Science & Math Books

This is an amazing book of puzzles, illusions, paradoxes and games. It's an exciting adventure for the mathematical mind. Too overwhelming for those who are not, but specific puzzles can be used from the book to be shared with a child or class less mathematical. It is a great resource to go back to again and again for a challenge or to demonstrate fun aspects of math.

related-geometry, numbers, logic and probability, topology, points and lines, graphs and networks, curves and circles, perception, shapes and polygons, patterns, mathematical concepts, science recreation, dissections
RL=5th & up, as young as 1st grade for single puzzles

Discussion of how solar energy is used and easy activities that can be done with household materials to further understanding and inspire continued inventiveness.
RL=3rd-7th

The animals are grouped by habitat and continent with maps showing their locations. The pictures and captions are much like the popular Eyewitness series.
RL=3rd-5th

In searching for biographical information for my children, I came across this book at the library. Certainly I had heard of Archimedes, but I had no idea how interesting his life was. This book left me wanting to learn more about him and other people from history who were so focused on the problem at hand.
RL=5th-YA

This is a very nice introduction to the oceans of the world. It is both a geographical resource and science reference with maps and beautiful pictures relating to the ways local creatures and people rely on the oceans. It also discusses how the ocean works and early exploration.
RL=3rd-5th

Bees, Snails, & Peacock Tails is a delightful mixture of mathematical design, the science of nature, poetry, and art. The focus of the poems is on designs found in the Animal Kingdom and on characteristics of the animals specified. Some of the patterns are decorations on their bodies, and some are related to their behavior. There are extra notes about each creature afterwards.

I enjoy the whole book, but the best part is the mixed media collages. The 2 page spreads are stunning. Out of 13, there are about 7 I think are perfect, and 3 others I found appealing. I love the variety of paper textures and the use of color and balance. I appreciate the delicacy of the details.

related-nature, poetry, mathematical patterns and designs, animals, illustrators, paper art and crafts
RL=2nd-4th, read aloud toddler-1st

related books:
Birdsongs by Besty Franco. il Steve Jenkins
Living Color by Steve Jenkins
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? by Robin Page. il Steve Jenkins

A bunch of bugs are the cast of characters in this intriguing trial of a tree killer. Dramatic, larger than life pictures are included as well as a description of each beetle in the cast.
RL=1st-3rd

This is an excellent book for curious young ones who are not yet reading or reading well. There are large habitat pictures in which you look for various insects. The names of the insects and pictures are given with a sentence or two as a hint of where they can be found.
RL=PreK-1st

This is an exciting nonfiction book. Who doesn't enjoy a nice piece of bread? The author shows a baker sowing his own wheat in his backyard, the wheat growing through different stages, the processes of his harvesting and separating the seeds and grinding it into flour, and then the making of the dough for a loaf. It is shown in such a simple way that it appears that any of us could try it ourselves. Great photos, by the way.

Most of the book is simple, like a picture book. The last pages discuss wheat a little more - as a staple food, backyard growing, harvesting wheat grass to eat, chewing the grains to make a chewing gum, how bread rises, and a simple recipe for a loaf.

I have been wanting to try to make some bread for a while and have been procrastinating. I can make my own pizza dough. So, when I read this book, it inspired me. I'd like to try growing some of my own wheat. Somehow I thought the process would be more difficult or would require a larger space to grow. If you're used to some gardening, it sounds pretty simple. Check it out, and maybe try it yourself. If not, the book will at least give young ones a greater appreciation of what they are eating, the loving process from start to finish.

related-bread, wheat, baking, gardening, bakers, food
RL=K-5th, all ages, read aloud to toddlers-K

The focus of this biography is Charles Darwin's adulthood, primarily his married life, but also showing his own struggle with the subject he chose to study. After returning from his world trip on the Beagle, Charles set about cataloging his specimens and mailing some to experts who could verify his own suspicions of rarity. Even before he decided to marry, he realized the importance of his independence for his career and that he would be lucky to find a wife (in that time period) who would accept the controversial material he was compelled to study.

The newish field of biological study, which included the collecting and comparing of specimens, was in fact leading biologists towards the understanding that species do change over time. He was not the only one to come to this understanding on his own, though he also used his observations of people and pets to form his views. Unfortunately, this was counter to the Christian world view of the time. Darwin knew the difficult decision he had to make for himself regarding the contradiction. So it would be that much harder for others to accept, because either they were more religious than him or they were not looking at variations of creatures day after day. Then, after coming to the conclusion that his theory was right, to publicize the knowledge in such a hostile environment was something he feared to do. He delayed publishing his theories for about twenty years, partly because he wanted them to be irrefutable, but also somewhat out of fear of the public's reaction.

Darwin found a wife who respected his work, his cousin Emma, but she also did worry about the contradictions between his work and religion. They had a happy marriage, but he exhibited recurring illnesses, which likely were related to his anxiety over his work and his fear that it would not be accepted. Partly because Emma could not embrace his views. He was compelled to do the work, because to him it was incontrovertible. But knowing oneself and broadcasting the knowledge are two different things. It took another biologist publishing a very similar belief to motivate him to finally publish his work.

I like Heiligman's approach to Darwin's life and work. Nowadays this subject is still seen mostly as the contradiction between science and religion, with little of the actual work involved in the discussion. It is good to see the struggle within the man himself and interactions with his friends, family and colleagues on the subject. It is also good to have some clarifications about the religious environment of the time, to see past beliefs that have changed (like the idea that God created each species as unchangeable). It is important to understand that some of his work can be accepted by all, even if the whole of evolution theory is not accepted for religious or other reasons.

