NSTA - Recommends Products

Life Cycle Of A...: Sunflower (2nd Edition)

11/12/2009

Author: Angela Royston
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Price: $25.36
ISBN: 9781432925246
Grade: 1-3
Reviewer: Jose Rios
Review:

When I was young, I enjoyed books about snakes, lions, bears, sharks, and other fascinating creatures. They had wonderful pictures and interesting facts. After reading Life Cycle of a Sunflower, I wish that our school had bought more books about plants.

The short chapters are filled with information that children between the ages of 5 and 10 will find fascinating. Beginning with the familiar seeds, the author describes the development of the sunflower through colorful words and pictures. My favorite chapter focused on the flowering stage. Did you know that sunflowers face the Sun as they rise in the morning?

Each chapter presents vocabulary words and related content. Children can easily associate words with pictures, which leads to greater comprehension of the information. This book is filled with many examples of this association, which I found to be age-appropriate and helpful. In addition to its engaging narrative and visual style, the book is well organized and easy to follow. The author uses a consistent format, which includes bold-faced vocabulary words and a timeline at the bottom of each page. Children can use this timeline to connect the narrative to the life cycle stage. The author also provides a helpful review section, a fact file, a glossary, a reading list, and an index.

This book would make a wonderful additional to any school library. Teachers can use it to supplement lessons, and children will find it a valuable resource for background information. The Heinemann First Library series includes books on other animals and plants for children to enjoy. I highly recommend them.

Real Life Science Experiments: Sensational Human Body Science Projects

11/12/2009

Author: Ann Benbow and Colin Mably
Copyright: 2010
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Pages: 48
Price: $23.93
ISBN: 9780766031494
Grade: 3-4
Reviewer: Coralee Smith
Review:

Every day, elementary school students ask questions like, “Do both of my eyes see the same thing?” And then science teachers' brains respond: “Gee, let’s try some experiences to try to find an answer. In what ways can we find out?” Then the reality sets in for teachers. Are answers within reach?

The Sensational Human Body Science Projects series shows the way. The books are written in a question-and-find-out format. The content clearly reflects constructivist science in action for young readers—and of course for teachers. The questions are paired with active, hands-on, easy-to-do explorations that result in quality science processes and answers.

This book can be used to address student questions or to promote them. Either way, the explorations are presented as questions to explore. Students move from observation into knowledge construction. In addition, the book contains complete lists of what you need, clear directions for conducting the explorations, a table of contents, a list of words to know, a list of other books from which to learn more, and internet addresses for students and teachers. There are also ideas for elementary science fairs that relate to each question in the book.

An unsolicited, authentic review of this book from a second-grade student revealed that reading only one question with the exploration was not enough for her. She wanted to do all of the explorations to find out the answers to all of the questions! The second-grade student and I highly recommend this book for students and teachers. Just be prepared to start with one question and then move throughout the rest of the book. Keep in mind that this all begins with only one question.

Animal Baths: Wild & Wonderful Ways Animals Get Clean

11/12/2009

Author: Beth Fielding
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Earlylight Books, Inc.
Pages: 48
Price: $14.95
ISBN: 9780979745522
Grade: 3-5
Reviewer: Lori Cirucci
Review:

This is a great book to read to your elementary science students. It's all about animal baths and emphasizes behaviors that young children will recognize and to which they will relate.

Elephant, rhinoceros, zebra, bird, turkey vulture, cat, praying mantis, squirrel, bat, porcupine, buffalo, chimpanzee, turtle, fish, coral, and human baths are all examples of cleaning for survival. This creative book covers all the basics—from mud and dust baths to the use of tongues and claws and teeth. It also explains scamming, shedding, and slamming when an animal is cleaned during its bath. Readers will imagine using paws like a washcloth or shedding outer layers of skin to clean themselves. How about having birds groom your fur or fish clean your shell?

This book captures interesting animal behavior and is a must for the elementary science classroom. It's a great resource to use to support lessons on diversity and adaptations. Once you've read it aloud, students will return to it.

