Book Description

Since monkeys and elephants and crocodiles don't make good tour guides who better to walk us through the inner workings of a zoo than the zookeeper?Roland Smith, award winning writer and 20-year zookeeper, introduces young readers to little known facts - sometimes in the middle of the night zookeepers do go back to check the locks, giraffes don't know how to duck making it difficult to drive under a bridge when the zookeepers transport them from one location to another, and exactly how much time do zookeepers spend with the pooper-scooper?"Z is for Zookeeper" gives children a front row seat at the zoo - one of the ultimate childhood places.

"Z is for Zookeeper" will keep kids turning the pages as often as they request, "Can we go to the zoo?" ... Read more

Amazon.com

Stephen T. Johnson's deluxe kiddie carpenter kit My Little Red Toolbox won thehearts of youngsters everywhere. Johnson's latest creation, My Little BlueRobot, takes the simple joy of building to the next logicalstep--constructing a talking robot on wheels! Made with the same quality as itspredecessor, this kit features sturdy, ultrathick cardboard pages from whichkids (with a little help) can pry out the flat robot components. First, youbuild the head. A diagram shows how the pieces for the head (all on the samepage) fit together. No glue is necessary, as the pieces fit together with slotsand tabs. The rest of the body follows, with clear instructions page by page. Onthe final page, the book takes a turn for the sentimental: "My robot needs onemore thing. He needs a heart. Just like me." Kids then can open up the robot'schest and place the red cardboard heart inside. Awwww. And what does the robotsay? Will it cry with Frankenstein's monster-style anguish? Or will it say"Hello!" or "Beep"? We'll let you find out. (Ages 4 to 7) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a junky book and toy
My son was very excited about putting together this little blue robot. Although it looks cute and creative, when we put the robot together, we were both disappointed. The parts come apart as easily as they go together. It makes for a frustrating experience for a child. I think it was a waste of money. I hope the publishers of this book can re-think the design for future children.

Not a book for a library....
This is almost an adorable gift book concept. The problem here is that there is no real story for this book (just somewhat kid-friendly assembly directions)which would be necessary in a library book or with a child interested in reading for that matter! This book cannot circulate in a library system as it is of limited use. No matter if the book is for home or for the library - it needs a story! It would have been great if there had been an actual plot or little adventure for this cute robot - something of use. I remain at 1 star.

Extraordinary!!
This is an imaginative, creative and unique book where you actually build a working robot (whch can be taken apart to be rebuilt another day). A great adult-child shared activity - and beautifully designed and executed. ... Read more

Book Description

Machines is a unique blend of imaginative activities, experiments and science facts that helps develop scientific thought. The vast "Make it Work" series teaches scientific principles through the hands-on process of making science work.It's an invaluable science series for school and home, mixing hobby and science in an effort to show kids how to observe, collate information, and reach conclusions. The easy-to-follow instructions and helpful color photos make it a great resource for children ages 8-11.

School Library Journal says the Make it Work! Science books are "A Great Series." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

What a great book! It should be back in print!
My son has checked this book out of the school library so many times he has it memorized! Great fun at home -- inexpensive science projects that really work and are fun to do --- even for Mom! The Rocket created from a 2 liter soft drink bottle and powered by water and a bicycle pump is great. Other favorites include the Archimedes' Screw that moves popcorn and the Rubber Band Powered Boat. Bright, colorful, lots of pictures, easy to understand and easy to build --even for the science challenged! ... Read more

Book Description

How the Future Began: Machines examines the technology shaping the new millennium, and surveys the machines -- from the first primitive levers, to water wheels, to robots -- that have made the modern era possible. Author Clive Gifford offers a fascinating look ahead at some of the exciting developments in store for future generations, and the smarter and more powerful devices that will continue to revolutionize human life. Special Features: Illustrated timelines include major technological milestones and anticipated advances.'Blurred Vision' graphics show how people in the past envisioned the future.'Crystal Ball' boxes feature predictions and highlight breakthroughs. Comprehensive glossary and index. Related resources and websites. ... Read more

Book Description

How is your forearm like a lever?

