Amazon.com

"Is it a fact--or have I dreamt it--that, by means of electricity, the world of matter has become a great nerve, vibrating thousands of miles in a breathless point of time?" If you, like Nathaniel Hawthorne, are kept up at night wondering about how things work--from electricity to can openers--then you and your favorite kids shouldn't be a moment longer without David Macaulay's The New Way Things Work. The award-winning author-illustrator--a former architect and junior high school teacher--is perfectly poised to be the Great Explainer of the whirrings and whizzings of the world of machines, a talent that landed the 1988 version of The Way Things Work on the New York Times bestsellers list for 50 weeks. Grouping machines together by the principles that govern their actions rather than by their uses, Macaulay helps us understand in a heavily visual, humorous, unerringly precise way what gadgets such as a toilet, a carburetor, and a fire extinguisher have in common.

The New Way Things Work boasts a richly illustrated 80-page section that wrenches us all (including the curious, bumblingwooly mammoth who ambles along with the reader) into the digital age of modems, digital cameras, compact disks, bits, and bytes. Readers can glory in gears in "The Mechanics of Movement," investigate flying in "Harnessing the Elements," demystify the sound ofmusic in "Working with Waves," marvel at magnetism in "Electricity & Automation," andexamine e-mail in "The Digital Domain." An illustrated survey of significant inventions closes the book, along with a glossary of technical terms, and an index. What possible link could there be between zippers and plows, dentist drills and windmills? Parking meters and meat grinders, jumbo jets and jackhammers, remote control and rockets, electric guitars and egg beaters? Macaulay demystifies them all. (Click to see asample spread of this book, illustrations and text copyright 1998 David Macaulay, Neil Ardley, published by Houghton Mifflin Co.) (All ages) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The New Way Things Work
This is the best book for childern and adults I have ever read. I recieved "The Way Things Work" When I was in 4th grade. Now I have this newer version. My classmates and I both used it during my College Mechanical Engineering Classes. Everyone can learn from this book it is not just for kids but really belongs on every childs bookshelf.

This book really tells you how things work!
Do you think you know how a lot of things work? Yes? Well, you are probably wrong. I am a Physics Major in college and I thought I knew how a lot of things work. However, when I found this book in my physics professor's office, I fell in love with this book. I ordered for my copy on the same day. This book is good for the kids, but some of the stuff is hard to understand because there are some words like forces or angles. These are hard to understand for kids, but the pictures in this book are good for the curious kids. They may understand some of the stuff. But, I would rate this book for grownups. You will learn how locks work, how airplanes fly, how helicopters can go forward or backward. You will understand the mechanics just by looking at the pictures, but the reading the explanations also helps you understand. This is a nice book to keep at the corner of your bookshelf.

An Absolute Need for Every Household
Few books can compare to "The Way Things Work" in the amount which they can teach the curious. Be they old or young, college educated engineers or preschoolers, everyone can pick something out of this book. Trust me; I've seen it from all ends.

When I was six, I loved the mammoths...and learned about simple machines and airplane wings. When I was in high school, I appreciated the mammoths' wit...and learned about automatic transmissions and transistors. Now that I'm in college, I've read the whole thing, and it's still a great reference book, just as entertaining and informative as it was so many years ago. And the mammoths are still funny.

For kids with insatiable curiosity, "The Way Things Work" can be a great and entertaining resource; for everyone who's ever wondered how their car drives, or why their computer works, or how satellite communications happen, it can be an immensely satisfying read.

Good book, but not for the very young
I bought this book for a boy of the age of 8. He didn't seem very interested in the text explanations of how things work. Perhaps he's a little young, but like other reviewers said, this is a book that can most definately be put on the shelf for several years and still have relevance when a few years of knowledge is gained.

BUY THIS BOOK!
My god, this has to be one of my favorite books. When I was a kid, I was FASCINATED (well, I still am) by mechanical things. I must have checked this book out of the library twenty times, and it never got old. It is PACKED with info, the drawings are great, and it is very educational. Well, I was at the library today checking out books for a mechanical engineering class, and there it was on the shelf. I checked it out again for old times sake, and here I am at Amazon.com (to buy my very own copy of course), writing a reveiew. Nuff said. Anyway, if you have a child, boy or girl, old or young, smart or not, it doesn't matter- this book ROCKS! ... Read more

Book Description

A caterpillar comes to school in a jar. The class watches the caterpillar each day as it grows and changes. Soon, it disappears into a hard shell called a chrysalis. Then the chrysalis breaks, and a beautiful butterfly flies out of the jar! This is a perfect beginner's guide to the mystery of metamorphosis.

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1997 (NSTA/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Perfect Butterfly Book for Preschool-Third Grade
I am the director of a lower school (pre-k-2nd) and we have used this book for years. It is the perfect way to introduce children to the wonderful world of metamorphosis. And if you can also actually get the Painted Lady Butterflies and "grow" them in your class, it is an invaluable experience. We have our children keep journals and then buy them each a copy of this great book (it's cheap in paperback) and they get to keep the experience forever. One correction to another review: painted ladies and all butterflies do spin chrysalids, not cocoons. They look similar, but the chrysalis usually has little specks of gold in it, which is where the name comes from. Yes I am a huge fan of this book--and a huge fan of butterflies. This author also has a lovely book about honeybees, called Honeybees.