A Great Idea: The Nexi Robot

11/12/2009

Author: Toney Allman
Copyright: 2010
Publisher: Norwood House Press
Pages: 48
Price: $18.95
ISBN: 9781599533421
Grade: 3-6
Reviewer: Kimberly Elpers
Review:

This is a new addition to a series of books that teaches how inventions come to be. Students learn how science and technology can affect our world and how an invention can influence society. The history of why a particular invention was needed and the continuing need for the invention are discussed. This unique perspective supports objectives in science, technology, and engineering for students in the middle grades.

The Next Robot discusses a special branch of science called robotics. Different types of robots are discussed, as are justifications for the need for new robots. The quest to build robots with emotions and the ability for social interaction is also described. The exciting possibilities for the future of robotics are included as well.

New vocabulary is given in bold and defined in the glossary. Children will enjoy the photographs and the “Did You Know?” boxes, which have interesting information. A section called "For More Information" includes websites to visit for more information. Classroom teachers will enjoy reading this book with upper elementary students, and middle school children will enjoy exploring the book on their own.

A Great Idea: The Seed Vault

11/12/2009

Author: Bonnie Jeuttner
Copyright: 2010
Publisher: Norwood House Press
Pages: 48
Price: $18.95
ISBN: 9781599533438
Grade: 3-6
Reviewer: Kimberly Elpers
Review:

This is a new addition to a series of books that teaches how inventions come to be. Students learn how science and technology can affect our world and how an invention can influence society. The history of why a particular invention was needed and the continuing need for the invention are discussed. This unique perspective supports objectives in science, technology, and engineering for students in the middle grades.

The Seed Vault in Norway contains seeds from all over the world. Scientists maintain these seeds in a secure environment in the event that seeds need to be reintroduced into the food supply. This innovation will help students understand the need for agricultural research.

This book discusses photosynthesis in simple language, and new vocabulary is given in bold and defined in the glossary. Children will enjoy the photographs and the “Did You Know?” boxes, which have interesting information. A section called "For More Information" includes websites to visit for more information. Classroom teachers will enjoy reading this book with upper elementary students, and middle school children will enjoy exploring it on their own.

Life Cycle Of A...: Pumpkin (2nd Edition)

11/6/2009

Author: Ron Fridell
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Price: $25.36
ISBN: 9781432925277
Grade: 1-3
Reviewer: Jose Rios
Review:

When I was young, I enjoyed books about snakes, lions, bears, sharks, and other fascinating creatures. They had wonderful pictures and interesting facts. After reading Life Cycle of a Pumpkin, I wish that our school had bought more books about plants.

The short chapters are filled with information that children between the ages of 5 and 10 will find fascinating. Beginning with the seeds, the author chronicles the development of a pumpkin through colorful pictures and descriptions. Students will love descriptions of the uses of pumpkins, especially around Halloween.

Each chapter presents vocabulary words and related content. Children can easily associate words with pictures, which leads to greater comprehension of the information. The book is filled with many examples of this association, which I found to be age-appropriate and helpful. In addition to its engaging narrative and visual style, the book is well organized and easy to follow. The author uses a consistent format, which includes boldfaced vocabulary words and a timeline at the bottom of each page. Children can use this timeline to connect the narrative to the life cycle stage. The author also provides a helpful review section, a fact file, a glossary, a reading list, and an index.

This book would make a wonderful additional to any school library. Teachers can use it to supplement lessons, and children will find it a valuable resource for background information. The Heinemann First Library series includes books on other animals and plants for children to enjoy. I highly recommend them.

Life Cycle Of A...: Kangaroo (2nd Edition)

11/6/2009

Author: Angela Royston
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Price: $25.36
ISBN: 9781432925338
Grade: 1-3
Reviewer: Jose Rios
Review:

Reading this book brought back wonderful memories of great animal stories I enjoyed as a child. It's filled with good science information about a familiar topic that children will find very interesting. My favorite sections focused on baby kangaroos. Did you know that the joey is blind, crawling through its mother's fur to find a teat in her pouch?