For me, there was a little too much focus on Emma's resistance to Charles' theories. It was reiterated too many times, but I like that the book centered around the idea, because her concerns are the crux of why his work is still not accepted by many. As open as she was to her husband, she still feared to accept his evidence. Also, the religious and social climate was so different then than now. Religion permeated all of life for so many. I think it is important for people to see how much our beliefs have changed since then, whether we are religious or not.

related-Charles Darwin, Emma Wedgwood Darwin, naturalists, evolution, British history, The Origin of Species
RL=YA-adult

Charlie's Raven has a few themes running through it. Charlie is told a legend of ravens curing the sick. He steals a baby raven from a nest, so then must raise the wild bird. His grandfather is a naturalist and guides him in studying the behavior of ravens. Grandpa reminds him of the importance of observing and collecting data and not judging before having all of the facts. They collect data to try to determine if ravens are good or bad and also to see how raising a raven might impact the human community. Lastly, the story deals with serious illness and the deaths of loved ones in a gentle way.

The raven lore and antics are enjoyable. The scientfic study is a fresh approach to portraying conflicts between nature and people, and it is fascinating to think how the ravens and humans (or other animals) can interact and change each other's behavior.
related-ravens, wild pets, observation of nature, serious illness, death of relative or friend, scientific experimentation
RL=5th-8th

Many interesting circle facts are included-and some ways to explore circles, too. Some of the exercises can be done with young children, but most require good motor skills.
RL=3rd-5th

A tailor asks his three sons to each make a cloak for a customer to prove their readiness to be tailors. The two older boys do beautiful work. What the third son does is lovely, but not quite right for a cloak. However, the father has a solution. The story has lovely pictures (especially if you love fabrics and designing with them as I do) and connections to geometry.
RL=2nd-3rd

The watercolor illustrations are reason enough to make this book Picture Book of the Month. Both the composition and color convey the excitement and curiosity of birdwatching. The illustrations and playful language reflect the awe of following avians through the seasons. Little moments shared with fleeting guests are heart-warming and bring bursts of joy to our days, and I'm not even an avid watcher, just notice visitors to my region and yard.

There are some good words utilized in the poems. Some of the concepts are evocative as well, such as the comparison of electrical wires and stanzas, turkeys' arrows or the starlings' swooping formations. My anticipation got the better of me in relation to the watercolors. I expected more of the haiku, but it's good to remember how difficult it is to convey your thoughts in so few words. Looking back, I like the poetry more than I did at first. Maybe I just needed to take more time with it. I do love the book and will want to keep going back to it for a while.

I like that there are notes about the different types of birds (bird songs, coloration, etc.), but the one thing I don't like about the book is that the notes throughout are written in hard-to-read text. There are also informative end notes.

I was a little surprised by how many of the birds are familiar. Some of them I may have seen without knowing their names. Now I can look forward to possible differentiation in the future. Fun!

related-poetry for children's literature, common birds of America, birdwatching
RL=4th and up, read aloud to toddlers-3rd

Sidman features meadow and woodland plants and creatures of the night in her poems. All of them are commonly known, and she infuses some greatness into each character. Each also has scientific discussion, interesting details to further the spotlight.

As nice as the poems are, the illustrations seem to me to be the centerpiece. Allen has created intricate linoleum cut prints. Truly gorgeous works of art. My eyes were constantly drawn back as I was trying to read.

It's enough to inspire a trek through the woods, stopping to peer at sights along the way. I confess myself interested in the night life, but too chicken to explore. We have spent some time chasing fireflies, but do not move out of sight of the house. Never into the woods. We have too many visiting creatures, including skunk and predators. I may have to check out the primrose moths at least when the primrose is in bloom, as we have plenty of primrose.

related-children's poetry, night, animals and plants, biology, art, linoleum prints
RL=2nd-3rd, for all ages, read aloud to baby-1st

Through the prose and images, the reader is drawn into the setting: England in the 1850s. In 1853, with the help of a scientist, Waterhouse Hawkins builds the first models of dinosaurs to be displayed on the grounds of the Crystal Palace science museum. To impress the scientific community he planned a dinner party to present his creations.

The illustrations in this book are amazing, and it is an interesting story that most people wouldn't already know. There are also great notes at the end regarding the dinosaurs, Waterhouse Hawkins, Boss Tweed, the Crystal Palace, and the experiences of Barbara Kerley and Brian Selznick in recreating Hawkins's story.
RL=3rd-5th, read aloud with PreK-2nd

This book is beautifully illustrated with many types of eggs, and their birds on the end pages. There are pages with some very simple text and the pictures illustrating the points. In other places, the text is more descriptive. The most appealing aspect is the gorgeous illustrations, but I also enjoyed the adjectives used as titles or categories. The book is all about eggs, including the life cycle of an egg. Much more attractive than the nonfiction when I was a child.

related-comparisons, colors and patterns in nature, shapes, sizes, camouflage, beauty and variation in nature, textures, fossils, gift of life, hatching
RL depends on how you want to use it. It can be used for introducing words to toddlers and for reading by 1st-2nd graders.

The history of energy usage and all the major sources of power are explained in a clear and precise manner. The need to move away from fossil fuels towards renewable sources is also clearly stated. Sadly, though it has been more than a decade since publication, the U.S. has still not moved much in the direction of renewable sources. There has been much talk and some research, but little funding and actual implementation. This book has not become outdated because we have not moved forward.
RL=5th-8th

Little does Callie know that 1899 is her last summer of freedom. Busy with their own affairs, the rest of the family doesn't pay much attention to her odd behavior, her comings and goings, granted that might be because she does a fair bit of sneaking around. Her observations of nature during her jaunts to the river to cool off are the start of a new relationship with her grandfather, a grandfather everyone avoids for his grouchiness and contrariness. She tries to view a controversial book at the library, the librarian harasses her about the immorality of the book, and then she learns her grandfather has a cherished copy under lock and key. This is the moment she is invited into his inner sanctum, and her interest spurs him to guide the broadening of her education in their small Texas town. The book is The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.