THE Book to accompany Butterfly Houses, Pavillions
We got this book in addition to a home "Butterfly Pavillion" by InsectLore. It prepared my son and us for what to expect as the Painted Lady Butterflies were developing through each stage. So even during the lulls in the action, we could spark some anticipation. Which heightened the whole process for my 5 year old.
We also found out this book is used at his kindergarten for their butterfly learning.
This is the first Let's-Read-And-Find-Out book we've bought and were impressed enough to want to get the other books in the series.

lovely story, but...
The only complaint I have about this book is that the caterpillar disappears into a chrysalis -- not a cocooon. The last Painted Lady butterflies we had (a watch-your-caterpillar-change-into-a-butterfly kit) all spun cocoons - no chrysalis!

A peek inside a mystery
This book is the perfect accompaniment to spring! Even if you can't bring a caterpillar into your classroom, you can still share the magic and mystery of their turning into butterflies with this wonderful book. The tone is so kid-friendly, kids will be learning without even realizing it. A great resource!

I share it with all of my classes!
This book is perfect for 3rd grade and under. I normally use it as a read-aloud, although this would be just fine for them on their own. Great book! ... Read more

Book Description

Science has never been so easy - or so much fun!With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments.High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space.

You'll discover answers to questions like:
Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it?
What is inside coins?
Can a magnet ever be "turned off"?
Do toilets always flush in the same direction?
Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person?

Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms like "photosynthesis," and know fun facts like how many latex balloons per day can be made from a rubber tree.Each section has a great science fair project, complete with all the details you need to wow your teachers and friends.

You won't want to wait for a rainy day or your school's science fair to test these cool experiments for yourself! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Everything you need to have fun...(and learn, too)
This is a great book, chock-a-block w/ very accessible experiments. One of the best features is the way the experiments are grouped together: a 'theme' (say, Acids, in the Chemistry section) will have a group of experiments of varying degrees of complexity that together add up to a pretty good understanding of the concept. Also, most of the materials are readily at hand- for many of them we really did already have everything in the house. This is esp. gratifying for the kids, who of course want to do the experiment *right now*. I would imagine that home-schooling families would enjoy this, but our school-going kids enjoy doing these experiments after school & on weekends.

p.s., one of the easiest experiments is also a real showstopper, though it takes a couple of days to complete: dissolving the eggshell of an egg, leaving the egg inside intact!

Great Resource for Parents!
I wish I had this book 15 years ago as we spent time at home playing "Mad Scientist" with our young children. Our kids are now all teenagers and have enjoyed exploring Robinson's book.
Children LOVE to experiment with their world. "The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book" offers parents and kids alike a wide array of adventures in science including: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, and the Human Body. This book is oriented to kids ages 7-12 but offers information and exploration for budding scientists of all ages. I appreciate this book's easy entrance into the world of science and the three levels of experiments for each area of science: 1)Simple Home Experiments; 2)More Detailed "Kid's Lab Lessons"; 3)Science Fair Projects. The art layout (including multi-color printing, fun-graphics, puzzles, and side-bars), the splashy presentation of information (including fun facts, words to know, dumb-jokes, online science websites and cool quotes) and a complete index make this book an excellent resource for parents, homeschoolers and science teachers. For two other parenting resources, look into "The Family Cloister" and "The Christian Family Toolbox", both by David Robinson (...)

Science fun for kids of all ages!
Wow, what a great book! My kids love it. It is set up as a series of activities that begin with a question followed by an experiment that answers the question. Questions such as "How do you peel a raw egg?", "Does air take up space?" and "Why can't I taste medicine when I plug my nose?" are all examples of questions posed in the book. The fun is in the experiment that answers the question. I think I counted something like 30 different experiments from 5 main science areas (biology, chemistry, physics, planet earth, and the human body). Following each area is a "science fair project" for the kids to use at the next science fair at school! What a great resource it will be for our family in the years to come. All in all a great book at a great price. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Despite their glaring absence from history books, women have beenresponsible for countless remarkable discoveries, from the X and Y chromosomesto a 3.5 million-year-old hominid skull to the dark matter of the universe. Inthis compelling, cleverly illustrated tribute to the curious and brilliant womenwho have changed the world with their findings, readers will meet the NASAprogram manager who came up with the idea of using a small "microrover" on Mars.They'll also meet the 19th-century Spanish girl who discovered 15,000-year-oldcave paintings that cast a new light on Stone Age people. More than a dozenstories reveal the monumental contributions to science and history made by the"fairer sex"; a selected timeline ranging from the 1300s to the present coverseven more territory. Although by no means comprehensive, this compilation byCatherine Thimmesh presents a respectful glimpse at the stunning, too-oftenoverlooked accomplishments and revelations of women--and girls--through time.Especially with the stories about 11- and 12-year-old girls, Thimmesh offersinspiration for young readers to rock the world with their own creativediscoveries. Illustrator Melissa Sweet uses collage and scraps of notebook togreat effect, evoking the painstaking long hours behind each breakthrough. (Ages8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Women and Girls of Science
A thoroughly enjoyable look at some women and girls in science. Well written and interestingly presented research. Mentions some well known and some lesser known scientists. Has a section on top science fair projects prepared by girls. Superb book design. Uses collage and watercolor creating a log book/scrap book effect.