Each chapter presents vocabulary words and related content. Children can easily associate words with pictures including one of a baby the size of a broad bean in the mother's pouch, and this leads to greater comprehension of the information. The book is filled with many examples of this association, which I found to be age-appropriate and helpful. In addition to its engaging narrative and visual style, the book is well organized and easy to follow. The author uses a consistent format, which includes boldfaced vocabulary words and a timeline at the bottom of each page. Children can use this timeline to connect the narrative to the life cycle stage. The author also provides a helpful review section, a fact file, a glossary, a reading list, and an index.

This book would make a wonderful additional to any school library. Teachers can use it to supplement lessons, and children will find it a valuable resource for background information. The Heinemann First Library series includes books on other animals and plants for children to enjoy. I highly recommend them.

Life Cycle Of A...: Guinea Pig (2nd Edition)

11/6/2009

Author: Angela Royston
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Price: $25.36
ISBN: 9781432925208
Grade: 1-3
Reviewer: Jose Rios
Review:

Reading this book brought back wonderful memories of great animal stories I enjoyed as a child. It's filled with good science information about a familiar topic that children will find very interesting. My favorite section focused on the guinea pig's pups. Did you know that a newborn pup can see, hear, and run around soon after birth? As soon as it smells milk it heads to mom, pushing its way to a vacant teat.

Each chapter presents vocabulary words and related content. Children can easily associate words with pictures, which leads to greater comprehension of the information. The book is filled with many examples of this association, which I found to be age-appropriate and helpful. In addition to its engaging narrative and visual style, the book is well organized and easy to follow. The author uses a consistent format, which includes boldfaced vocabulary words and a timeline at the bottom of each page. Children can use this timeline to connect the narrative to the life cycle stage. The author also provides a helpful review section, a fact file, a glossary, a reading list, and an index.

This book would make a wonderful additional to any school library. Teachers can use it to supplement lessons on pets or mammals, and children will find it a valuable resource for background information. The Heinemann First Library series includes books on other animals and plants for children to enjoy. I highly recommend them.

Life Cycle of A...: Frog (2nd Edition)

11/5/2009

Author: Angela Royston
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Price: $25.36
ISBN: 9781432925192
Grade: 1-3
Reviewer: Jose Rios
Review:

As a young child, I found great enjoyment in reading about animals; there were wonderful pictures and interesting facts. I loved to impress my parents by trying to stump them. This book about frogs brought back wonderful memories.

The author begins by discussing the unique characteristics of frogs, such as their ability to live in water and land, and their life cycle is discussed in detail. My favorite section focused on the tadpole's transformation into a froglet.

Each chapter presents vocabulary words and related content. Children can easily associate words with pictures, thus leading to greater comprehension of the information. The book is filled with many examples of this association, which I found to be age-appropriate and helpful. In addition to its engaging narrative and visual style, the book is well organized and easy to follow. The author uses a consistent format, which includes boldfaced vocabulary words and a timeline at the bottom of each page. Children can use this timeline to connect the narrative to the life cycle stage. The author also provides a helpful review section, a fact file, a glossary, a reading list, and an index.

This book would make a wonderful additional to any school library. Teachers can use it to supplement lessons, and children will find it a valuable resource for background information. The Heinemann First Library series includes books on other animals and plants for children to enjoy. I highly recommend them.

What's So Special About Planet Earth?

11/5/2009

Author: Robert E. Wells
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99
ISBN: 9780807588154
Grade: 2-4
Reviewer: Ann Rubino
Review:

This excellent read-aloud for the pre-K through primary audience is one of a group of primary books from Whitman. Robert Wells puts his illustrations to good use in conveying often-complex content to his young audience. There are busy, happy kids in almost every spread, experiencing the changing conditions on our own planet, and then taking off on an imaginary trip with Captain Coco’s Rapid Rocket Rides to explore alternate places to live in the solar system.

Basic information about each of the eight planets is clearly presented, and more-detailed data are given in small side tables. Readers will learn why each planet is a worse choice than Earth. For instance, the book says the following about Venus: “Uh-oh. Your gauges show that the atmosphere is poisonous for people to breathe. And the surface temperature is nearly 900ºF (482ºC)! You couldn’t live for a minute here. Get out fast, before you’re cooked!” After checking out Neptune, “It’s time to go home—to our very special planet, Earth.”