When she starts school again, Callie's friendship with her grandfather is well underway, but her mother and teacher conspire to force her education in the womanly arts - sewing, cooking, demeanor, etc. Given the time period, there is only so much the grandfather can do to balance this burden being heaped upon her. Her time is being consumed by things she abhors, things she can't do well and doesn't want to do well. It undermines her belief in her friendship with her grandfather, and she is afraid then that her dreams are beyond her reach as a female. She already knows that she doesn't fit in, but it was a special thing to have her grandfather's admiration and encouragement.

This is a wonderful detailed account of small town life on the verge of the twentieth century. Even more it is a day-to-day description of the girl's observations, natural and social, and progress regarding her scientific learning. Callie and her family's excitement to learn about inventions such as wind machines (fans), automobiles, and telephone operation, and Callie's reaction to molecules under a microscope are an enjoyable experience from the 21st century perspective.

I love the book! My reading experience was similar to when I read Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. Coincidentally, The Origin of Species was a part of that book also, but my enjoyment had to do with the quality of the writing. The details are superb, as well as the enjoyment of everyday exploration. Darwin's book is not the central part of either book, but it does play a role in the education of the children, namely education through observation of life and thinking about those observations.

related-nature, grandfathers, family life, naturalists, Texas, 19th century, turn of the century, Darwin's influence, education
RL=6th and up

Fun exercises to do with shapes-games, designing, and communication. Some suggestions can be used through middle school, and some can be done with preschoolers, too.
RL=3rd-5th

The biggest, the smallest, and the most deadly dinosaurs are explored by continent. Changes in thought regarding dinosaurs is discussed as well as the fact that new findings are happening.
RL=3rd-5th

Garden Crafts for Kids is a resource for helping kids to get started as gardeners. Everything they will need to know is here, from potting plants and transferring trees to growing from seeds to designing a garden and composting. In fact, it can be used as a guide for any beginner gardener - adults, too. It's less crafty than most of the kids' gardening books, concentrating more on gardening itself. The crafts are more useful than average as well. There are some experiments also, such as generating electricity with an onion, and recipes.

The pictures are what drew me to the book at first. Much of the information is things I've already been exposed to as a gardener. Even so, there are some things I have not tried. The potato layers is one thing I would like to try, only I think I will make some bottomless boxes to stack instead of using tires. We have also not kept worms. I did already use one of the recipes and am thinking of a variation for next year when the spruce has new growth.

For beginners, you may want to read through and then try a little at a time. It may be too overwhelming to try all of the interesting projects at once. Refer back to the book when you are ready for more. Gardening is something that takes years to feel comfortable with. Adding on more and more as you go. Definitely worth the time. Soon you will be coming up with your own ideas, since gardening also leads to innovation.

related-gardening, gardens, nature crafts, woodworking, experiments, recipes
RL=4th or 5th-adult

G is for Googol, besides having one of the best names, is one of my favorite alphabet books. It's unique and delightful, explaining some great math terms in clear and simple speech. It also has fabulous graphic depictions and comical commentary. The reading level is about 3rd to 5th grade level, but it is really a book for all ages. Everyone can enjoy the comics. Elementary on up through adult can benefit from the clarification of ideas, and in turn discuss with children better, encouraging them to enjoy the concepts of math enough to persevere through the figuring they might not like as much.

Besides the educational value, it is a fun book. It shows that math is fascinating, something worth knowing for the pleasure of it. I think maybe a fault of school systems is that too often math is taught as just memorization and figuring from the beginning through half or all of high school. It isn't just a skill to acquire; there are exciting, mindblowing concepts involved.

G is for Googol and its counterpart Q is for Quark are books to buy for youngsters and keep and cherish. They are not quick reads; they serve as reminders as well as introductions. I have to say these books helped me to understand some of the terms better and explained terms I hadn't bothered to understand. Here's hoping that these books will lead to further exploration.

related-mathematics, alphabet, ABCs, educational comics, exploration
RL=all ages

Drawing on the idea of pictograms McLimans has graphically depicted the letters of the alphabet. Each letter becomes an endangered animal of the world. An attempt was made to pick animals whose characteristics worked well with their respective letters. It is an old idea to use pictures to help learn the sounds and shapes of letters. Some children (such as those taught in Waldorf schools) still learn their letters through tracing or drawing object-shaped letters. McLimans has taken the idea beyond the basic and also turned it into a lesson of diversity and ecology.

The book may be used for several ages, starting with familiarizing toddlers with the sounds of the letters. It can also be used up through 5th grade for lessons of biology, ecology, and art.

related-alphabet books, art of illumination, endangered species
RL=toddler-5th

The Board of Public Works in Richmond, Virginia announced a competition for a bridge to be built over the Tyart River in the town of Philippi. Anyone could compete. Construction experts from all over the Eastern United States came to participate. Lemuel Chenoweth, a self-taught cabinetmaker from northwestern Virginia, was awarded the contract. Unlike the other participants, he had no blueprints, and his model was much simpler than the engineers. But he ingeniously proved his bridge was strong in a way the others could not. The bridge today is part of a federal highway-holding many times the load for which it was built.

This is a great story about an amazing bridge with interesting facts and attractive pictures. There are also descriptions of other covered bridges that have survived at the end of the story.
RL=2nd-4th and read aloud

This is a simple and beautiful explanation of Fibonacci numbers: description of the pattern, its existence in nature, and historical notes regarding the observance of the pattern and similar number theory, such as the Golden Ratio and Lucas numbers.

The book starts by encouraging the reader to count petals of flowers. Each new one adds petals as the pattern grows, and previous flowers are displayed in the formation of the nautilus depiction of the pattern. Spirals of pine cones, sunflowers, and pineapples are also discussed, and a geometric spiral is shown at the end.

