Book Description

Popcorn, corn on the cob, cornbread, tacos, tamales, and tortillas. All of these and many other good things come from one amazing plant. Aliki tells the story of corn: How Native American farmers thousands of years ago found and nourished a wild grass plant and made it an important part of their lives. They learned the best ways to grow and store and use its fat yellow kernels. And then they shared this knowledge with the new settlers of America.

Reviews (1)

A great informational book
Corn is Maize is a great book on corn. It not only shows how corn is grown and the many uses. It teaches the children about Indian culture and how they shared their corn with the prilgrams. A book of history, science, and social development. ... Read more

Book Description

The alarm sounds. Fire! Fire! Big trucks roll out of the firehouse and race to the scene. Out come the soft hoses and aerial ladders. Whether the fire is in the city or in the country, on the waterfront or in a deep forest, firefighters are on the scene in moments, ready to attack the blaze.

Reviews (3)

My son's all-time favorate fire fighting book -- mine too!
My son judges a bookstore or library by number and quality of fire engine books. This book is our favorite. There is information in this book that is not in any other book we've read (and we have read many) and still it is an easy read. Gail Gibbons does a great job packing information into 4-8 year old bite sized pieces.

Fire! Fire! Awesome! Awesome!
I purchased this book for my 3 year old son with the intent to acquaint him with exactly what firefighters and their apparatus do.

I recently joined our local volunteer fire department and my son has been afraid of the sirens of our nearby station for a while now. This book was a big hit with him and me!

This book organization of this book gives it 4 sections for paid (city), volunteer (country), forest and harbor departments. My son loves the illustrations and sits and listens intently to the descriptions. Each page contains illustrations displaying smoke detectors, hoses, personnel, and fire equipment that are all well labeled.

This is a must buy if you need a firefighters book for your child!

All kinds of fire fighters!
My 5.5 yr old son LOVES this book! He renewed it for four weeks at the school library before they made him turn it in, and then cried about it. The book teaches kids about different kinds of fire fighters. Most of us think of a fire fighters down at the fire station but it also encompasses smoke jumpers, water front fire fighters and more. I found it interesting to read to him too. ... Read more

Book Description

With humour and sensitivity, Boys, Girls and Body Science provides no-nonsense answers for children - and parents - with questions about sex. Specifically designed for young readers, Boys, Girls and Body Science walks children through the wonders of their bodies in a direct, easy-to-read manner. The story begins with Nicholas, 7, and Jenny, 5, learning about different types of science in their class-from ecology to the digestive system. Then Meg Hickling, a guest speaker, comes to talk to them about a new type of science. Hickling talks about the "science names" for the children's body parts, about good and bad touches and about making babies. She coaches the children not to be embarrassed or shy about body science: "We are going to make this just like a science lesson, we will learn to think like a scientist and we will learn the scientific names for our private parts," she says.Hickling is a Registered Nurse who has been teaching sexual education for over 25 years. She is an outstanding educator, and her ability to convey difficult material with sensitivity, gentle humour and warmth distinguishes her as a remarkable teacher and role model. In this latest publication, Hickling brings her award-winning lesson into the homes, schools and libraries of inquisitive children everywhere! ... Read more

Book Description

A journey into the wonders of science from Joy Hakim, the best-selling author of A History of US.

The story of science continues with the reclusive Copernicus and his astounding theory that the sun is at the center of the universe, and closes with the basics of atomic theory, offering intriguing portraits of the scientists who built on each other's theories in their tireless pursuit of answers. 300 color photographs, illustrations, and maps.

• Individual volumes in the series can be read as a set or individually
• Each book packed with 256 pages of thought-provoking ideas, math and science concepts, history and literature
• Character- and idea-driven narratives that read like an adventure story
• 300 illustrations in each book, including original art and contemporary photographs
• Sidebars highlight fascinating facts and ideas of related interest
• Call-outs define unfamiliar words and build vocabulary
• Suggestions for further reading on many topics

Reviews (3)

Tutor Reviews This Text
I just finished tutoring my high school sophmore grandaughter for a final exam using this text.I have a doctorate degree in environmental science and engineering and thus have had a solid background in the physical sciences.I have taught community college science for 36 years. I find this book to be good in the experiments presented, but poor in explanations of concepts illustrated by the experiments.

In reviewing for the exam, I found there is a desparate need for questions with which a student can test their knowledge with answers presented in the back of the book to see if they have properly solved the problems.

Without a really good teacher in the class to amplify the text materials, many students will be lost.

If this book is to be revised (since it is out of print), it needs much more explanation and more problems on which students can practice with answers provided.There is also a need to relate the concepts more to things students encounter in their daily lives.