What an interesting book!
I love the writing in this book. I read Catherine Thimmesh's other book, Girls Think of Everything, and I was really surprised to learn how much girls have contributed to this world. So I was happy to know that they've discovered lots of stuff, too. What they don't tell you in history class!! Thimmesh is a snappy writer, putting only the most interesting parts into her descriptions. GREAT GIFT for any girl you know. Maybe that's EVERY girl you know. Read it ... GIRLS ROCK!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

A planet where men descended from apes?
It takes guts to write a picture book. Putting your work out there to speak for you. The criticism of hundreds of thousands of adults just waiting to tear you apart. It takes even more guts to write a non-fiction picture book. Now you have to deal with parents passing over your story for, oh I dunno, "Mr. Peabody's Apples" because they're afraid that they themselves will be bored. Pompous adults like that. And finally, it takes a kind of bravery most humans would be lucky to possess to write a non-fiction picture book that sports the word, "evolution", on its cover. So please take a moment to mentally applaud the gutsy efforts of one Ms. Lisa Westberg Peters and one Ms. Lauren Stringer for their moxie laden little number, "Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story".

A delicate rendering of Lascaux acrylics on watercolor paper, the story is one of the oldest ones on earth. Peters begins, "All of us are part of an old, old family. The roots of our family tree reach way back to the beginning of life on earth. We've changed a lot since then". Slowly we learn about DNA and the birth of cells in the seas. We hear about oxygen filling the planet and how the seas rose and fell, changing the landscape. About how animals crawled up onto the land and how after an asteroid our particular branch of the family tree survived. Finally, the monkeys evolved, and we evolved out of the monkeys. The book ends with further details for the inquisitive child about each step of the family tree. A helpful timeline follows these facts at the end.

For those human beings that dislike the notion of evolution and prefer a more creation-laden viewpoint, this is not the book for you. It's pretty darn clear in the text that life began 3,800 to 3,600 million years ago. End of story. You will not find a religious note in this book. It's scientifically written and happy to remain that way. Not that the facts presented are full-proof. I may be wrong, but I don't believe the asteroid theory has ever matter-of-factly killed off the dinosaurs as it does here. Also (as more professional reviewers have pointed out) the timeline really does make it look as if it was just a hop, skip, and a jump from single celled organisms to wormlike vertebrates.

On the whole, however, this is a good informative text. Children reading it should be a little older, in order to fully grasp exactly what is being said. For them, however, this book serves as an excellent resource. The pictures are lovely and the facts are mostly on the ball. A lovely addition to any children's evolution library. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This encyclopedia can make anyone feel like a scientist! Not only does it have fascinating facts on everything from atoms to zephyrs, it also shows how scientists work--describing, measuring, and asking questions about the world. Filled with detailed, sharp illustrations and eye-catching photographs, this book could keep a curious kid (or adult!) occupied for weeks. The one- and two-page entries are thematically organized--much more useful than alphabetical entries for making connections and thinking about whole systems. Some of the best categories are "Reactions," "Materials," "Weather," "Space," and "How Living Things Work." But every entry has accurate, well-written text cross-indexed to related pages and to the "Fact Finder" section in the back, with charts, tables, and maps to use with each section. A glossary and index round out this thorough package. You may grow so attached to this fantastic encyclopedia that you never want to leave it behind.... For portability, we recommend the pocket version, which weighs less, but is jam-packed with great science. And for budding biologists who can't get enough of the "Living Things" section in the Science Encyclopedia, the The DK Nature Encyclopedia is sure to please. (Ages 9 to 12) --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Typos
This book covers almost everything school children will learn in science class. My children refer to it often to look for those extra new details concerning their classes. However they have discovered some errors (and this is the revised ed.)which I will call typos especially in the Periodic Table, which did dampen their enthusiasm with the book and shook their trust a little.

Compact Visual Encyclopedia
This is a kid-size book even adults will love. It is small enough to toss in your purse or put in your pocket. There are over 1,000 full-color photographs, diagrams, charts and cutaway artworks. The information is organized into four key sections and packed with scientific facts, figures and statistics.

This book explains the basic concepts of "matter," "Kinetic Theory," "atoms," "elements (including the Periodic Table)", "Metals" and much more. A Timeline of Scientific discoveries is fun to read and lists discoveries up to 1995.

The Geography section will help children understand the planet more and it explains volcanoes, earthquakes, rocks, minerals, mountains, rivers, lakes, climate and weather. The Gemstone section was quite pretty with rubies, emeralds and turquoise in their natural state. The section on animals gives cutaway pictures that show the insides of each animal so children can understand how a cow chews its cud or how other animals digest their food. How does a whale trap krill in its mouth? This type of information was very interesting.

All I have to say is..."If God didn't design and create our wonderful world, I am not sure who did!" This book will give a child a basic understanding of main concepts, but some parents might want to consider explaining their own views about evolution and creation.

"All Men by Nature Desire To Know." -Aristotle, a quote found in: The Story of Philosophy by Bryan Magee

The inquisitive soul will enjoy reading this book!