I like the simple, tactile discussion. I have found as a homeschool teacher that young children love number theory. It takes a certain type of mind to enjoy figuring numbers, but discussion of the importance of numbers can be quite engaging. Fibonacci numbers are a little mysterious. They're like a key to decoding the world, and this book gives children access to the secret.

related-Fibonacci numbers, numbers in nature, number patterns, number theory, number sequences, observing nature
RL=1st-3rd, could use for math classes up to 5th

This is a language-playful, season-passing poem about bird behavior. Different habitats are also included. Many of the descriptions are combined into adjectives with dashes. It has a nice rhythm and texture, all of it with very specific meaning.

I have no idea what the original illustrations were like. These took a little acclimation. After seeing the whole book, I've decided it's cool. The illustrations are mixed media, primarily using plasticine (a substitute for clay) so it resembles a relief. Very detailed modeled work! I love the poem, too, but it is worth a look just for the sculpturing. Whole scenes sculpted.

related-poetry for children, birds, seasons, habitats, science, animals RL=2nd-4th, read aloud to toddlers-1st

The gorgeous cover is what first attracted me to this book. With a title like a music celebrity's name, I didn't know what to expect from the contents. Looking inside, there is page after page of beautiful nature-related art, mostly frogs in different surroundings.

Seeing that it is a nonfiction book, I didn't expect to like the text as much as I did. Markle addresses the subject by telling the story of this particular frog's days as he protects the eggs, tadpoles, and young frogs until they are ready to explore the world. Also, there are several subjects incorporated in this one short story, a story balanced between the more personal level and scientific description.

I don't know if I would have been quite so interested if the type of frog wasn't unusual, though frogs are different enough to catch any young one's imagination. There are some specific aspects of the hip-pocket frog that lend themselves toward an interesting story. For example, having pockets at the hip for carry babies. I like the similarity with marsupials, though the baby frogs are not interacting with the parent.

I do absolutely love the illustrations. Markle and Marks work perfectly together. As beautiful as the art is, we are not just seeing a frog on a page; each drawing illustrates precisely the thought from the text.

I can see this being a favorite on the shelves of animal and nature loving children.

related-frogs, life cycle of frogs, hip-pocket frog, miniature wildlife habitats, life in the forest floor, nurture and and care of babies, protection from predators
RL=1st-3rd, read aloud with toddlers-1st

This is a fun and thought-provoking tribute to the awe-inspiring things animals can do. It also happens to be a wonderfully visual demonstration of ratio and proportion. Wouldn't you like to leap from home plate to first base in one bound? How about eat 700 hamburgers in one day?
RL=1st       math explanations L=4th-5th

These are 30 of the most famous articles taken from The Inventor's Times-a newspaper reporting on the latest inventions of the times. There are also some portions on the sides that are ridiculous and must have been as jokes for the publishing of the book.
RL=5th-8th

Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer is a biography for young readers focusing on Leonardo's notebooks, as that is where most of the knowledge of Leonardo da Vinci's thoughts, explorations, and discoveries come from. The writing is accessible to 1st through 5th graders (though a challenge for some 1st and 2nd graders) without watering down the content too much. The text could stand alone, but the illustrations add greatly to the appeal of the book. I selected the book first of all for the beauty of the design and pictures, and the reading experience was excellent with both combined. The illustrations draw the reader in, and with so many details, children will want to pour over the pages.

This may not be what you would normally think of as a picture book, but it can be used for young ones, primarily looking at the pictures or skipping over some of the content and discussing some, too. I do think there is enough information to appeal to 5th graders still, but the illustrations, blending many of da Vinci's own sketches with scenes from his life, are so fascinating that the illustrations are most of the book. Any child reading the book will come away with a greater understanding of Leonardo da Vinci than I had in my pre-college years.

related-Leonardo da Vinci, artists and paintings, scientific exploration and discoveries, observation and curiosity
RL=1st-5th, read aloud with pre-K through 1st

This is a fairly simple introduction to number theory that isn't normally taught before college level. The purpose is to explore the fascinating study of number patterns. It isn't that it can't be taught sooner. It's not considered important for students to learn, but it can encourage more interest in mathematical studies.

related-square numbers, magic squares, triangular numbers, Fibonacci sequence, relationship of dots and lines, number chains, probability, Pascal's triangle, patterns in a number square
RL=4th and up

An amazing book about an incredible man! If it's not enough that Eratosthenes was the chief librarian of the most famous library of ancient times-maybe ever-how about that he was able to figure out the circumference of the Earth using time, the angle of a shadow, rudimentary measuring techniques, and his mathematical knowledge? Add to that the fact that he had to research bits and pieces of information from the scrolls in the library and put it all together himself. All of this prompted by a question no one else could answer. Questions spurred his education from the beginning and set the course for his life.

The book is as much about Ancient Greek culture and education as it is about Eratosthenes, since there isn't much information to be found about him. Enough though to stimulate curiosity and inspire awe, which is exactly what the book does.

The illustrations work perfectly with story. The pictures are detailed but in a blurred way instead of exact. There is great use of color-vibrant in parts and subdued in others-with a smoothness throughout. I particularly enjoyed the shelves of scrolls, the sliced pie with the tiny people and camel, and the spread with the surveyors walking their measured steps. The pictures are so good that the book can be introduced to young kids despite the difficult concepts in the book. For young ones you will want to read ahead to determine if you want to skip some or reword some of the story.

related-Eratosthenes, measurement of Earth, Greek Astronomy, Ancient Geography, geographers, astronomers, library at Alexandria, Greek gymnasium or school
RL=1st-5th

Living Color is an eye-catching display of creatures and their colors. It has great discussion of the various purposes of color in the Animal Kingdom. The color in some of the creatures is exaggerated. The text is as vibrant as the illustrations. It also has facts and animals I didn't already know about. I do have to admit my kids know more about animals than I, due to the number of PBS programs and books to which they have been exposed. However, it is sure to generate interest in life sciences for young readers. The back section has FAQs related to color and more facts about the creatures presented.

related-camouflage, protection, attracting mates, warning of poison and other noxious characteristics, recognition, imitation, distraction, illusion (trick of the light), emotion, food (you are what you eat), surprise, communication, habitat for others
RL=2nd-4th, maybe as young as Kindergarten

The Magic School Bus originally by Joanna Cole. il. Bruce Degen.
Scholastic Inc: NY.