What a textbook ought to be.
It is simple, yet not dumbed down.The opening experiment of the book, the distillation of wood, sparks students' interest and provides a great open question that could be used by HS and College Chemistry students.

The lack of bursting colors keeps kids with slow reading skills from getting lost.

I personally enjoy that its experiments use laboratory equipment as opposed to knick knacks bought at dimestores--yes, you can do some neat experiments with household items, but kids get a psychological boost (feel "scientifically grown-up") when they use real test tubes.

Prentice Hall were mistaken to discontinue this book.Its value is incredible.

Review from a Science Teacher
As a science teacher (everything grades 7-12) I'm always looking for better books.This year I decided to change my Physical Science from HRW's Modern Physical Science to this book.This was an excellent decision.

This book is excellent!If students only read the book, they will not learn enough.If they only listen to lecture, they will not learn enough.They must do both of these things as well as do the labs to learn the material.

Students are learning by doing, which is the essence of inquiry based learning.As a result, they learn the concepts better, they understand them, and they remember them.

So far, I'm noticing a huge difference.Although IPS is slimmer, has less pictures, and has less scary-looking science stuff, the students will learn everything that my previous book taught, and they will learn a number of additional, important, topics:solubility curves, phase change graphs, how electrochemistry actually works, and many other things.

This book does not try to intimidate.It teaches difficult concepts in a very simple way, and, so far, my students this year seem to have the same, or even better understanding of the concepts we learned last year!

The only drawbacks to this book are these:students must take an active role to learn (which can be good);this book may require quite an investment in lab equipment (depending on how your lab is equipped); it requires quite a bit of prep-time outside of class; also, your students who pulled good grades from memorizing will see their grades plummet if they can't switch to this new method of learning.

The other really major drawback I should mention is that this book doesn't have much applications and it doesn't get into some of the more advanced topics.This book also does not adequately cover the Physics component of Physical Science, although there is a companion volume available which does this.Since I have a degree in Physics, I've chosen to teach the physics myself, without a book.You may have difficulty if you are not comfortable in this area. ... Read more

Product Description

Focus on earth science ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Bill Nye the Science Guy's Consider the Following.
Being an ardent fan of the TV series, "Bill Nye the Science Guy", I was delighted to buy the book "Consider the Following". It covers many, but not all, the topics dealt with in the TV series. Each chapter begins by first posing a thought provoking question, which is then followed by an easily understood explanation of the topic, and lots of easy-to-do experiments. Bill Nye and Ian Saunders, the contributing author, understand their reading audience, and the language used and explanations given are appropriate to the age-level (also to the young at heart!). They give the phonetic pronunciation of new, potentially difficult, Scientific words, so that the words become fun to say, instead of being a hurdle. In its soft cover, the book has the feel of a magazine, and is packed full of useful information for anyone wishing to augment their viewing of his Educational videos, although it is not necessary to have seen the Videos to benefit from reading this book. As a teacher, I have found it useful to have all the experiments written out, using common items found in the kitchen of my home. There is a good index and glossary at the back of the book. The tone of the book is one you would expect from Bill Nye - fun, but full of good teaching. The only criticism that I have is that the illustrations are a bit disappointing. They are clear, but mediocre. I would also liked to have seen a chapter at the beginning of the book, devoted wholly to the explaination of electrons, molecules, and atoms, as although these terms are mentioned (and explained) several times in subsequent chapters, it would have been good to see them consolidated into a chapter of their own. I am glad I have the book, and I enjoyed reading it. I will find it a useful resource tool in planning my future Primary Science Lessons, in Physics, Chemistry, Life and Earth Science. ... Read more

Book Description

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary covers a wide variety of fields, including chemistry, physics, biology, geology, meteorology, astronomy, ecology, and zoology. Its definitions are written in a clear and straightforward style that even beginning students can follow. An extensive cross-reference program encourages readers to build a more complex vocabulary.

The dictionary includes

• more than 4,500 entry words with clear, easy-to-understand definitions

• more than 425 full-color photographs and drawings

• 175 Feature Notes on important scientific concepts, the major discoveries of many scientists, and the usage and history of scientific terminology

• detailed graphic treatment of selected subjects, such as the structure of atoms, photosynthesis, plate tectonics, and the life of stars

