Tag: stem

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

Leave a comment

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.)

Breaking Through the Clouds: The Sometimes Turbulent Life of Meteorologist Joanne Simpson (Sandra Nickel)

1 Comment

Hello, friends! Our book today is Breaking Through the Clouds: The Sometimes Turbulent Life of Meteorologist Joanne Simpson, written by Sandra Nickel and illustrated by Helena Perez Garcia, a enthralling tale of a groundbreaking and sky-shaking scientist.

A difficult childhood often sent young Joanne Simpson out on boats (and eventually, up in planes) to find solace and serenity. It was during these early explorations that she found her love of clouds, and her fascination with the science of meteorology. Proving herself to be an apt student of the field, she was hired during World War II to teach weather officers about flight conditions. Yet when the war ended and Joanne expressed an interest in earning a PhD in meteorology (which would make her the first woman to ever do so), her male professors and peers laughed at her and her studies of cloud formations. But Joanne’s passion and intellect would not be determined by the voices of others, and she went on to show that clouds, like women, are more powerful than anyone had yet realized.

Absolutely fantastic. This unapologetically feminist look at Simpson’s life’s work, which revolutionized the way weather was understood and predicted, is an unexpectedly powerful read. Much of this comes from Nickel’s evocative yet informational text and Garcia’s gorgeous gouache illustrations, which take the factual events of Simpson’s life and add to them a spirit of dreaming and determination that the scientist embodied. It’s a little disappointing how often male figures have to intervene in order to promote Simpson’s success; however, the delicate yet honest treatment of her relationship with an emotionally-abusive mother is appreciated, as most picture book biographies can gloss over or omit these types of real-life issues when readers may be dealing with similar ones themselves. The length is best for older elementary readers, but JJ really liked this one, especially the artwork. A stirring and inspirational story of a lesser-known feminist icon, and we loved it. Baby Bookworm approved!

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

Who is a Scientist? (Laura Gehl)

Leave a comment

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.)

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

Leave a comment

Hello, friends! Our book today is Science School: 30 Awesome STEM Experiments to Try At Home by Laura Minter and Tia Williams, a collection of science-themed activities for kids to attempt with everyday objects.

How do magnets work? Or a kaleidoscope? Why is the moon full sometimes, but only half-full others? What makes an ecosystem? And what on earth is oobleck? Kids can learn the answers to these questions and many more with this STEM-based activity guide, filled with 30 “experiments” that young readers can try with household materials. By germinating seeds, making chromatography flowers, or even cooking up their own butter and slime, young scientists are introduced the science terminology and concepts like cohesive force, propulsion, and non-Newtonian fluids.

Awesome, indeed! This activity guide balances learning with fun by choosing a range of crafts and model experiments from a number of scientific disciplines. The activities are simple in construction, and most can easily be replicated with items that can be found around the house. Each features clear photography and illustrations to walk bookworms through the instructions while also breaking down the STEM/STEAM elements that the experiment exhibits into easily-understood language. This is a great manual for any home library, and can provide families with a wealth of rainy-day activities that are both fun and educational. JJ loved checking out the various experiments (she was a huge fan of oobleck), and we both had a blast with this one. A great guide for any budding scientist, and Baby Bookworm approved!

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

Little Zoologist & Little Archaeologist (Smithsonian Institute)

Leave a comment

Hello, friends! Our books today are Little Zoologist and Little Archaeologist, the first two titles in the Smithsonian Institute’s new Science Tots series, illustrated by Dan Taylor.

In these simple, colorful board books, the very youngest bookworms can develop early reading skills as they learn about the tools commonly used by each vocation. From the zoologists’ stethoscope, laboratory, or conservation center, to the archaeologists’ sifter, brush, and trowel, each tool or location is presented alongside a sweet illustration of a kid scientist employing or occupying it.

Cute but insubstantial. While Taylor’s adorable illustrations go a long way in giving these introductory books charm, much of both titles felt like filler. It’s cool to know that these scientists use objects like boots, hats, or buckets (the latter featured in both books, slightly more interestingly so in Zoologist), but with no accompanying texts and minimal context clues in the artwork, there’s nothing to connect these everyday items to the science of the people who use them. More specialized terms were more interesting, but could have also done with some written or visual context to help tie them to the subject. Archaeologist in particular was a letdown, as nearly every drawing simply featured tools for digging or moving dirt (pick axe, wheelbarrow, trowel, etc.), making even the cute illustrations feel repetitive and dull. The diverse cast is a nice touch, and JJ enjoyed practicing her early reading skills, but beyond the sweet illustrations, these are a bit forgettable overall. Still, for very, VERY young bookworms, these could be a fun and even slightly educational read – if not a particularly memorable one – so we’re still going to call them Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of these books were provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)