Besides being a very informative introduction to scientific ideas, the series motivates beginning readers with its witty dialogue and details.
RL=1st-3rd and read aloud to younger

By Joanna Cole: At the Waterworks, and the Electric Field Trip, Explores the Senses, For Lunch, Gets Lost in Space, Gets Planted, Goes Upstream, Going Batty, In the Attic, In the Rain Forest, In the Time of the Dinosaurs, Inside a Beehive, Inside the Human Body, Inside a Hurricane, Inside the Earth, Inside Ralphie, Lost in the Solar System, On the Ocean Floor, Out of This World

By Linda Beech: Gets Ants in Its Pants, Gets Baked in a Cake, Meets the Rot Squad

By George Bloom: Makes a Rainbow

By Gail Herman: Blows Its Top

By Nancy Krulik: Butterfly and the Bog Beast, Hello Out There

By Jane Mason: Ups and Downs

By Joseph Mitchell: Looking for Liz

By Jackie Posner: Shows and Tells

By Patricia Relf: Gets Eaten, Hops Home, Wet All Over

By Tracey Web: Gets Cold Feet, Spins a Web

By Nancy White: Gets a Bright Idea, Gets Programmed, Kicks Up a Storm, Sees Stars, Takes a Dive

The Man Who Made Time Travel by Kathryn Lasky. il Kevin Hawkes.
Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux: NY, 2003.

The title is a little deceptive. It is meant more literally than I would have expected. The story has to do with Britain's attempt to find an accurate way to measure longitude and so limit the number of lost and wrecked ships. Some people believed that the key would be in more accurate time keeping-including John Harrison, a rural self-taught carpenter with a passion for clockmaking. His concept was different than others in that he believed it was important to construct a timepiece that would not be affected by conditions at sea-especially weather and the rolling motion of the ships. He was successful and spent much of his life perfecting what are now called chronometers, but he ran into a snag with the contest which started his inventing.

Besides the most interesting story, Kevin Hawkes's illustrations are very well done. Most of them are impressionistic and capture the mood of the story. The cover, title page, and end pages are more detailed, and beautiful. Others are also arresting. All have certain highlighted details, some with a point to be made and some showing humor.
related-measurement of longitude, chronometers, John Harrison, measurement of time, history of clocks, clock and watch makers, biography
RL=3rd-5th

Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith.
Viking/Penguin Group: NY, 1995.

Have you ever had a day when you noticed a math problem in everything around you? Or do you make sure that never happens because it would be your worst nightmare? In Math Curse, Mrs. Fibonacci (math teacher) says "you can think of almost everything as a math problem" and starts a barrage of questions (some of them ridiculously unrelated).

This is my favorite Scieszka/Smith book so far. The problems are imaginative and at times hilarious. The pictures are absorbing and delightful as well.
related-math anxiety, mathematics
RL=2nd-5th (or anyone wanting a good laugh)

Mathematicians Are People, Too: Stories from the Lives of Great Mathematicians by Luetta Reimer & Wilbert Reimer.
Dale Seymour Publications: Palo Alta, CA, 1990.

Not only are mathematicians people, too, but they can have very interesting lives. The usual mathematicians are discussed here (Pythagorus, Archimedes, Newton, tec) plus others less well-known such as John Napier, Leonhard Euler, Sophie Germain, and Srinivasa Ramanujan. Half of the people I had either never heard of or only heard the name before reading the book. The biographies are short but fascinating and hopefully will generate more interest in mathematics since they show math as a process of thinking and logic not just figuring.
related-problem solving, geometry, number theory, algebra, computation, probabilty, measurement, mathematical symbols, women in mathematics
RL=5th-8th

Millions to Measure by David M. Schwartz. il. Steven Kellogg.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2003.

Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician gives a brief history of measurement. He suggests moving towards the future when hopefully the world will use the same measuring units to avoid confusion and costly mistakes. He introduces the metric system and explains its simplicity.
RL=2nd-3rd

My Friend, the Starfinder by George Ella Lyon. il by Stephen Gammell.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers: NY, 2008.

This is a more simple story than what usually appeals to me. I was drawn to it by the title and then the illustrations. The pictures are gorgeous with a cosmic and real feeling at once. Of course, this suits the story as the premise is that the tales the friend tells are too fantastic to believe, yet they are true. I'd like to linger a little longer on the specific tales, as they are miraculous themes, though very natural and regularly occurring. This is what I find so captivating about the book (though it barely touches on the idea); truly wondrous events occur, but they are simply science. Awesome! I wanted more, but it was a short, quick book.

I also enjoyed the author's mention of her friend and his father and grandfather living through all the Presidents' terms. There's no note of a time period for this statement, but it's mind-boggling nonetheless.

After reading through, make sure you go back and look closely at the pictures. They are a treat.

related-storytellers, meteors, falling stars, rainbows
RL=K-1st, read aloud to toddlers-K

Nature Got There First by Phil Gates.
Kingfisher: NY, 1995.

Nature is spotlighted here with descriptions of how inventors have copied natural phenomenon. Detailed pictures help us to see the parallels in this fantastic book. From architecture to transportation to energy nature has again and again lead the way.
RL=3rd to 5th

Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson. photos by Shmuel Thaler.
Tricycle Press/Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA, 1999.