• What makes it easy to pull a flag up a flagpole?
• How can a windmill help to do work?

Janice VanCleave's Machines includes 20 simple and fun experiments that allow you to discover the answers to these and many other questions, plus dozens of additional suggestions on how to develop your own science fair project.

Learn how an elevator works using a box, string, a paper cup, and some coins; build a bubble machine with cardboard boxes, Styrofoam, and wire; and much more. All experiments use inexpensive materials and involve a minimum of preparation and clean up.

Children ages 8-12

Also available in the Spectacular Science Projects Series:

• Janice VanCleave's Animals
• Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes
• Janice VanCleave's Electricity
• Janice VanCleave's Gravity
• Janice VanCleave's Magnets
• Janice VanCleave's Molecules
• Janice VanCleave's Microscopes and Magnifying Lenses
• Janice VanCleave's Volcanoes
• Janice VanCleave's Weather

Book Description

Kids love trucks and diggers, and with the help of full color photographs featuring rugged Caterpillar machines, these budding little contractors will love learning counting, too! ... Read more

Book Description

Kids love trucks and diggers, and with the help of full color photographs featuring rugged Caterpillar machines, these budding little contractors will love learning colors, too! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Choice for Tractor Lover
My toddler loves this book so much, the library should just sell it to us! That's why I'm buying it now. It's from British publisher Usborne, so some words may seem different to an American audience. However it doesn't impede the great artwork or the myriad farm equipment explained in the pages. Usborne typically produces quality books, and this one is no exception. ... Read more

Book Description

Climb aboard a backhoe, watch as building is knocked over, and learn how a road is made. Take an up-close look at the wide variety of machines that are used on a building site.

Looking at a variety of machines with a wide range of uses, the Machines at Work series explains how vehicles help people on farms, construction sites, and other busy places. Each of the books answers questions with bright, interesting photographs of machines in different situations to explain how they work and what they do. Complete with plenty of amazing facts on this popular subject, the Machines at Work series is sure to be a hit with young readers and machine enthusiasts. Vroom-vroom! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Usborne Book of Diggers and Cranes
This is a great book for younger children who have an interest in construction equipment. The pictures are large and colorful, and there are enough details to make the information interesting without being overwhelming. Each page has one large diagram of the featured piece of equipment, with smaller drawings around the edges. For example, a two-page spread shows a picture of a trolley tower crane and its parts. A sidebar follows the steps needed to actually put the crane together at the site. Another side picture shows a goose neck crane and how it is different than the trolley crane. A little boxed picture shows how the Romans built the first cranes. My sons would pore over this book when they were small. They had all the facts memorized, and have kept the books as a reminder of the fun they had reading it when they were small. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Amazing man with many dreams but one true goal for life!
Well the book gave many details on his life of where he was born and so on but the main information was given in such context that one could read it if he had not tried! The book also tells a point! It's point would pretain to the mear fact of survival! You never stick to one idea, you let your mind flower! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great book, for 4 to 6 year olds
My kids can't get enough trucks, truck books, construction videos... you get the idea. We've read practically everything out there for toddlers, which is all pretty much the same - loaders, cranes, backhoes, loaders, cranes, backhoes. Frankly, they've advanced beyond simple descriptions of machines. So it was refreshing to find this book which is loaded with information about how a tall building is built. It tells the story from start to finish, from the surveyors at the beginning, the welders in the middle, the utility workers at the end and lots of machines throughout. One caveat: this is NOT a "baby-preschool" book. It is really for 4 - 6 year olds (possibly even older) or preschoolers who are ready to jump a level of sophistication. For example, it explains the difference between the live load and the dead load that the building must support, and why steel frames allow people to build so high. Lots of big words are used without introduction, like architect and pyramid. My almost 4-year-olds get it, but they wouldn't have a year ago. If you are looking for a different type of construction book, or need to provide your young child with new, more advanced construction info, this will fit the bill. ... Read more