Tag: science

Kitchen Science: 30 Awesome STEM Experiments to Try At Home (Laura Minter & Tia Williams)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Kitchen Science: 30 Awesome STEM Experiments to Try at Home by Laura Minter and Tia Williams, a fascinating collection of DIY science experiments that center around food.

Did you know you can make a volcano with a lemon? Or crush a soda can with ice water? Ever wonder what oobleck is? Or how yeast makes bread rise? Young scientists can learn all this and more in this kitchen- and food-themed book of experiments, which give kids and their caregivers the tools to conduct educational, and often edible, experiments right at their kitchen counters.

Awesome! We were big fans of Minter and Williams’ previous DIY experiment book, Science School, and this follow-up takes everything that made that book great and adds some delicious food-based fun. By exploring the science of cooking, young readers get a double dose of learning; for instance, not only how to make their own rock candy, but also how the sugar molecules form around a seed crystal to create the rock candy. Coupled with clear-cut and easy-to-follow instructions, color photos showing each step of every experiment, and a healthy amount of safety warnings, and this makes for a great way to get kids involved in both the kitchen and the classroom. JJ and I loved the experiments on offer, especially those that resulted in tasty homemade snacks. Overall, this is a wonderful title for both the culinary- and science-inclined kiddo, and we highly recommend it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Ask a Pilot: A Pilot Answers Kids’ Questions About Air Travel (Justin Kelley)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Ask a Pilot: A Pilot Answers Kids’ Questions About Air Travel, written by Justin Kelley and illustrated by David Miles, a compact and informational guidebook of the questions that little ones love to ask about planes and flying.

There are plenty of mysteries that little bookworms – and, let’s face it, big bookworms – often have about air travel. For instance, where do the bags go? Why is it so bumpy? Is “airplane mode” on our devices really that important? And how do those big, heavy planes get off the ground in the first place? Pilot and dad Justin Kelley is here with answers to all these questions and more, and to help inquisitive young aviators learn the ins and outs of flying by airplane.

Fun and informative! Written in an interview/guidebook style, each question about being a pilot, airline travel, and aeronautics is answered in one to three pages of conversational text accompanied by stylized yet edifying illustrations. Kelley covers most of the FAQs that little bookworms are likely to have about air travel, and plenty that adults might wonder about as well! Scientific and/or industry-specific terms (such as “crabbing” or “TCAS”) are bolded and explained in approachable terms, leaving readers of all ages with a better understanding of how planes, flight crew, and airports operate. In addition, the lightweight design makes this ideal for a plane trip read (and/or distraction) for young and inquisitive travelers. The length and content makes this one better for older elementary and middle-grade readers, but JJ enjoyed some of the sillier questions and the colorful art. Overall, this is a great one to look into pre-travel, or for any little one obsessed with planes. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Only One (Deborah Hopkinson & Chuck Groenink)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Only One by Deborah Hopkinson and Chuck Groenink, a scientific adventure through the universe and our one-of-a-kind place in it.

The blue-beanied and yellow-rainslickered child narrator greets the reader with the enigmatic phrase, “One. Only one. The story starts with one.” Convincing their sibling to turn off the television and join them and their friends on a forrest expedition (with a surprise destination), the child explains the makeup of the universe, from the Big Bang to the galaxies, stars, and down to our own solar system. Regaling fascinated friends with information on Earth’s atmosphere, continents, environments, fauna, and flora, the group eventually make their way to a tree-planting event, so that they can take part in protecting the Earth – their own planet, and the only one we’ve got.

Wonderful! Hopkinson’s incredibly informative text and Groenink’s charming illustrations work in perfect concert to tell a story of big things, and the impacts small actions can have on them. Hopkinson skillfully takes rather large scientific concepts like astrophysics, ecology, and biodiversity and manages to give readers a crash course in how they relate to both a larger universe and to human beings as individuals, both educating the reader on the subjects themselves and tying them into global responsibility. Groenink’s artwork, which does the heavy lifting narrative-wise, flawlessly tells a sweet story of a single child convincing others to appreciate and engage with nature, subtly reminding us that “only one” person can make a big difference as well. The illustrations also feature a nice diversity of skintones, hair types, and ages, as well as religious representation through head coverings. The length is perfect for an elementary storytime, and JJ really enjoyed this one. A great way to explore an important message, and empower young conservationists. We loved it; Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

My First Book of Microbes: Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi, and More (Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón & Eduard Altarriba)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is My First Book of Microbes: Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi, and More by Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón and Eduard Altarriba, fourth book in the pair’s nonfiction My First Book of Science series.

What are microbes? Well, they’re viruses, like the kind that get you sick. Or algae, like we see in the water. Some are single-celled protozoa or fungi, and some are microorganisms that live on our bodies! In fact, that’s the most surprising fact of all: microbes are all alive! This colorful compendium of tiny science walks the reader through the fascinating world of the smallest living beings on earth.

A timely addition to a STEM-tastic series. Those who appreciate the previous My First Book of Science titles will already be familiar with Ferròn and Altarriba’s educational and visually-entertaining style, combing eye-catching spreads with tons of fascinating and in-depth scientific information. In addition to exploring microbes themselves, the text dives into other “tiny science,” like microscopic animals such as water bears, how antibiotics and vaccines work, and how to stop the transmission of viruses and bacteria. At a time when young readers are surrounded with a great deal of misinformation on the spread of diseases and infections, this is a welcome addition. The length and content make this one best for older elementary or middle-grade readers, but JJ enjoyed many of the subjects we looked at, especially the quirky illustrations. Another stellar STEM title from a tried-and-true series, and we liked it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Who is a Scientist? (Laura Gehl)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Who is a Scientist? by Laura Gehl, an awesome look at the diversity of the STEM fields and the people who work in them.

Introducing readers to fourteen real-life scientists from various fields of STEM (and all walks of life), little bookworms can look and learn about the people who work in science, what they do, and how they like to spend their free time. The subjects are men and women, young and old, a rainbow of skin tones, ethnicities, and religious dress, and a represent a ton of different interests, hobbies, and fields of study; readers are shown that anybody can be a scientist, including them!

Clever! Far from the stereotypical presentation of what being a scientist “looks like”, this short but sweet collection of scientists, from meteorologist to astronomer to agroecologist and more, are embodied by an incredibly diverse group of people, shown in photos both working and engaging in their off-hours hobbies. Allowing children to view scientists as real people who have many of the same hobbies and interests as they do while also giving them a taste of what their various disciplines entail allow kids from all backgrounds to view themselves as potential scientists as well, and show them that science isn’t always white coats and sterile labs (although sometimes it is, and that’s cool too!). Gehl does a great job of condensing each scientist and their passions into a quick and simple spread that gives readers a sense of the subjects without feeling overly detailed, and the name pronunciation guide in the back allows readers of all ages to educate themselves on how to properly pronounce every scientist’s name. The length was great for a quick read, and JJ enjoyed meeting fourteen new STEM role models. This is a clever way to get kids excited about science and pursuing careers in STEM, and we loved it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by a representative of the author in exchange for an honest review.)