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The Moon Seems to Change

Author(s):

Franklyn M. Branley

Subject(s):

Astronomy

Grade / Age level:

Grades K-2

1987

Review:

This book, through simple illustrations and very readable text, gives young children (approximately Kindergarten thru third grade) an excellent explanation of the moon and the changes we can easily observe in it during a month. What often seem like complex concepts - the phases of the moon and its movement relative to the earth - are made very understandable through the text and a very simple experiment involving an orange stuck onto a pencil (a styrofoam ball stuck onto a chopstick worked quite well for us with less mess) and a flashlight. Naturally, it's recommended to do some real observations along with the book.

Publisher:

Harper Collins

Series:

Let's Read and Find Out Science

Binding:

Softcover

Number of pages:

32 pages

Additional notes:

Copyrights 1960/1987

Review Date:

12-2-99

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Moon Seems to Change

What Makes a Magnet?

Author(s):

Franklyn M. Branley

Subject(s):

Electricity and Magnetism

Grade / Age level:

Elementary

1996

Review:

What Makes a Magnet? constitutes a fairly substantial introduction to magnets for children approximately ages 5 to 9. They are invited to do a little discovery for themselves by doing some "fishing" with a magnet in a box of miscellaneous objects and see what things the magnet will pick up. The book goes on to explain that magnets pick up, not everything made of metal, but objects which contain iron in particular. Also explained are how to make your own magnet and compass, the poles of magnets and the earth, and the history of the discovery of the first magnets (lodestones) and how they were used for early navigation. This is a very nice early science book (despite a few "corny" pictures) because of the rich content in a simple format and how the book actively involves the child in the learning process.

Publisher:

Harper Collins

Series:

Let's Read and Find Out Science

Binding:

Softcover

Number of pages:

32 pages

Review Date:

12-27-99

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

What Makes a Magnet?

Elephant Families

Author(s):

Arthur Dorros

Subject(s):

Mammals

Grade / Age level:

Elementary

1994

Review:

This book focuses on elephant's care for and interaction with each other with a significant emphasis on elephants being killed by poachers.

Unlike the interesting scientific information designed to impart facts and help children develop an interest in science (as I've come to expect from the Let's Read-and-Find-Out Science Series) this book gets lost in the mediocrity of environmentalism by giving children a sort of emotional attachment to elephants (by over-emphasizing their slight similarities with people) and shocking them with details about how and why people kill elephants and a somewhat gruesome (relative to the age-level) picture of a truck filled with blood-stained elephant tusks. Rather disappointing altogether.

Publisher:

HarperTrophy

Series:

Let's Read-and-Find-Out Science

Binding:

Softcover

Number of pages:

32 pages

Review Date:

4-4-01

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Elephant Families

Little Black Ant on Park Street

Author(s):

Janet Halfmann

Subject(s):

Science

Illustrator(s):

Kathleen Rietz

Grade / Age level:

Elementary

ISBN:

2 147 483 647

Resource Type:

Picture Books

2009

Review:

The Smithsonian’s Backyard Collection series “is a world of wonder for children intrigued by the wildlife outside their windows.” The books have an over-sized format, and each page filled with colorful and detailed illustrations with large-print text. This newest book in the series tells the story of Little Black Ant searching for food. Though the book may be written for younger children, this is not a book that is more story than science. From regurgitating food in their social stomachs, to fending off an intruding carpenter ant, to a swarming nest, this book teaches a good deal about ants. On the back page, the top section summarizes the scientific information from the story followed by a glossary; the bottom section, Points of Interest in this Book, identifies other plants and animals illustrated in the story. This book and others in the series are a great introduction to nature in our own backyards.

Publisher:

Soundprints

Series:

Smithsonian's Backyard

Binding:

Paperback

Number of pages:

32 pages

Review Date:

2-21-2010

Reviewed by:

Kris Correira

TitleSort:

Little Black Ant on Park Street