make it worth presenting. Does anyone know how to contact the authors for permission to reproduce the Rules of the Road for our class to see? Thank you ... Read more