And this is a science book?!
This book has a very good section on nonbiological science, but when it gets to the biology, it has, in my opinion, a very wrong premise. It assumes macroevolution is a biological fact, when it is, in fact, quite the opposite. This premise saturates the book, and in doing so, biological facts do not fit together nicely at all. Microevolution has been proven by science to be a true, and normal, scientific occurence, but macroevolution, as presented in this book, is a mixture of very good imaginations (as manifested by their colorful illustrations), outdated theories,and a few observations twisted to fit their outlook on science. But as to the section on the non-living aspects of science, I commend this book. This part is unslanted and it has helped me understand many matters of science. Its illustrations make it voluminously easier to understand.

Excellent combination of graphical and textual learning
This book can clearly teach you the core basics of every branch of science. This book is a joy to read and see.

This book will appeal to old and young alike.

This book does not dwell on any subject for too long so don't expect exhaustive information on a particular category.

For people who like comics this book is especially suited.

With this book alone, anyone can have obtain an extensive understanding of the world of science and nature. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Can you remember all the parts of a cell? How about Newton's laws? And what exactly was Einstein's theory of relativity again? This book can answer all of your favorite child's questions about basic science. Despite its title, this authoritative reference guide is much more than a scientific dictionary. The entire world of science is thematically organized into 20 divisions such as matter, time and space, magnetism and electricity, chemical compounds, and energy. Within each subject division are further categories and then specific terms, with each term clearly defined and supplemented with additional explanations, photographs, diagrams, charts, and cross-references to related terms and subjects. From absolute zero to zero angles, The Dictionary of Science defines over 2000 terms and concepts. Neil Ardley has written over 90 books and is the co-author, along with David Macaulay, of the bestselling The Way Things Work. Ardley's definitions and crisp writing style make the most complex concept clear and comprehensible for science students and nonscientist adults, as well. (Ages 12 to adult) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Intro to Science Dream
I am teaching Physical Science, an intro to science freshman course, at a high school in NH.I asked my students to find some information on who discovered the parts of the atom for homework.Most of my students didn't have much success with the internet, their science text book, or other text books.However, one of my students brought in this book.It had a full page on the information that I was looking for, plus other references on other aspects of the atom.The atom wasn't the only topic that I was impressed with.In general it contains an excellent, basic description of most fundamentals of science.For a teacher that is trying to find new ways of presenting information, it is truely a find.It is also a great companion for the student that might have a little trouble in the sciences.There are wonderful, full-color illustrations to accompany simple, yet well written and content filled text. In short, I was very impressed with this book.Not to mention the author was also involved in another of my favorite books "The Way Things Work".If I could require this book for my students, and reccommend it to all science teachers, I would. ... Read more

Book Description

Wendy Pfeffer describes the amazing metamorphosis from tiny, jellylike egg, to little fishy tadpole, to great big bullfrog. Holly Keller has created the archetypal frog pond and we see it through the seasons as the tadpoles grow legs and lungs and eventually hop onto land: bullfrogs at last. "Well-designed ink drawings washed with soft-toned watercolors stretch across the double-page spreads, showing the action above and below water level. . . .an attractive, general introduction."—BL.

1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)
Best Children's Science Books, 1994 (Science Books and Films) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another Great Kids' Book
This is another great STAGE 1 book in the "Let's Read & Find Out" Science Series. The STAGE 1 Series books are written for preschool and kindergarten-age kids (age 3 to 6) about basic science concepts.
This book has 32 pages of nice illustrations (artwork NOT photography) to help the words tell about the developmental stages of frogs.

Some children's books miss the fact of who their target audience is. The "Let's Read & Find Out" books consistently keep subject matter easily understood using age appropriate vocabulary and keep a child interested at the same time.
We recently bought a home science frog growing kit. This book is perfect read along material to show my five year old son what to anticipate in coming weeks.

The books are written for the reading ability of an "average" 3 year old. Older kids may very well get bored with the simple reading in this book. But, they should find the information about frogs fascinating, especially if they are participating in growing some at home or in class! Remember how much fun frog eggs and tadpoles were as a kid?

We have several books in this series and are pleased that our son enjoys them so much.
John Row

very good
This book is very appropriate for any young one learning about frogs. My nephew has learned alot from this book about where frogs come from. The pictures are real and not drawings which I like. ... Read more

Book Description

How does a tiny acorn grow into an enormous oak tree? At one time, the tree in your backyard could fit into your pocket! Look inside to learn the simple steps for turning a packet of seeds into you own garden.

How does a tiny acorn grow into an enormous oak tree? At one time, the tree in your backyard could have fit into your pocket! Look inside to learn the simple steps for turning a packet of seeds into your own garden. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My five year old enjoyed this book
We enjoy the "Let's - Read - & - Find - Out" series of books. This one is a good addition, explaining seeds on my five year old son's level of understanding . Something that many adult writers of childrens' science books sometimes aren't very good at getting across. It is in my child's library at school.

The books in this series are informative and interesting for their target audiences. The illustrations are well done and add to understanding the process being described. They make it easier to follow for kids.

Life Springing Forth.
This book should have been more appropriately titled HOW TO WATCH A SEED GROW. Instead of discussing the various stages of development and explaining what happens, the book is basically an extended science project explaining how students can watch a seed grow into a plant. The book talks about the different stages, but only discusses what the planted beans should look like in those stages, not really explaining what is happening or why. Nevertheless, the book does outline a good science project for younger children, but isn't much as a book to read to kids.