This is a nonfiction poem celebrating the life cycle of pumpkins. Every aspect is lovingly described. The parts of the pumpkins seem to have personality as exhibited by Levenson and Thaler. The cycle is a circle, seeds to plants to pumpkins to seeds. I love the backyard full of pumpkin plants, vines everywhere.

The photos are great! You can feel the texture of the closeups. They match the wonderful description perfectly. The combination invites the readers to come play in the garden, and certainly to start their own special pumpkin patch that renews itself from year to year.

Besides how the pumpkins grow, there is further information in back for growing a pumpkin garden.

What a fantastic book! Another great garden book by Levenson and Thaler is Bread Comes to Life.

related-life cycle of pumpkins, backyard gardening, food, jack-o-lanterns, stories in rhyme, poetry for children
RL=1st-5th, read aloud to toddler-K

Q is for Quark by David M. Schwartz. il. Kim Doner.
Tricycle Press: Berkeley, 2001.

Q is for Quark is one of my favorite alphabet books, has a super cool name, and is one of the best science books for elementary students. It's style is unique and hilarious, explaining science terms and concepts in clear and simple speech, with humorous graphical depictions and comical commentary. The reading level is about 3rd to 5th grade, but it is a book for all ages. Everyone can enjoy the comics. Elementary on up can benefit from the clarification of ideas, promoting the discussion of the concepts with children, which encourages their exploration and willingness to persevere through science classes they may find difficult.

Q is for Quark is a fun book. I wish that my elementary science (what little there was) had been approached in this way. I would like to see more science taught in this way. The book uses normal terminology, but it also explains it without complicated terms which confuse the discussion. It shows science as the explorative subject that it is, something to play around with and observe results and reactions. There are some great concepts within the sciences that don't take a rocket scientist to understand. This book mostly is involved with fairly simple ones (unlike G is for Googol which explains some less elementary ideas), but it is a good book to start some exploration into the science world.

Q is for Quark and its counterpart G is for Googol are books to buy for youngsters and keep and cherish. They are not quick reads; they serve as reminders as well as introductions. I have to say these books helped me to understand some of the terms better and explained terms I hadn't bothered to understand. Here's hoping that these books will lead to further exploration.

related-science, alphabet, ABCs, educational comics, exploration
RL=all ages

Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle.
Picture Book Studio: Natick, MA, 1972.

Written as an introduction to numbers and sets, the story starts with Rooster leaving home to see the world, and 14 animals join him in his traveling. They don't get far before the animals change their minds in groups. The beautiful rooster is a great example of what draws children to Carle's books.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud PreK-K

Judgement Day: The Science of Discworld IV by Terry Pratchett with Ian Stewart & Jack Cohen.
Ebury Press: 2013.
Discworld series

This is a fusion of fiction and nonfiction, alternating Pratchett's short story chapters with science and history discourses on wide-ranging subjects, and comparing Discworld with Roundworld (Earth). I have never read anything quite like it. Not what I expected at all. Fascinating! I'm amazed at how much was packed into the book and how interesting it was to read it. Expect to take some time reading it. The science is slower going than the story.

Ultra-Condensed

• Funding of Big Science, such as Manhattan Project, NASA, Large Hadron Collider


• History of studying particles


• Human-centered vs universe-centered


• Life and consciousness, animate vs inanimate


• "As we came to understand our world more deeply, and asked new questions, comfortable answers in terms that we could intuitively understand began to make less and less sense."


• Majorie Daws arrives in Discworld, a wizardly experiment gone wrong.


• Discworld universe, swimming turtle with disc and references on Earth


• "One of the big puzzles about causality is that once you start to trace the causes of even the simplest features of the world, you find an ever-branching backward tree, with many unlikely things coming together at just the right instant to make something else happen. We rest on an infinite pile of coincidences, and the pile gets wider the further back we go. The probability of anything specific happening seems to be zero."


• Genetic combinations and recombinations, exponential possibility and variation


• Evolving of nature and technology


• "Well, here in Unseen University we take the view that sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology. However, as I understand it, you seldom need to say a mantra to get some engine to work...though I rather suspect that some people do." Ridcully


• Shape of Earth, history of determining it


• Ownership of Roundworld in question, claimed by Omnians


• RNA, ribosomes, emerging life on Earth


• New data muddling the waters, transcending theory and laws


• Arrangement of the parts makes the difference


• "Life has lifted itself out of the simple laws of nature, where it started, and is now a whole complex world, at least as different from that origin as a modern aeroplane is from a flint axe. The scene at the beginning of the film 2001, where the ape throws up a thighbone and it morphs into a space station, is a lovely illustration of just that kind of evolution. And that transformation is minor, compared to how life has transcended its origins."


• "Within that world [complexity of biological evolution], one of its beasts has acquired language, imagination, and a penchant for stories: a special, wholly new thing in the cosmos. Narrativium has escaped from Discworld into Roundworld; now some things do happen because there is a creature that wants them to."


• The Dean and Rincewind, exploratory visits to Roundworld


• Again, causality - change creating other changes in the surrounding world


• "Each new capability causes a particular technological path to branch, leading to new roads. Stuart Kauffman, one of the founders of complexity science, introduced the term 'the adjacent possible' to mean the possible behaviours of a complex system that are just a short step away from wherever it currently is. The adjacent possible is a list of what potentially might develop. In a sense, it is the system's potential."


• Adaptations and exaptations


• "[Besides imagining other possibilities] The other trick that minds can do to improve technology is to copy: to take a technical trick used in one invention and to spread its use to others."


• Trajectory of development and niche-driven communities and cultures


• Irrelevance and extinction


• Spheres abound


• The flat torus and hyperspheres and Escherverse


• Vast and expanding universe


• Much discussion of origin, shape and movement of the universe. Recent new data adds more questions and discussion, not answers.


