Science & Technology Books

Snowflake Bentley (Caldecott Medal Book)

Jacqueline Briggs Martin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Through a lens whitely 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Last week when PK-4 came to the library for story time, I had picked out "Snow Friends" to read. Because the weather had been cold, I had the little ones put their hands aside their faces, concentrate on snow, and say, Believe, believe, believe. We said that a few times, then went on with the story. Well, it happened, three days later, in north Louisiana where we get snow once every two or three years, just a little dusting. But it snowed and one child told his teacher that they believed and it happened.

Willie Bentley was that way about snow. He was born in 1865 in Vermont, "in the heart of the snowbelt, where the annual snowfall is about 120 inches." As a boy he was fascinated with snow flakes, especially after his mother gave him an old microscope. "I found that snowflakes were masterpieces of design. No one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted...just that much beauty was gone...."

When he was fifteen he drew over 100 snow crystals each year for three winters, dismayed at the number he was losing. When he was seventeen his parents bought him a camera, even as his father pooh-poohed his foolishness. Its lens could magnify up to 3600 times the size of the snowflake. It took two years finally to photograph a snowflake, but it was the beginning of a historic record. (Do you know that it was Bentley who documented and proved that each snowflake is uniquely different, something every school child knows.)

Over the years he finally earned recognition for his photographs. Colleges bought copies for their collections, artists and designers bought his photographs for inspiration. As "the Snowflake Man,' he became world-renowned. When he was sixty-six other scientists--as Willie could be called--raised enough money to publish his book, "Snow Crystals," even now the first source people consult to learn about snow.

Yes, neighbors initially laughed at a teen who wanted to take pictures of snow in Vermont. However, his life's work and reputation proved them misguided. After his death they erected a statue in his honor in the center of town. Forty years after that, they established a museum to honor "Snowflake Bentley."

You, too, might giggle at the thought of a man so enamored of snow. I call it focus. Often the great contributors to making our world better or more beautiful are those who eschew scorn or laughter and keep right on working. There is an awe-filled lesson in these pages.

Caldecott Gold 1999: Jacqueline Briggs Martin, writer; Mary Azarian, illustrator

To see his book, click on this title: Snow Crystals by W. A. Bentley

Editorial Review:

From the time he was a small boy, Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. Bentley's enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths: no two snowflakes are alike; and each one is startlingly beautiful. His story is gracefully told and brought to life in lovely woodcuts, giving children insight into a soul who had not only a scientist's vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature. "Of all the forms of water the tiny six-pointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied." -- Wilson Bentley. SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY won the 1999 Caldecott Medal.

Moon Landing: Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Pop-Up

Richard Platt

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> History & Historical Fiction -> United States -> General

Editorial Review:

"This wonderful book retells our story vividly. I should know; I was there."
— Buzz Aldrin

Trace the history of people's fascination with the moon — and the scientific developments that led to a ground-breaking mission — in an out-of-this-world novelty book marking the first moon landing. Acclaimed author Richard Platt focuses on humankind's dreams of traveling to the moon, the race to conquer space, the technology needed to reach the moon and sustain the astronauts in space, and the moon landing itself. Re-creating the excitement of the expedition are extraordinary pop-ups depicting a rocket, the lunar module, a spaceship, and a spectacular spherical moon, while booklets and flaps offer readers a wealth of intriguing facts.

* Published in anticipation of the fortieth anniversary of the first moon landing on July 20, 1969

* Features official NASA photographs, two mini-books, and fun informational flaps

Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women

Catherine Thimmesh

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Empowering and informative 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

This book goes a long way towards encouraging girls (and women!) to put their creative powers to practical use. It is so gratifying to learn that many everyday items (ice cream cones; Toll House cookies) were invented by women. And the items that are not so 'everyday' (Kevlar; space shields) have such a positive impact on the world around us. The illustrations are wonderfully creative, blending the fascinating details of the text into whimsical collages. Don't forget the sidebars - lots of fun facts there as well.

Loved it. Very inspirational. 5 out of 5 stars.
13 of 14 people found this review helpful.

I first read the book with my daughter and then shared it with my Girl Scout troop. It was very inspirational and a joy to see some many innovations coming from women.

Editorial Review:

In kitchens and living rooms, in garages and labs and basements, even in converted chicken coops, women and girls have invented ingenious innovations that have made our lives simpler and better. Their creations are some of the most enduring (the windshield wiper) and best loved (the chocolate chip cookie). What inspired these women, and just how did they turn their ideas into realities?

Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein

Don Brown

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Relatively (ha ha) good 4 out of 5 stars.
19 of 22 people found this review helpful.

If every adult biographer has his or her own personal style, why should the case be any different for children's book biographers? And when it comes to picture book biographies, certain names come to mind. David Adler, of course, though his books are so uncommonly dull that I tend to pity the children I hand them to (being a children's librarian and all). Peter Sis, though his bios require a great deal of time and patience to parse. James Rumford to some extent, though "Sequoyah" is probably his best bio to date. No, when it comes down to it Don Brown is the picture book biographer that nine of ten kids prefer every time. I don't have any actual statistics to back that statement up, I just say what I see. And what I see is an author who is able to take unknown heroes (Mary Kingsley, Alice Ramsey, Ruth Law, etc.) and too well-known heroes (Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, etc.) and give them interesting picture book biographies that kids will both relate to and love.

We all know some basic facts about Einstein. He was a guy with a head of white unruly hair. When you yell, "Hey, Einstein!", you are making reference to the fact that he was once a genius. So how much do you know about this great man as a child? In this book, Brown introduces us to Albert from day one (March 14, 1879, to be exact). As a boy, Albert has his good moods and he has his bad moods. In a good mood he can create a house of cards fourteen stories high and ponder the mysteries of a compass for fun. In a bad mood he is prone to hitting his little sister, terrifying his tutor, and getting so upset that his nose turns white. As we watch, Albert is given an amazing amount of freedom. He wanders the Munich streets alone at the age of four. He discovers geometry with the help of a friendly medical student. The book progresses and we learn a little about Albert's personality from offhand comments. "Soldiers on parade excite the boys. They disturb Albert". At end of this journey, Albert comes up with theory of relativity and, "For the world, Einstein comes to mean not fat baby, or angry child, or odd boy, but great thinker". And now our children can understand where all genius has its beginnings. In the ordinary and familiar.

What I enjoyed about the book was that Brown doesn't linger on just the good things in Einstein's life. No child's a saint, and Albert is no exception. Brown humanizes this latter-day god, giving him a family, a childhood, and a history that kids today (in spite of their love of computerization and high-tech toys) will understand. Who amongst us doesn't recognize Albert's reluctance to engage in organized sports as something we, or someone we know, have also felt? The story is laid out beautifully. The illustrations are little more haphazard. Granted, I really liked the picture of Albert engaged in a temper tantrum. His little fists are clenched and his nose, true to the text, is a slightly whitish color. By and large these pen and ink pictures colored in with watercolors work well. There's just the occasional oddity. When teachers wonder if Albert is dull-witted, Brown illustrates a disturbingly glazed-eyed kid who reinforces their concern. It's a peculiar picture, but there's no denying that it conveys the text well.

I saw Mr. Brown speak not too long ago to a gathering of librarians, and I found that I was not especially impressed with him as a person. Nonetheless, the man does nice work. And of the work that he has done, "Odd Boy Out" is probably one of his best. It's a beautifully rendered story that kids will prefer far above and beyond similar Einstein biographies. Not genius, but pretty darn close.

Editorial Review:

When he was born, Albert was a peculiar, fat baby with an unusually big and misshaped head. When he was older, he hit his sister, bothered his teachers, and didn't have many friends. But in the midst of all of this, Albert was fascinated with solving puzzles and fixing scientific problems. The ideas Albert Einstein came up with during his childhood as an odd boy out were destined to change the way we know and understand the world around us . . .

Who Was Albert Einstein?

Jess Brallier

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Full of Information! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I thought Who Was Albert Einstein? was a great book. Hats off to Jess Brallier! I have read this book two or three times, which is rare for me, since I do not like to re-read things, so that must tell you how good this book is! I learned a lot of things like he was born on March 14, 1879, he had two wives, he wasn't the best father (in his own words), his brain is floating around in a jar today, 52 years after his death, and many more interesting things! You should read this book, and I would even recommend it to adults!!!

wonderful series 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book contains many facts about Albert Einstein that may be new to you. Although I have several books about this man, this remains my favorite. In fact when a student's father accidentally spilled his coffee on it, I knew I had to get a new one for the classroom library.