A Kids First Science Book
This is one very good science book. If you would like to do a seed project then this is a good guide to lots of young peoples questions about plants. It has colorful illustrations about what is happening with your project. It is written in detail, but not like a boring high school science textbook that goes on, and on, and on about one thing, giving every detail that there is. So what I'm trying to say is that this is a good book. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a clear, vivid text with charts and maps showing the positions of the constellations the year round. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

A permanent addition to my stargazing library ! Wonderful!!
About 12 years ago, I checked this book out of the library and was immediately pleased to discover how quickly and easily I was able to become familiar with a sky that used to be a confusing jumble of stars. I ended up renewing the book over and over again until I finally bought myself a copy. The author does such a wonderful job of drawing the constellations by connecting the stars in a way that makes them so easy to find. He also provides a little bit of history about each constellation which adds to the significance of what you are learning. An excellent manual for those who want stargazing to be easy and a whole lot of fun!

The One Book to Take with You to a Desert Island
This book will change the way you look at the night sky. Instead of just looking up and seeing a random scattering of stars, you will look up and see familiar old friends who rise and fall every year right on schedule. Even in city lights you will be able to pick out the brighter constellations. Leo, Virgo, Gemini, and all the other stars of the zodiac, which were only known by the horo- scopes in the daily paper, will take on new meaning as the flight path for the planets. Trips to the southern latitudes will be seen as an opprotunity to see new stars not visible from home, and trips out into the country will become opprotunities to try and spot some of the dimmer constellations. And best of all, it's very easy. H.A.Rey has taken the old confusing star charts, and reconnected the lines. Now Leo the Lion now actually looks like a lion! And Gemini the Twins, actually looks like a pair of twins! It is a wonderful book for everyone from ages eight to adult. And for those young- er, Rey has put out an equally wonderful children's version called "Find the Constellations." If you've ever had a child who has looked up at the night sky and asked you, "Daddy, what star is that?" and you didn't know, you need this book.

The best book ever on Stargazing
This is my first book I ever read on stargazing but it feels like I know the stars since ages. The format is very simple, organized and interesting. The author assumes no prior knowledge and goes on to explain the cosmos in a very very simple language.
I just love it and am going to recommend this to whoever is interested in Stargazing...the first and the best book on the subject.

A "New" Old Book
Here is a book review of an old book, written by H. A. Rey, the author of the "Curious George" books (no relation to me!). _The Stars: A New Way to See Them_ was first written in 1952. Houghton-Mifflin's 3rd edition, dated 1973, is available in bookstores and online at Amazon.com. I recently picked up a used 1966 edition.

Rey's book was written for children to help them learn to recognize the constellations. As you may know, few of the constellations seem to resemble the character or object they are supposed to represent. It takes an awfully good imagination to see Bootes as a shepherd, or Auriga as a charioteer, or Aries as a ram. Rey takes those same star patterns and rearranges the lines to produce stick figures that actually look like something. Not only that, they have the appearance of the intended object or character of mythology. Perseus looks like he's coming to Andromeda's rescue. Monoceros looks like a stick-figure unicorn, and Camelopardalis looks like a skinny giraffe.

Rey's book _The Stars_ is laid out in four parts: Part 1 is "Shapes in the Sky", where he describes old and new ways of arranging the stars. Part 2 is "Meet the Constellations", where he shows a diagram of each constellation and gives a bit of information about it. In Part 3, "The Stars Throughout the Year" he has twelve sets of calendar charts - with and without the lines drawn in -- and explains that the sky is always changing, as the earth travels in its path around the sun. Additional calendar charts include viewing areas farther north and south than most of us are familiar with. Part 4, "Some Whys and Hows" goes into some technical details on the celestial sphere, the path of the ecliptic, why we have seasons, the earth's orbit, solar and sidereal time, precession, and other topics for those with an inquiring scientific mind. It is not necessary to read or understand this section to enjoy the book, but it adds to its value as a learning tool. Rey tells about the moon and its phases, gives a good description of a cross-section of the Milky Way galaxy, and gives some facts about the planets. The planetary tables won't do me much good in the twenty-first century, though. My 1966 edition has planetary tables from 1961 through 1970. The newer edition may have updated tables, however. A 2001 reviewer of the book on Amazon.com says it has planetary tables for the next ten years.

The back pages of the book contain a good index and glossary, a whole-sky chart, an index to the constellations by their English names and by their classical Latin names, and a list of the twenty brightest stars. Hans Augusto Rey has provided enough information in this little 160-page book to satisfy any "Curious George", me included.>Now, if you prefer the classical representations of the constellations, you might not care for Rey's rearrangement of their appearance. For instance, the tail of the Great Bear becomes her nose, and Hercules's body becomes his head. But at least the figures are memorable, and if it helps kids - or adults - to learn the star patterns in the night sky, I would say it has accomplished a lot. I highly recommend this book to stargazers everywhere, young or old. Amateur astronomers can use it to help young people and astronomy novices get comfortable with wandering the skies at night.

I was stunned...
I bought this book for a (now ex)girlfriend, a Ph.D. candidate in Astronomy, as a gag gift.

Having a fairly good science background, I thought it was a children's book that would have no use to me.