• "Most sane, rational human beings learn quite early on that you feel just as certain even when you're wrong; the strength of your belief is not a valid measure of its relation to reality. If you have scientific training, you may even learn the value of doubt. You can certainly have religious beliefs and still be a good scientist; you can also be a good person and understand that people who disagree with your beliefs need not necessarily be evil, or even misguided. After all, most of the world's people - even the religious ones - probably think your beliefs are nonsense. They have a different set of beliefs, which you think are nonsense."


• Beliefs are formed through interaction of the brain with the person's surroundings, comparing new data with what is already known or believed. Complicity is the the chain of reactions that form that interaction, creating a unique experience between the two (or more).


• Variety of belief systems


• Intuition vs logical analysis


• "Our senses are imprecise, and their inputs to the brain are subject to 'noise' - random mistakes. The workings of the brain, being evolved wetware (the organic material of the nervous system) rather than carefully engineered hardware or software, are also subject to errors. The signals that the brain sends to the body suffer from unavoidable variability."


• Bayesian inference for probability, degree of confidence, prior belief influences perception of new data and vice versa


• Om called as a witness regarding the ownership of Roundworld


• L-space links libraries across all space and time. The concept of a flat world leaked into roundworld, and that of a round world leaked the other way into Discworld.


• Omnian assassins foiled


• Inadvisably Applied Magic group


• "What proportion of people do we need to be rational, to keep civilisation running? More to the point, these days: how many people does it take -gangsters or terrorists, bigots or zealots - to break down the workings of a civilised society?"


• "People live their lives, and are acquainted with all kinds of events, but for most people it's a small world. In an African tribe, there may be fasts and festivals, intimate relationships with about twenty people, mostly relatives, and a nodding acquaintance with about another hundred; just like Orthodox Jews in Golders Green, or Muslims in Bradford. Workmates, hobbyists, football supporters, pub acquaintances and friends can bring the total up to about 150. Humans seem to be able to remember about 200 faces, at most."


• "Since the beginning of recorded history, which is defined by the invention of writing by the Sumerians around 6000 years ago, historians have catalogued over 3,700 supernatural beings, of which 2,870 can be considered deities. So next time someone tells me they believe in God, I'll say 'Oh, which one? Zeus? Hades? Jupiter? Mars? Odin? Thor? Krishna? Vishnu? Ra...?' If they say 'Just God. I only believe in the one God,' I'll point out that they are nearly as atheistic as me. I don't believe in 2,870 gods, and they don't believe in 2,869."


• "The default is to disbelieve. An atheist is not someone who believes that God doesn't exist. It is someone who doesn't believe that God does exist. If you think those are the same, ponder this statement by the comedian Penn Jillette: 'Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.'"


• "In both [embryological and cultural development], evolutionary changes occur through complicity between several programmes, each of which affects the future of the others. As time passes, each programme not only affects its own future by its own internal dynamics: it also changes its future by the changes it causes in the other programmes."


• "It [Science] replaces blind faith by carefully targeted doubt. It has existed in its current form for no more than a few centuries, although precursors go back a few thousand years. There is a sense in which "know" is too strong a word, for scientists consider all knowledge provisional. But what we 'know' through science rests on much more secure foundations than anything else that we claim to know, because those foundations have survived being tested to destruction."

RL=adult, accessible to YA
Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman. il Beckie Prange.
Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2005.
Caldecott Honor 2006

As with most collections, some of the poems resonate better than others. The accompanying woodcut illustrations are remarkable. I also like the biology facts given for each creature. The collection is an observation of life and the food chain surrounding ponds.
RL=3rd-5th and read aloud

The illustrator's note says more woodcuts can be viewed at www.wildlifewoodcuts.com.

Spiderwebs to Skyscrapers: The Science of Structures (Experiment! Series) by Dr. David Darling.
Dillon Press/Macmillan Publishing Company: NY, 1991.

Darling explains a few principles of structural engineering. He has provided easy experiments using household objects to illustrate his points, and the text is clear and interesting.
RL=5th-7th

TeenVestor.com by Emmanuel Modu and Andrea Walker.
Gateway Publishers: Newark, NY, 2001.


This is a great resource for beginners to understand investment choices (teens and adults). It is straightforward and fairly easy, but does require some focus. There is a section on teaching children the importance of saving money, how to save, and managing money. A simple, teen-based business is used to illustrate the concepts of investment statements and balance sheets. Then this is compared to a larger company. The last third of the book deals with stock market terms, understanding the market, and learning how to choose investments.

The book has a partner website to help with hands-on learning as well as assignments throughout the book. There is resource information such as industry publications, educational websites addresses, research and business news, and a list of online brokers.

The book is a starting point. Enough to understand initial choices and monitoring. Hopefully, the resources listed will help readers to continue educating themselves about this important moneymaking tool.

I believe investing has become very important, and I want to help my children to make wise choices. But it should be noted that the economy is much weaker than it was even in 2001, when the book was published. Invest with extreme caution! Invest only what you can afford to lose, and pick companies that are not likely to tank if more banks close. Or if you can risk some, invest in companies that you believe in and want to help succeed or weather difficulties.

I did find the book informative and helpful, as a relative beginner. If you read it and notice the blatant self-advertising (address throughout the book, address as title), remember the info is important enough to keep reading.

related-investments, evaluating stocks, mutual funds, teenagers, personal finance, stockmarket, getting & managing money, business & financial concepts, income
RL=YA-adult

Ten Rowdy Ravens by Susan Ewing. il Evon Zerbetz.
Alaska Northwest Books/Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company: Portland, OR, 2005.


