No name

What Makes a Magnet?

Author(s): 
Franklyn M. Branley
Illustrator(s): 
True Kelley
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1996
ISBN: 
9780064451482
Publisher: 
Harper Collins
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
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.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
12-27-99

Elephant Families

Book cover: Elephant Families
Author(s): 
Arthur Dorros
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1994
ISBN: 
9780785734154
Publisher: 
HarperTrophy
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
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.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-4-01

Animals in Winter

Book cover: Animals in Winter
Author(s): 
Henrietta Bancroft
Richard Van Gelder
Illustrator(s): 
Helen Davie
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1997
ISBN: 
9780060271589
Publisher: 
HarperTrophy
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

A beautifully illustrated look at where various animals go when it snows and how they prepare for winter. We learn details of the migration of various animals (such as birds, butterflies and bats), animals that hibernate, animals that store up food for the winter and animals that have to find their food throughout the winter. Includes instructions for feeding birds and other wild animals in your own backyard.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-4-01

How a Seed Grows

Book cover: How a Seed Grows
Author(s): 
Helene J. Jordan
Illustrator(s): 
Loretta Krupinski
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1992
ISBN: 
9780064451079
Publisher: 
Harper Collins
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

A very simple, charming book that explains to young children what seeds are and takes them through the development of some bean seeds. The growth present each day is illustrated in the book and the child is invited to try grow the beans themselves and watch the progress in real life. The book also introduces children to different kinds of seeds (for trees, flowers, vegetables, etc.), and how each seed will grow into the same kind of plant that it came from, and the basic things necessary to make a plant grow.

Additional notes: 
Copyrights 1960/1992
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
12-27-99

What Lives in a Shell?

Book cover: What Lives in a Shell?
Author(s): 
Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Illustrator(s): 
Helen K. Davie
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1994
ISBN: 
9780060229993
Publisher: 
Harper Collins
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

This beautifully illustrated book, designed for preschool and kindergarten, explains different kinds of shells and the creatures that inhabit them. The shells are compared to the shelter occupied by people and by other animals. We learn that some shells do grow larger along with certain animals while other animals must shed their out-grown shell in favor of a new one. Many shells are beautifully depicted and identified and the story-format of the text is very easy and interesting for young children to follow.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
11-17-99

Falcons Nest on Skyscrapers

Book cover: 'Falcons Nest on Skyscrapers'
Author(s): 
Priscilla Belz Jenkins
Illustrator(s): 
Megan Lloyd
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1996
ISBN: 
9780060211059
Publisher: 
Harper Collins
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Setting: 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

This is a very interesting book (with excellent illustrations) that introduces young children to various falcons living in the United States, some of their remarkable abilities and the story of how some scientists were successful in re-introducing the peregrine falcon in the Eastern United States after they nearly became extinct because of an insect spray called DDT which was overused earlier in the twentieth century. The story focuses on Scarlett, a peregrine falcon who was born in captivity, released, and discovered building a nest thirty-three stories up on the ledge of a skyscraper in Baltimore. This location made observation ideal and we learn that she managed to find a wild falcon for a mate and that their offspring have helped significantly in restoring the falcon population.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
12-27-99

How do Apples Grow?

Book cover: How do Apples Grow?
Author(s): 
Betsy Maestro
Illustrator(s): 
Giulio Maestro
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1992
ISBN: 
9780064451178
Publisher: 
HarperTrophy
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

The development of apples is presented, from leaf and flower buds in the winter, thru blossoms in the spring, pollination and the actual growth of the apple. In addition to beautiful scenic pictures of trees in blossom and bees pollinating the trees, there are more technical drawings which illustrate the parts of a flower, show flowers in the different stages of development and show the connections between the original blossom and the ripe apple. The text also introduces some important terminology that will be useful in later science studies (pollen, stamen, pistil, etc.). Overall, a very nice and useful book.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-4-01

How do Birds Find Their Way?

Book cover: How do Birds Find Their Way?
Author(s): 
Roma Gans
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1996
ISBN: 
9780060202255
Publisher: 
HarperTrophy
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

A nicely illustrated and interesting look at the amazing phenomenon of bird migration, what we know about how migration works and some various theories about details that are still being studied. Includes a chart of how high various birds fly.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4-4-01

Who Eats What? Food Chains and Food Webs

Book cover: Who Eats What? Food Chains and Food Webs
Author(s): 
Patricia Lauber
Illustrator(s): 
Holly Keller
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1995
ISBN: 
9780060229825
Publisher: 
Harper Collins
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

This book explores the notion of various plants and animals that are linked together based on "who eats what." Children will learn about some simple food chains such as – leaf, caterpillar, wren and hawk. They also see how one plant or animal can belong to several food chains and that members or these related food chains (food webs) have a certain amount of dependence on each other. The text goes on to explain, through an example of a problem with over-hunted otters around the turn of the century, that when part of a food chain is disturbed, the other members will also be affected. There are some mild "environmental" messages in this text which our family used as an opportunity to discuss good stewardship of what God has given us.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Book cover: Why Do Leaves Change Color?
Author(s): 
Betsy Maestro
Illustrator(s): 
Loretta Krupinski
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1994
ISBN: 
9780064451260
Publisher: 
Harper Collins
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

Our family has really enjoyed this book which explains why leave fall off the trees before winter, where the different colors come from, how weather affects the brilliancy of the colors and lots more. It's written in a very simple manner, so that it's quite understandable even for preschoolers or kindergarteners, and yet it contains substantial information so that even moms (like me) realize that they don't know everything : ) You'll also find labeled pictures of the leaves from different kinds of trees, a cross section of a leaf, an explanation of how trees make food, and how to make leaf rubbings and preserve leaves by ironing them between sheets of waxed paper.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

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