My GF fell in love with the gift and it has lasted much longer than our relationship. Using this book, she explained things about astronomy to me that I had never even heard of. She went on to use it in teaching an undergraduate astronomy course.

Rey uses his talents as a children's author to make concepts clear and give an excellent basic understanding of astronomy. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in astronomy, or even someone dating an astonomer ;) ... Read more

Book Description

Kids love stuff that's gross. From the liquids, solids, and gases--especially the gases!--or their own bodies to the creepy, crawly, slimy, slithery, fetid, and feculent phenomena in the world at large, kids with a curious bent just can't get enough. Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty brings together, in one book, all the good things about some of the baddest things on Earth.

Exhaustively researched and impeccably scientific, yet written with a lively lack of earnestness, Oh, Yuck! is an ants to zits encyclopedic compendium covering people, animals, insects, plants, foods, and more. Here are vampire bats, which sip blood and pee at the same time so that they'll always be light enough to fly away; and slime eels, wreathed in mucus and eating fellow fish from the inside out. Oh, Yuck! explains why vomit smells; where dandruff comes from; what pus is all about; and why maggots adore rotting meant. Other features include gross recipes, putrid projects, 10 foods that make you airborne, and more.

With hundreds of cartoon illustrations and real-life photographs, Oh, Yuck! is the complete guide to the irresistible--at least to an 8-to-12 year old--underbelly of life.

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Reviews (10)

Iman's Review
This is such a great book. It has information on all "gross" topics. In it, there is everything from maggots to vomit. I think this book would be great for all 7-12 year olds. I especially like the "information boxes". The book has good illustrations also. Most of them are comical, but a few are scientific. Joy Masoff is a good writer that specializes in history books. Also, this would be a great find for a teacher or science teacher because all the things in this book is true science! There is nothing inapropriate in this book. The thing that I like about this book is that it is funny, yet educational at the same times. That is very difficult to find in a book now. The thing that I disliked most in this book is NOTHING! The bottom line is, THIS IS A MUST READ!

laugh-out-loud funny
I bought this book for my niece and nephew, one of whom is a reluctant reader. They were both hysterical laughing for hours and my nephew has spent many an afternoon sharing favorite parts with his friends. The pictures are mind-boggling. Best of all, I have a science background and knew that that the scientific information compiled is extremely sound. I knew they were learning while they were laughing. Plus, I now have a reputation for being the coolest aunt in town.

Subject matter intriguing - Reading level disappointing.
I thought this would be inspiring for a six-year old who is a reluctant reader, but after I received it, I decided to give it to his older brother instead. Categorizing this book for the 9-12 year old reading level is correct. Each topic is presented in 1-2 pages of text that even a brainy, eight-year-old bookworm got tired of reading. We all read it together during storytime, and while it kept the six-year old's attention, the blocks of text were much too thick and intimidating for him to attempt to read. The illustrations are also disappointing. The paperback is cheaply printed with one- or two-color line drawings or black-and-white photographs that are comical without much educational value. No diagrams or labeled body parts. Lastly, be prepared to hear about slugs and vomit for a few days -- and for the kids to share these topics during dinner with friends and family. It's too bad this wasn't written for a younger reader because I would encourage a pre-teenager to explore loftier topics.

Laugh Out Loud Funny!!
I purchased this book for my 12 year old son for Christmas. I have yet to wrap it because I am so interested in reading it! This is definitely a pretty disgusting book from a mom's point of view but I know my son will absolutely love it! Some of the illustrations are so gross they made me laugh out loud. There is a lot of scientific information hidden in this humorous encyclopedia. I have learned a lot already and I am only up to C. This book is a "must have" for any pre-teen or teenager, especially boys who are fascinated by disgusting things. I can't wait for another book by this author! Maybe social studies could be this humorous as well.

I'm a grownup and I loved it!
I bought this for my kid, no I didn't, she's only 3, I b ought it for me and she can have it when she gets older. And I'm buying it for two of my friend's kids. I've always been fascinated with gross stuff like snot, pus, poop, gross foods, etc., and so are most kids. And by the way, my kid, and the two kids I'm buying this for, are girls. The facts are there, it's fun to read, and it might even get the kids to read more and practice good hygiene while they're at it (microscopic photos of worms and such may answer a few questions like "why do I have to wash my hands all the time?" Excellent. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the depths of the deep blue sea to the mysterious world of space,robots are up to the task of exploring, traveling, saving lives, or making lifeeasier for human beings. David Eckhold's Ultimate Robot Kit makes life awhole lot more fun for human beings! This giant kit includes almost everythingneeded to construct four amazing robots, as well as a 24-page "Robot File,"which explains the origins of robots, how they work, and how they are going tochange our lives. Twelve instruction cards offer clear step-by-step directionsto create the marvelous BounceBot, CreepycrawlyBot, KnotBot, and GobbleBot.Sturdy, simple cardboard and plastic components allow children to design andbuild working mechanical models quickly and easily, while they discover theessential robot skills of mobility, manipulation, programming, and intelligence.Building the first four bots gives kids the know-how to design a robot to theirown specifications, and might even put these future engineers on a thrillingcareer path! (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Birthday Present!
I got this kit about a month ago for my 14th birthday. The parts are a little hard to work with but with a little patience I had no trouble making everything work just like it was supposed to work. I still tinker with it and I am going to enter it as my science fair project. I like robots!