Once back, the kids learn more about Earth as a planet and come to appreciate how well it provides for us. Then, care of the Earth becomes the focus, showing pollution and waste of various sorts and ways to avoid them. The segment on environmental awareness is clear, simple, and thankfully, not panic-generating. Suggestions for student involvement are realistic. What’s So Special About Planet Earth is an excellent read-aloud for primary students and would be quite accessible for students to read to themselves as well, once they’re familiar with the vocabulary.

A Great Idea: The Bionic Hand

11/4/2009

Author: Adam Woog
Copyright: 2010
Publisher: Norwood House Press
Pages: 48
Price: $18.95
ISBN: 9781599533414
Grade: 3-6
Reviewer: Kimberly Elpers
Review:

This is a new addition to a series of books that teaches how an invention comes to be. Students learn about how science and technology can affect our world and how an invention can influence our society. The history of why this invention was needed and the continuing necessity of the invention are discussed. This unique perspective can support objectives in science, technology, and engineering for students in the middle grades.

The Bionic Hand discusses how biology is combined with engineering to develop new technologies in this special branch of science. The importance of a human's opposable thumbs and articulated joints is discussed. The need for artificial joints is explained, and information about birth defects (such as those caused by the drug thalidomide) is presented. The exciting possibilities for the future of bionics are also included.

New vocabulary is printed in bold and defined in the glossary. Children will enjoy the photographs and the “Did You Know?” boxes, which are full of interesting information. A section called "For More Information" includes websites to visit for more information. Classroom teachers will enjoy reading this book with upper elementary students, whereas middle school children will enjoy exploring the book on their own.

Brain-Compatible Classrooms, Third Edition

11/4/2009

Author: Robin Fogarty
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Corwin Press, Inc.
Pages: 227
Price: $35.95
ISBN: 9781412938877
Grade: K-College
Reviewer: Teri Cosentino
Review:

It's rare that a book on the science of teaching is addictive—but I was hooked on the science of teaching brains by page three. Why? There, I found a comprehensive list of 20 facts that every teacher should read at least three times each school year. And it got better. A "Who’s Who" fact sheet about brain-based learning, from the intelligent to the emotional and everything in between, connects important ideas. Filled with strategies and activities, this book connects, inspires, and, more importantly, sets a climate for learning.

Getting students’ brains to pay attention requires us to teach in novel, relevant, and meaningful ways. Knowing how this occurs can make the difference between being a good and a great teacher. So as a teacher, it is imperative that we not only know what to teach but how to teach. Going beyond a college methods class, this resource explains how to appeal to what affects students’ learning.

After a chapter on the hardware of the brain along with its structure and function, the book focuses on the software of the brain and how we as teachers are critical in activating this software. There are many readable, valuable resources—how the brain reacts to threat versus challenge, nature versus nurture, emotional intelligence, multiple intelligences, and the kinds of memory, just to name a few. Finally, the majority of the book focuses on strategies to be used in the classroom based on how to teach for thinking, of thinking, with thinking, and about thinking. It includes graphic organizers and their uses, grouping tasks with social skills to arrange cooperative groups, how to ask students fat/skinny questions, and the three-story intellect model. This must-have book takes theory and puts it in practical terms.

The Wonders Inside: Bugs & Spiders

11/4/2009

Author: Jan Stradling
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books
Pages: 80
Price: $19.95
ISBN: 9781571459077
Grade: 2-8
Reviewer: Adah Stock
Review:

The Wonders Inside series includes 90-page, oversized books with dramatic, beautiful, colorful, double-paged, annotated images. The topics are arranged randomly and identified by a color code on the page number and referenced in the table of contents. Each volume includes a small glossary and an index. Within the pages of each book there are five plastic layers that add information about different parts of a human or an insect. The plastic page is numbered consecutively after the printed page. One side of the layer adds to the illustration on the right side of the printed page. When readers turn the plastic layer, the other side is a different numbered page that adds to the image on the printed page for left side of the book. Many pages include a small rectangular box with "Inside Info" providing interesting facts related to image.