Editorial Review:

Everyone has heard of Albert Einstein-but what exactly did he do? How much do kids really know about Albert Einstein besides the funny hair and genius label? For instance, do they know that he was expelled from school as a kid? Finally, here's the story of Albert Einstein's life, told in a fun, engaging way that clearly explores the world he lived in and changed.

Great Scientists (DK Eyewitness Books)

Jacqueline Fortey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The best of the best 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The DK Eyewitness books belong in the personal library of every curious adult, all school libraries, and on the shelves of children seeking early knowledge in particular scientific fields.

However, I make an exception for "Eyewitness: Great Scientists." This is such an outstanding book, even for an outstanding series of books, that I cannot recommend it for everyone. That is a really strange statement, I know. "Eyewitness: Great Scientists" is really for the curious who thirst for knowledge, who must know things. Its depth is beyond other Eyewitness books. For science it is still an introduction, but an introduction to approximately 30 different fields.

"Eyewitness: Great Scientists" is a whetstone for young minds interested in any field of science. Why? For example, the child is introduced to Madame Curie, is fascinated by her life and work, then seeks out single books about her. Curiosity grows into a greater knowledge. This book is not a stopping point, but a stepping stone to a greater destination.

Most of the 30 scientists are given a two-page spread identifying them, their work, a timely chronology, sideline stories, and other related matter. The two-pages include photographs, illustrations, and text.

Look at some of the scientists included:
Aristotle
Archimedes
Zhang Heng
William Harvey
Georges Cuvier
Charles Babbage
Louis Pasteur
Marie Curie
Albert Einstein
Edwin Hubble
Dorothy Hodgkin
Stephen Hawking

The book concludes with a section on "Science and the future," offers milestones, lists websites to "Find out more," and discusses the Nobel Prize.

All the new Eyewitness books come with a 24 x 36 poster highlighting topics from the book and a CD of related clip art. This particular poster has Einstein's relativity theory, Marie Curie's x-ray, Hubble's telescope, Crick and Watson's DNA model, Darwin's natural selection, Harvey's blood flow, Newton's light spectrum, Zhang Heng's star chart, and Archimedes' Screw, plus a few more. The poster is a learning experience in itself.

I hope this review convinces you that "Eyewitness: Great Scientists" is a book to have, not just to collect dust, but to take out and read and add to your store of knowledge. Perhaps it will influence a young mind to do great things!

Editorial Review:

In these 4 all-new titles-each with its own clip-art CD and wall chart-DK shines its Eyewitness spotlight on vital topics from the past, present, and future. While Mesopotamia explore the cradle of civilization and Great Scientists reveals the minds that shaped the modern world, China investigates the present-day culture of the most populous country on the planet, and Oil takes a look at the controversial substance responsible for the beginning-and, if we're not careful, the end of life as we know it today.

Tunnel in the Sky

Robert A. Heinlein

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 71 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Sci-fi version of Lord of the Flies, only happier 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I highly recommend this for teenagers -- and like all Heinlein, it has some good stuff in there for any thoughtful person. This is the sci-fi version of the darker Lord of the Flies (pulished one year earlier in 1954).

A very good read - but some problems 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Tunnel in the Sky is one of Heinlein's Juvenile books and stars a teenager about graduate high school but with one last exam. The exam is for him to be put stranded on an unknown planet with an unknown terrain and be prepared for basically anything. There is also the possibility of death during the exam and this is the first problem with the book. The idea of putting high school students, as part of their HS courses, in such grave danger where some of them are indeed killed and many are very seriously wounded is crazy. What kind of future society would deliberately risk the lives and limbs of HS students like this? They also allow the students to take high powered guns, indeed any weapon they want, again unsupervised and alone on a far away planet. The other problem I have is that Heinlein basically moves the 1950's into some remote future (date unknown). This novel has 50's all over it, with the children using such phrases as "golly" and "fiddlesticks" and Cleaver type families. But these things aside, the book is great. Rod is a great leading character who makes mistakes and isn't a cardboard cutout, the supporting roles are also filled out nicely with good characters who behave like people. This book is a great read and any science fiction fan young or old will enjoy every thing it has to offer, despite being originally part of Heinlein's juvenile line-up. I highly recommend it.