Perfect gift for youngsters
Our son got this toy for his 10th birthday from his grandparents. We had all seen some of the poor reviews it received so we weren't too sure it would be a good choice. However, our son and his almost 9 year-old sister love it. My son takes care of his toys, and this robot is durable enough for him, but it's not the kind of toy to get really rough with. Our son enjoyed it so much that we decided to donate six more kits to his school!

Its an ok kit
The kit was some what educational. I think that the parts were too cheap. I made almost all of the robots and the only one i liked was bounce bot because of the object avoidance technigue.
I think that the kit should have had real electric switches.
It takes alot of patience to build the robots. I hope the author who made the kit uses the better parts next time he makes a kit.

*****
A fun book. The designs definitely require patience, but they're a great learing and bonding experience.

Robot Fun
I assembled the Gobblebot with no trouble at all, and it rolls across my floor like a bat...However, the antenna "switch" does not work at all. Three members of the family have tried and failed to get this "switch" to turn the motor off. As long as the battery is in the holder and the wires are connected, the motor is on and the wheels turn. Bottom line: colorful though somewhat flimsy parts; clear and easy instructions; switch frustration; otherwise, fun to play with.
I look forward to assembling my next bot. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Do you know that right now 16.5 tons of air are pressing on your body?Or that with a simple experiment you can "see" a hole in the middle of yourhand? Have you ever tried turning a bucket of water upside down without thewater falling out? With DK's remarkable introduction to science, young readerscan learn many of the most important principles of chemistry and physics--andhave a whole lot of fun while they're at it. This big, handsome volume containsmore than 60 hands-on projects testing key scientific theories in magnetism,gravity, liquid density, sound vibrations, the laws of reflection, and muchmore. In addition, the book features information about famous scientists, newtechnological advances, and basic theories behind everyday objects andactivities. Gorgeous photos and clear, step-by-step instructions make this alearning experience budding young scientists won't mind a bit. Don't be fooled,though. Every page is packed with accurate, up-to-date information, and readersare encouraged to take their scientific exploration beyond the limits of thiswell-organized book. (Ages 10 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Shows younger folks just how much amazing fun science can be
Ideal for both classroom and homeschool curriculum supplementation, The Way Science Works is an exciting introduction for young readers to the deductive process of science and the marvels that mankind has discovered about the natural world. Offering more than sixty experiments and hands-on projects suitable for budding scientists age 10 and older (with safety precautions detailed where needed), The Way Science Works offers a fascinating glimpse into everything from the workings of the atom to understanding the true nature of gravity, to optical illusions and magnetism. Hundreds of excellent color photographs illustrate this superbly organized instructional reference. Although filled with fascinating revelations which would appeal to readers of all ages, The Way Science Works is particularly geared to show younger folks just how much amazing fun science can be! ... Read more

Book Description

Today's children stand on the threshold of a new millennium that promises incredible scientific and technological advances. The need to understand basic scientific principles has never been greater and these principles are brought within the grasp of every child by The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia. All the essential subject areas, from Space and Time, Materials and Technology, to Human Biology, are covered in this one-volume encyclopedia. Accurate, approachable, and an indispensable source of information for school projects, The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia is the perfect gift for the up-and-coming Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, or Marie Curie in the family.Special Features:More than 3,500 indexed references.Thematic arrangement.Important events highlighted.Illustrated biographies of key figures.Cross-references.Comprehensive index.Glossary. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An incredible book for kids interested in science
I think this is an incredible book. Our grade school children like to discuss science facts at bedtime. Reading from this book opens up lots of topics for us and keeps the kids fascinated. I'm thinking of ordering more to use as gifts since the Amazon price is so reasonable and the shipping is free.

Nice Book
Our family really enjoys the format of this book. The 10 thematic chapters seem more coherent than the old books alphabetic style. Concepts are tied together rather than merely a list of factoids. There are plenty of ways to look up information alphabetically. I have to say we much prefer this verion. Great illustrations throughout. I wish the 10 volume set was available here.

Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia, 2000 edition
....This new one is not really an encyclopedia. Instead ofcompletely alphabetical it is alphabetical by subject, i.e.,chemistry, botony, etc., and made topics very hard to find. The 2000version also left out definitions/explanations.... I don'trecommend the 2000 version at all. Sorry. As usual the second remakeof something never seems to be as good as the first. END ... Read more