Bugs and Spiders has great illustrations of wings, bugs, spiders, and beetles. The layers in this volume cover metamorphosis, beehives, wasps, locusts, and writing spiders. Although the title uses the word bugs on the cover, readers learn on page one what makes an organism an insect. The plastic overlays add a new dimension for these organisms. There is an overlay about wasps, for instance, that changes the view of a flower from white to blue to show how a wasp actually sees the flower in a different way than humans see it in nature.

What makes this book about bugs and spiders different is "less is more." It doesn’t overwhelm readers with a clutter of information about the topic displayed. At the beginning of each new section, there is a short paragraph that introduces the topic in larger-than-average print. The only other print is about the annotations, and those are brief as well. This is a great book to introduce children to the insects in their world, along with some unusual insects and spiders. The size of the illustrations and brightly colored images will lure kids to look through the book. Also, the random arrangement of the six content topics is a plus for kids who tend to skim through illustrated books. Children who are not readers won’t be intimidated by the text. Budding scientists who become interested in a specific organism will be encouraged to seek other sources for more information. This is an ideal source for a center in a classroom or library, to introduce or reinforce hands-on activities related to insects.

Spectacular Animal Towns: The Bat's Cave: A Dark City

11/4/2009

Author: Joyce L. Markovics
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Bearport Publishing Co. Inc.
Pages: 32
Price: $25.27
ISBN: 9781597168717
Grade: 2-7
Reviewer: Judy Kraus
Review:

As dusk settles near southwestern caves, a slow rustling sound crescendos into a giant whoosh as Mexican free-tailed bats emerge for the night to hunt insects. They migrate to the warmer climates for the winter and return annually. In The Bat’s Cave: A Dark City, Mexican free-tailed bats represent the mysterious lives of more than 1000 bat species around the world.

Caves, like Bracken bat cave, can provide a roost for more than 20 million bats. Hanging upside down, the bats sleep during the day. At night they used echolocation to identify prey, mostly insects like moths and beetles. All bats do not live in caves, migrate, and eat insects. The Honduran white bat lives in a leaf tent, the woolly bat in West Africa lives in large spider webs, and the club-footed bat in Southeast Asia lives in bamboo. Other bats, like the brown bat of North America, hibernate to conserve energy and emerge when the temperatures rise. Some bats feed on blood, whereas others consume fruit.

Conservation groups are working to change the perception of bats and educate people on their essential niche in the ecosystem. Although bats may carry diseases like rabies and should not be handled, they help control insect populations and in turn preserve crops for human consumption. The Bat’s Cave: A Dark City, is part of the Spectacular Animal Towns series. It provides an easy-to-read table of bat facts, details about birds and spiders building homes, a glossary, a bibliography, and additional resources available in print and online. The vibrant photography is captivating! The photography will entice the most reluctant reader to turn the page.

Life Cycle Of A...: Butterfly (2nd Edition)

11/4/2009

Author: Angela Royston
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Price: $25.36
ISBN: 9781432925222
Grade: 1-3
Reviewer: Jose Rios
Review:

This book brought back wonderful memories of watching butterflies in the park as a child. It's filled with good science information about a topic young children will love. My favorite section focused on the Monarch butterfly's migration from North America to the mountains of Mexico—as far as 200 miles a day. The author covers facts including names, geographic range, and life cycles.

Each chapter presents vocabulary words as well as content related to each word. Children can easily associate words with pictures, thus leading to greater comprehension of the information. The book is filled with many examples of this association, which I found to be age-appropriate and helpful. In addition to its engaging narrative and visual style, the book is well organized and easy to follow. The author uses a consistent format, which includes boldfaced vocabulary words and a timeline at the bottom of each page. Children can use this timeline to connect the narrative to the life cycle stage. The author also provides a helpful review section, a fact file, a glossary, a reading list, and an index.

This book would make a wonderful additional to any school library. Teachers can use it to supplement lessons, and children will find it a valuable resource for background information. The Heinemann First Library series includes books on other animals and plants for children to enjoy. I highly recommend them.

Life Cycle Of An...: Apple (2nd Edition)

11/4/2009

Author: Angela Royston
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Price: $25.36
ISBN: 9781432925215
Grade: 1-3
Reviewer: Jose Rios
Review:

When I was young, I enjoyed books about snakes, lions, bears, sharks, and other fascinating creatures. They had wonderful pictures and interesting facts. After reading Life Cycle of an Apple, I wish that our school had bought more books about plants.