It's hard to say what I like best about this-the awesome color, texture, and details of the linocut prints, the meaningful language (also full of texture) for each number counted, or the entertaining and true reports of ravens in the short news section at the end. This is a counting book (backwards), but is far more than that. Each of the ideas portrayed is something totally in character for the ravens, branded as sharp-witted troublemakers through the ages. I especially like the ravens hanging on the laundry line. Can't you just picture it? When I first picked up the book, I had no idea what a treat was in store for me.

related-counting books, counting rhymes, ravens, habits of ravens and crows, birds
RL=2nd and up, plus read aloud to young ones

Tiger With Wings: The Great Horned Owl by Barbara Juster Esbensen. il. Mary Barrett Brown.
Orchard Books: NY, 1991.

Attractive pictures will delight young readers. The clear and informative text is absorbing.
RL=2nd-4th

The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination selected by Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston.
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky: Naperville, IL, 2009.


This poetry book is a lovely surprise. Knowing the intent of the collaboration, I was expecting something more heavily scientific or education oriented, and biased at that. What I found instead was beautiful and thoughtful contemplation of nature and many aspects of life. It is educational in that there are informational extras, on the pages and in the glossary and poet sections in back. Also in that it is a thinking experience for all readers, or listeners. There are many delightful observations, and as is normal with poetry, so much play with language.

The overall themes are gradual evolution through time and biological curiosity. I like the approach of the book. It is primarily a nature poetry book. I think if Darwin could be taught in this way (mainly observations that he had, that we all can have if we look closely) the subject would be less controversial. The poetry is exciting. There are many facts or points that increased my own curiosity about creatures, things I never thought of before, as well as comparisons between the creatures and society of mankind.

I can see this collection being used as a middle school poetry textbook. Different forms of poetry are represented by well-known poets, including Mary Ann Hoberman, U.S. Children's Poet Laureate of 2008. The biology teachers will love it, too, for the promotion of exploration in the natural world, looking closely at unique features and tiny elements normally overlooked.

The collection includes a CD with selected poems performed, mostly by the poets. Twelve of the poems selected were poems that I picked out as favorites before checking the tracks. The title poem by Mary Ann Hoberman, Cross-Purposes by her also, Think Like a Tree by Karen I. Shragg, Just Living by Hans Christian Andersen, Rain Forest by Marilyn Singer, and Locust by Hoberman are among my favorites of the collection, and all are on the CD.

The poet biography section leaves me wanting to find many of their own collections for further reading. There are also recommended books for further interest in evolution, Charles Darwin's books and others.

Here's a link to a great interview with Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston, cultural anthropologist and teacher, about the inspiration for the collection and some of the audio poems.

related-figurative language, poetry, scientific observation, biology, anthropology, philosophy
RL=4th and up, mainly for middle graders

The Voyager's Stone: The Adventures of a Message-Carrying Bottle Adrift on the Ocean Sea by Robert Kraske. il by Brian Floca.
Orchard Books: NY, 1995.


This is a unique and interesting blend of oceanography and geography. Kraske depicts ocean scenes as if the reader is there viewing them, almost as if we are the bottle. For each part of the ocean, it is like a day in the life of some creatures inhabiting the area. After being tossed into the sea by a boy, the bottle drifts, is tossed, tumbled and gets stuck. It travels great distances, and there are maps of wind and water currents to help the reader visualize the journey. The story is packed with more adventure than one would expect considering the subject is a drifting object. Creatures and storms make up the bulk of it.

The illustrations are a nice addition. The story would be much less meaningful without them. I found the book looking specifically for the illustrator's books.

The story's tone is what is most different. It is written with a nonfiction perspective, though portions are great story writing. The author blurb says Kraske has written on a variety of subjects, so I will have to do some looking.

related-oceanography, geography, life in the ocean, creatures of the sea, drift bottles, message bottles, water currents of the world, storms at sea, nature
RL=2nd-4th

Where in the Wild? by David M. Schwartz and Yael Schy. photos by Dwight Kuhn.
Tricycle Press/Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA, 2007.

This book has three layers blending together: the awesome photos exhibiting camouflage in a fun and interactive manner, the descriptive poems that act as clues to the creatures hidden, and the biological information given for each.

The spectacular photos can be enjoyed by all ages. The poems work perfectly with their respective pictures. I also like that the habitats are used for the borders and poem titles. The text is informative, yet not strictly factual. It is a pleasure to read.

related-ladybugs, coyote, tree frogs, fawns, weasels, moths, killdeer, shorebirds, crab spiders, flounder, green snakes, red-spotted newts, camouflage, animals
RL=3rd-5th     read aloud to 1st & 2nd

Your Atomic Self: The Invisible Elements That Connect You to Everything Else in the Universe by Curt Stager.


From the very beginning, I was hooked on this book. Understanding the elements leads one to philosophical thoughts, apparently, and some to be poetic in their description. I had no idea when I started the book that I would be so amazed by it. While I generally am interested in atomic theory, I find most media presents it in a way that is still above the level of someone who has not reached an understanding of the elements. So, it remains mysterious and out of reach.

Maybe it is partly due to being a book instead of video, that is easy to read over and over or flip back through for better understanding, but I think also because Stager addresses elements individually, starting with the simplest (and oldest) and progresses from there. Reading a segment at a time focuses on the special aspects of each of eight elements that are essential to our bodies and life on the planet. The interaction between them to form life is awesome to understand and contemplate, leading to excitement, poetry and philosophy. It is obvious how much Stager loves the subject and wants to share it. A reading of the book may very well enrich your life, to look around you and see the elements at work in your lives. Open your eyes to this world and universe of elements and see how we are all linked within them.

I absolutely love picking up some random book to read and having it be such an important experience! As a tribute, I have created a crossword puzzle for it.

related-matter, atoms, composition of the human body, elements, molecules, organic chemistry and biochemistry, quantum physics, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, iron, sodium, calcium, phosphorus
RL=adult, but accessible to 7th and up