Book Description

Here's a hands-on introduction to dinosaurs that invites preschoolers through first graders to lift and peek under more than 70 flaps! Vividly realistic panoramas bring the extinct world of dinosaurs to life and show kids how and where dinosaurs lived, what they ate, how they bred, and how they fought. With cutaway close-ups of fascinating dinosaur features and intricate, diorama-like scenes, this is the most dynamic and information-packed Great Big Flap Book ever! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great first dinosaur book for preschoolers!
My son, who is almost 4, absolutely loves this book! It's a perfect "first book" about dinosaurs because it's interactive and the text is short and simple enough to hold the attention of this age group. My son especially loves lifting the flaps that show the dinosaur bones! The last two pages of the book are especially cool. The left-hand page has a cleverly designed series of flaps that let the child "discover" a dinosaur skeleton. The facing page features flaps with letters of the alphabet - when the child lifts them, they see a dinosaur whose name begins with that letter. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Calling upon accounts of political intrigue and tales of life and death,author Simon Singh tells history's most fascinating story of deception andcunning: the science of cryptography--the encoding and decoding of privateinformation. Based on The CodeBook: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography,this version has been abridged and slightly simplified for a younger audience.None of the appeal for curious problem-solving minds has been lost, though. FromJulius Caesar to the 10th-century Arabs; from Mary Queen of Scots to "Alice andBob"; from the Germans' Enigma machine to the Navajo code talkers in World WarII, Singh traces the use of code to protect--and betray--secrecy. Moving rightinto the present, he describes how the Information Age has provided a whole newset of challenges for cryptographers. How private are your e-mailcommunications? How secure is sending your credit card information over theInternet? And how much secrecy will the government tolerate? Complex but highlyaccessible, The Code Book will make readers see the past--and thefuture--in a whole new light. (Ages 14 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fascinating. Started me on my cryptologic studies.
Reading this book gave me my start in my self study of cryptography, its science and its history. While I will not pretend to be anywhere near an expert on the subject, I found this book very insightful. It is an easy read, and not tedious in any way. It is meant as a "science for non-scientists" type book, and more of a history than anything else. (I have only managed to solve the first two cryptologic challenges at the end of this book, but am diligently working on the rest in my spare time.)

Delightful
The Code Book is a delightful treatment of the subject of cryptography. It is a nice combination of history, science, warfare and politics.

The author uses interesting historical events as background to narrate the different phases of what might be called the mainstream developments of cryptography and cryptanalysis. It is a captivating presentation.

The book started off with the story of Queen Mary of Scotland, and went on to cover the Caesar cipher, Vigenère cipher, the famous Enigma, the super-secret Colossus, and the modern day computer based encryption and decryption developments. The author also threw in a couple of interesting "sideline" stories, such as the Beale cipher, the Rosetta Stone, and the Navajo "code talkers" who played a key role in the Pacific theater during WWII.

My teenage son used to complain that most of the difficult subjects he learned in school would never have any use in real life. I gave him a copy of this book. The book is a compelling story of how science, engineering, mathematics, computer, linguistics, psychology are all critical pieces of this all-important game.

There are more technical treatises on this subject, and there are more lengthy and nuanced historical accounts on military intelligence as well. But this book is undoubtedly the best introduction to this uniquely fascinating subject.

A must read for anyone remotely interested in codes!
I have always been fascinated by codes and Singh has put together a comprehensive book on the history of codes. Having read many books on codes, Singh was still able to enthrall me with some historical stories that I had not come across. It's not just technical stuff, but is written with the novice in mind as well. But the book holds enough technical information to keep the enthusiast interested as well. The version I bought has a crypt contest in the back, which I enjoyed working on - I was only able to solve the first 3 or so puzzles, but it was a lot of fun.

Provides plenty of depth and information
The Code Book was intended for a young adult audience but also holds an ability to interest an adult readership as well. This history of cryptography provides plenty of depth and information on making and breaking codes, providing a historical background on an ongoing battle which has been waged for centuries. An intriguing look at codes and secrecy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Open the mummy-shaped box.... Smell the must of the tomb.... Reveal the secrets within.... Included among these secrets are a 24-page booklet all about real-life mummies and the people who study them, a 10-inch plastic-model body, and four carved heads of gods to protect the Canopic jars where you'll store the plastic organs found inside the body--both lungs in a single jar, please! Find the hidden drawer containing the gauze wrappings, headdress, scarabs, and a cardboard cat you can mummify to accompany your Pharaoh in the afterlife. Wrap your mummy from head to toe, place lucky amulets in the gauze, and bury it in the back yard (soak the gauze in brine first for a more realistic mummy experience). Don't forget to seal the tomb with your "Curse of the Mummy" sticker ... and to warn your parents, so when they rent the expensive tiller to dig up the garden, they don't break the blades on your ultracool mummy.

This kit introduces curious kids to the mummies of many different cultures, such as those of ancient Egypt and South America, and to all the types of mummies, including shrunken heads, bog mummies, and ice mummies. Slightly creepy good fun. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One of the best kits ever
I bought this for my 9-year-old nephew. He was having problems in school, and I struggled to find a present that would help him see that learning is fun. I was amazed at the hit this was! He knows now that learning isn't all boring, and all my other neices and nephews were amazed by this kit. Even us adults found ourselves playing with the kids and learning about mummies...the kit even has guts for you to "maintain"! What a buy!

Great Fun!
I bought this for a nine-year-old and we both enjoyed it thoroughly. It "unwraps" the mystery of mummies which was fun and educational for both of us! Most kids become fascinated by mummies and this gives them a broader perspective, making the whole thing clearer. I highly recommend this as a great gift item.

Great Book and Activity for Kids
I did not look at the ages when I ordered it but was pleasantly suprised when I received it. My children are taking up an interest in some of the wierd stuff I like and this will be a GREAT project for them.

Wonderful. Very entertaining and full of usefull info.
This book was very enjoyable for me to read and I found plenty of useful information I was able to use on my school project. The mummy was so much fun to make and admire. This is such a good book, I can't imagine not reading. I've learned so many things about mummies that I never even thought about before. ... Read more