The short chapters are filled with information that children between the ages of 5 and 10 will find fascinating. The author begins by distinguishing apples from other types of plants and presents the life cycle of one kind, the red delicious, in detail. Beginning with the buds, the author chronicles the development of an apple through colorful pictures and descriptions.

Each chapter presents vocabulary words and related content. Children can easily associate words with pictures, which leads to greater comprehension of the information. The book is filled with many examples of this association, which I found to be age-appropriate and helpful. In addition to its engaging narrative and visual style, the book is well organized and easy to follow. The author uses a consistent format, which includes boldfaced vocabulary words and a timeline at the bottom of each page. Children can use this timeline to connect the narrative to the life cycle stage. The author also provides a helpful review section, a fact file, a glossary, a reading list, and an index.

This book would make a wonderful additional to any school library. Teachers can use it to supplement lessons, and children will find it a valuable resource for background information. The Heinemann First Library Series includes books on other animals and plants for children to enjoy. I highly recommend them.

Life Cycle Of A...: Chicken (2nd Edition)

11/4/2009

Author: Angela Royston
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 32
Price: $25.36
ISBN: 9781432925239
Grade: 1-3
Reviewer: Jose Rios
Review:

As I child I enjoyed reading about birds; there were books about eagles, hawks, falcons, and other raptors in our school library, with wonderful pictures and interesting facts. After reading this book, I wish I had read more about more familiar birds.

The author begins by providing facts and details about a chicken's life cycle. My favorite section included amazing pictures of chicks hatching. Each chapter presents vocabulary words along with related content. Children can easily associate words with pictures, thus leading to greater comprehension of the information. The book is filled with many examples of this association, which I found to be age-appropriate and helpful. In addition to its engaging narrative and visual style, the book is well organized and easy to follow. The author uses a consistent format, which includes boldfaced vocabulary words and a timeline at the bottom of each page. Children can use this timeline to connect the narrative to the life cycle stage. The author also provides a helpful review section, a fact file, a glossary, a reading list, and an index.

This book would make a wonderful additional to any school library. Teachers can use it to supplement lessons, and children will find it a valuable resource for background information. The Heinemann First Library series includes books on other animals and plants for children to enjoy. I highly recommend them.

A Great Idea: Sunscreen for Plants

11/4/2009

Author: Carla Mooney
Copyright: 2010
Publisher: Norwood House Press
Pages: 48
Price: $18.95
ISBN: 9781599533445
Grade: 3-6
Reviewer: Kimberly Elpers
Review:

This is a new addition to a series of books that teaches how an invention comes to be. Students learn about how science and technology can affect our world and how an invention can influence our society. The history of why this invention was needed and the continuing necessity of the invention are discussed. This unique perspective can support objectives in science, technology, and engineering for students in the middle grades.

Sunscreen for Plants discusses the sun and how it effects plants. It explains photosynthesis in simple language and then details scientists' research into the problem of sun-damaged fruits, nuts, vegetables, and plants. New vocabulary is printed in bold and defined in the glossary. Children will enjoy the photographs and the “Did You Know?” boxes, which are full of interesting information. A section called "For More Information" includes websites to visit for more information. Classroom teachers will enjoy reading this book with upper elementary students, whereas middle school children will enjoy exploring the book on their own.

Science at the Edge (2nd Edition): Rebuilding the Body: Organ Transplantation

11/3/2009

Author: Ann Fullick
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 64
Price: $34.29
ISBN: 1432924524
Grade: 6-8
Reviewer: Eloise Farmer
Review:

This series by prolific author Sally Morgan has been revised and updated to highlight the latest developments and theories in science that are popularized in the press, and that are often considered to be controversial. Each book focuses on how science works, giving recent applications and examples. Each book also includes an explanation of a controversy, along with data and evidence as well as an analysis of the issues and opinions involved, and features a written conclusion by the author.