• handy tables and charts, including the periodic table of the elements, a chart of geologic time, and a timeline of advances in computing.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary is the ideal resource for homework assignments, school projects, or just browsing. This book is the key to unlocking the language of science and the natural world for students and their families. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The kids all agree it's "COOL"
I bought this book for my 11 year old son. Our encyclopedia set was a bit overwhelming for him so I thought a science dictionary would be less intimidating. He just loves it. He spends hours just flipping pages and reading entries that interest him. Definitions are concise yet not over simplified with plenty of examples and pictures to keep everything clear. Major topics are discussed in length making this more than just a dictionary. I enjoy browsing through it myself. Science is fascinating when properly explained. He brought it to school and the other kids all agreed that this book is "cool". This is an excellent book for adults and children. This is a must have book for your reference collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is an exciting and highly original "hands-on" introduction to the world of science for the whole family. Encourages a head start in learning about science. Safe, readily available "ingredients" for each project. For ages 8-14. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Hands On Science for many ages!
As a home schooling family, we have found this book to provide the basics for a hands on science curriculum.The experiennts have been easy to perform and the materials needed easy to gather from home or the localhardware store. Our children ages preschool to fourth grade look forward toscience due to the wide range of activities and "fun" educationalprojects. The directions and safety concerns are adaquate when the readerkeeps in mind the title of the book is "How Parents ANDChildren....", and the book is enjoyed together.Group this book witha well stocked library for more indepth reading on the topics the bookintroduces and you have enough science for a year at least!

Excellent way to understand even the most complex topics
I bought this books years ago because I was attracted to its beautiful photographs.Now I am using it with my 11 year old daughter as part of her science curriculum at home.It can be used in many ways, but even if youdon't ever do the experiments, just seeing the photos makes the complexeasy to understand.Even after getting a master's degree, I find I amreally understanding things that I supposedly learned years ago. I highlyrecommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

From the hand ax and mathematics to IC chips and the laser, eachtechnological touchstone in human history is described and placed in historical context. Each profile includes the who (if we know it), how the idea developed and how it works, the immediate impact of the idea, and the technological 'children' of the idea. The time span is 3500 B C to today. The author closes with an epilogue that looks into the future, a bibliography, and a list of great Web sites for young inventors.Realistic, 4-color paintings, in technical drawing style, showcase the idea and its applications by humans.
... Read more

Book Description

Discover the amazing world of light -- from ancient myths to the optic discoveries that have revolutionized modern life.

Here is a spectacular, thought-provoking, and highly informative guide to the fascinating story of light. Superb full-color photography of original equipment, intricate scientific instruments, revealing experiments, and 3-D models offers a unique "eyewitness" view to the incredible discoveries that have transformed our world. See why ancient peoples worshipped the Sun as a god, how light rays bend, why things glow when they are very hot, what creates a color television picture, how microscopes and telescopes were invented, and why a leaf looks green. Learn how fiber optics can transmit light, what happens during an eclipse, why images are reversed in mirrors, how a liquid crystal display works, and what makes a hologram. Discover what causes the eerie "Will o' the wisp", how some animals can make their own light, what creates a mirage, why we burn in strong sunlight, what a polarizing filter does, why we see rainbows, what a quantum is, how X-rays penetrate our bodies, and much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great picture book for science and math integration
This is one of my favorite books. Every class I've ever used it with, from 1st grade up to 5th, has been fascinated. The illustrations are eye catching and perfectly correspond to the text. Literature should be intergrated across the curriculum. This book can help introduce lessons on big numbers and place value. It can also be used to tie into science lessons, with the size of the solar system or animal species. All elementary classrooms should have a copy of this book. It is both educational and interesting.

4th Graders Use it too!
Fourth graders find this book amazing when beginning a unit on the solar system. It helps them put the size of the Earth in perspective compared to the sun and other planets. I use an accompanying sheet that asks the children to number all of the objects from the book (a whale, the sun, etc..)in order according to size. Then they check their answers as I read the book aloud. It's a wonderful way to open the unit! Definitely get this book and try it!!

A clear winner of the Darryl Award
Fantastic book, despite the nit-picking in one of the editorial reviews above.

This book really helps little kids come to grips with the idea of relative size. My preschool and kindergarten ESL students will founder when asked to understand/believe that a little patch of color on a globe is their country (Taiwan). Heck, kids this age don't even have much idea what a country is, let alone how big it is in relation to anything else. But this book sure set some lightbulbs to poppin' over kid's heads! That's how I measure the success of my classes and the materials I use in them, and by that measure, this book is a clear winner of the Darryl Award for Excellence in Children's Literature in the Field of Science and Mathematics!

The perfect book to partner with this book is the excellent Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies (see my review of it). The focus Ms. Davies book is the whale itself. I found that using Ms. Davies' book before Mr. Wells' worked very well indeed.

Fun with size comparisons
This is fast-moving book that draws you along as you wonder what size comparison lies on the next page. The comparisons deal with many things...not just whales! ... Read more