Editorial Review:

It was just a test . . .
But something had gone wrong. Terribly wrong. What was to have been a standard ten-day survival test had suddenly become an indefinite life-or-death nightmare.
Now they were stranded somewhere in the universe, beyond contact with Earth . . . at the other end of a tunnel in the sky. This small group of young men and women, divested of all civilized luxuries and laws, were being forced to forge a future of their own . . . a strange future in a strange land where sometimes not even the fittest could survive!
". . . fascinating . . . ingenious . . . this a book in the grand tradition of high literature!"
-- The New York Times

Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? (Who Was...?)

Roberta Edwards

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

i can't wait to get the whole series 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This is one of the best biographies aimed at children that I have ever read. The main narrative is interspersed with sidebars about different historical explanations about relevant topics such as the invention of paper, ranking of workers within the guild system, Copernicus, The illustrations by True Kelley are light-hearted, accessible, and they carry the text. How else do you explain a painting?

Great subject for a children book. 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great subject for a children book. I got this series of books for my daughter and she really enjoyes reading them. Great read and educational too.

Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The friends at my school read Who Was? Books too. so, i decided to read them and they're SO COOL! I Own 12 Who Was? Books and have read 18. Who Was? Books are so popular at my school. My friend that i was talking about read all the Who Was? Books and has 16.

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth

Kathryn Lasky

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Have genius, will measure! 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

It is amazing how the union of art and words can produce a book so full of wonders. How to count them? How to describe them? Perhaps the bibliography is the place to begin. The writer Kathryn Lasky consulted nine sources for the information incorporated into the story of Eratosthenes; Kevin Hawkes, the illustrator, used sixteen.

Each double-page spread of illustration displays the artist's extensive knowledge of all things Greek and Cyrenian (Greek city on the coast of Africa in what is now Libya, where Eratosthenes grew up). Textile patterns, Greek urn art, linens, palm trees, brick work, plant life, housing, clothing styles, educational settings, musical instruments, mathematical counting methods, colors, architecture, landscaping. These are just a few items from the first few pages. The artwork is truly magnificent, yet part of the story as information. His intense and deep bright colors match the intensity of North Africa.

Lasky also pours information into the story, revealing pretty much what it was like in Eratosthenes' day. As for Eratosthenes, Lasky notes in the introduction that not much is known about his life, but much is known of the Greek world, its people, and its culture. All Lasky had to do was place an intensely curious child into the Greek setting to lay the background for the development of this genius.

As a librarian, I was most impressed with the library in Alexandria and how it was run. Being named head librarian was a real turning point for Eratosthenes, as the library put at his disposal all the information he needed for solving a long-time problem that occupied his mind: How big around is the Earth? Finally, using methods over my head, Eratosthenes determined the earth's circumference at 24,662 miles, just two hundred miles off the correct figure. Solving this problem also meant concluding his book, Geographica, the first geography book of the world.

Measuring the earth is but one aspect of Erathosthenes' life. As a student in Athens, he was nicknamed Pentathlos because he was good in so many areas of knowledge. Eventually, he became tutor to Ptolemy III's son.

This is one of those very special books for children that presents not only a story of an admirable person, but also the absolute beauty found only in the art tools of the most talented illustrator. Lasky and Hawkes have created a must-have book for libraries, both school and home!

Editorial Review:

A colorfully illustrated biography of the Greek philosopher and scientist Eratosthenes follows his life as he becomes Alexandria's chief librarian, writes the first geography book, and accurately measures the globe's circumference.

My Life with the Chimpanzees

Jane Goodall

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

My Life With The Chimpanzees 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is a great introduction to Dr. Goodall, physical anthropology, and primatology. Because it is written by Jane, the insight into the lives of the chimpanzees and the environment in general gives us her own personal message of hope and preservation for all creatures and places.

Great adult book! 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I am an avid fan of jan goodall and her works. this book was very good on everything from descriptions to examples and issues that have faced chimpanzees, they are facing, and they will face. This book also delves into her personal life and explains tid bits along the way about why she is who she is and much much more. Only down side is that thier is not alot of pictures, would give five stars if would have included more pictures, but what can you say for the price?

Editorial Review:

From the time she was a girl, Jane Goodall dreamed of a life spent working with animals. Finally she had her wish. When she was twenty-six years old, she ventured into the forests of Africa to observe chimpanzees in the wild. On her expeditions she braved the dangers with leopards and lions in the African bush. And she got to know an amazing group of wild chimpanzees -- intelligent animals whose lives, in work and play and family relationships, bear a surprising resemblance to our own.