Rebuilding the Body: Organ Transplantation begins with a survey of the major human body organs, with many illustrations of structure and function. This is followed by a description of the failure of major organs, infections that occur within them, and gradual damage and deterioration. This leads to a discussion about organ transplants and the history of this branch of medicine. The challenges of organ transplantation, pitfalls of rejection, and ethics of transplantation from the dead are all touched upon. There is a lot of information about coping with organ rejection and the human immune system. How to become an organ donor is included, along with the dilemma of deciding when death occurs; the issues surrounding using organs from the recently deceased is also featured. The issue of using organs from another species is included, and the book ends with a description of stem cell research and the controversy surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells.

Each volume also includes a very understandable timeline, a glossary, a catalog of further resources, and an index. These features make the books useful as interdisciplinary resources, and can lead to learning extensions such as wikis, or web quests. The reading level is appropriate to the content and the style of writing makes each book interesting to read. The series would be an excellent addition to a science or social studies classroom. The books are a good jumping off point for classroom discussion, reports, or research by teachers and students.

The Lives of Ants

11/3/2009

Author: Laurent Keller and Elisabeth Gordon
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Pages: 256
Price: $27.95
ISBN: 9780199541867
Grade: College
Reviewer: Rita Hoots
Review:

Those ubiquitous ants, always around, especially when you least appreciate them. Not only do they outnumber humans but their total mass closely matches ours. Beautifully translated from the original French, the myrmecological descriptions of the amazing characteristics of ant civilizations will captivate students of all ages as well as general readers.

In the order Hymenoptera and the Formicidae family, ants comprise more than 12,000 species, the number increasing as new varieties continue to be identified. Because their diversity, social structure, ecological ranges, communal life, range of habitats, and multiple extraordinary features are so fascinating, reading about such complex social bugs is spellbinding. Research findings detailing the gregarious nature, communal life, social organization, and adaptive variations are intriguing and will whet the reader's curiosity.

The book is divided into eight themes with many short absorbing chapters. The Swiss authors capture the disparate characteristics that make these creatures so unique. Readers from preteens to adults will find this compelling nature study to be as fascinating as their fantasy novels. This is a reading that should be dissected, digested, analyzed, and appraised by students in the natural sciences. It is indeed a work of artful detail and relevance to our modern world.

World at Risk: Climate Change: What Causes Global Warming, and How We Deal with It

11/3/2009

Author: Andrew Solway
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Black Rabbit Books
Pages: 48
Price: $34.25
ISBN: 9781599203768
Grade: 7-12
Reviewer: Jean Worsley
Review:

The front cover of this book begins with an intriguing clause: What causes global warming and how we deal with it. This is surrounded by a photograph of the world showing melting icebergs, droughts, and fires. Readers are immediately focused on this environmental crisis.

The format of each chapter consists of a brief introduction followed by subtopics with precise details in only one or two paragraphs. Important terms in bold are defined in the glossary. The sidebars, “Earth Data” and “Planet Watch,” list additional details and statistical data. Photographs, maps, charts, and graphs throughout the book are used to help readers grasp the significance of this global environmental problem.

In the first two chapters, evidence is presented to indicate how the climate has changed over the years. This is followed by additional scientific studies by meteorologists and climatologists that dramatically show that temperatures have risen over the years. Next, the major culprit of climate change is explored—an increase in carbon dioxide that results in a greenhouse effect and increased temperatures in the air and the oceans. Further, the effect that an exploding population has on carbon emissions is described and attributed to life styles in More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs) and changes in lifestyles in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs). The next two chapters deal with the effects of climate change on the land, sea, and wildlife, which result in an increase in droughts and floods, melting of glaciers, and destruction of habitats. In addition, the effects on farming methods and on human health are explored. In the last two chapters, the author discusses the complexity of the problem, which is compounded by the fact that a great deal of damage has already been done, some of which is irreparable. With these facts, he proposes several ways in which carbon emissions may be reduced.

This book emphasizes the need to alter life styles and attitudes, especially in MEDCs. Countries producing the largest amount of carbon dioxide and climate change predictions are listed on the "Facts and Figures" page. Further reading, a web finder, and an index are also included. This book allows young readers to become aware of this major global crisis and related controversies.

Science at the Edge (2nd Edition): Super Foods: Genetic Modification of Food

10/28/2009

Author: Sally Morgan
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 64
Price: $34.29
ISBN: 1432924559
Grade: 6-8
Reviewer: Eloise Farmer
Review:

This series by prolific author Sally Morgan has been revised and updated to highlight the latest developments and theories in science, which are popularized in the press and are often considered to be controversial. Each book focuses on how science works, giving recent applications and examples. Each book also includes an explanation of a controversy, data and evidence, and the author's analysis of the issues and opinions involved.

Superfoods: Genetic Modification of Foods begins with a discussion of the scarcity of nutritious foods for a growing world population and the development of new crops in an attempt to alleviate this problem. The early chapters discuss DNA, inheritance, and how genes are modified to improve the nutritional value of organisms consumed by humans. Some history of the genetic modification of organisms like wheat, cattle, and rice by selective breeding is given, leading to modern genetic modifications such as the creation of transgenic organisms and mutations through genetic engineering. The making of artificial rennet is also described. Mapping the genome of rice and the cloning of plants is next, leading to a full description of genetically modified crops.

The pros and cons of growing these crops and their effect on the ecosystem are discussed, with a detailed list of crops and their modified features. This leads to a chapter on genetically modified animals, such as super salmon and Dolly, the first cloned sheep. There is some mention of the ethics involved in genetically modifying living things. The final chapters are devoted to the controversy surrounding genetically modified foods.

Each volume in this series includes a very understandable timeline, a glossary, a catalog of further resources, and an index. These features make the books useful as interdisciplinary resources and can lead to learning extensions such as wikis or web quests. The reading level is appropriate to the content, and the writing style makes each book interesting.

This particular book has more difficult content than some of the others in the series, but it will still hold the interest of students who may have trouble understanding some of the sections on protein synthesis and genetic engineering. The series would be an excellent addition to a science or social studies classroom. The books are good jumping-off points for classroom discussion, reports, or research by teachers and students. This is a good supplementary book that could be used in health classes, social studies, or "Science, Technology, and Society" classes. It also could be used as a special assignment in any science class in which students express interest in this topic.

Science at the Edge (2nd Edition): Test Tube Babies: In Vitro Fertilization

10/26/2009

Author: Ann Fullick
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Heinemann Library
Pages: 64
Price: $34.29
ISBN: 1432924532
Grade: 6-8
Reviewer: Eloise Farmer
Review:

This series by prolific author Sally Morgan has been revised and updated to highlight the latest developments and theories in science that are popularized in the press, and which are often considered to be controversial. Each book focuses on how science works, giving recent applications and examples. Each book explains a controversy, gives data and evidence, analyzes the issues and opinions involved, and features the author's conclusion.

Test-Tube Babies: In Vitro Fertilization is a timely book, considering the recent birth of octuplets who are “test-tube” babies. This book begins with a discussion of the causes of infertility, the biology of reproduction, and the development of a human embryo from conception to birth. The choice between the use of infertility drugs or in-vitro fertilization is mentioned.

The history of human understanding of fertilization and how it occurs makes an interesting story, which leads up to the birth of the first “test-tube” baby. A clear explanation of in-vitro fertilization follows, with some spectacular illustrations, taking readers stepwise through the process. Real-life stories of families and children are included in this section.

The tremendous moral and ethical issues surrounding this topic are thoroughly covered, including such things as the huge financial cost, sex selection, the gene pool, the fate of extra embryos, preserving embryos, and the role of law and government in human reproduction. This book is certain to raise questions and provoke discussions in any classroom.

Each volume in this series includes a timeline, a glossary, a catalog of further resources, and an index. These features make these books useful as interdisciplinary resources and can lead to learning extensions such as wikis or web quests. The reading level is appropriate for the content, and the writing style makes each book interesting.

This series would be an excellent addition to a science or social studies classroom. The books are good jumping-off points for classroom discussion, reports, or research by teachers and students. This is a good supplementary book that could be used in health classes, social studies, or "Science, Technology and Society" classes. It also could be used as a special assignment in any science class in which a student expresses interest in this topic.