Lerner Cool Science Books. Johnson, Rebecca L. Nanotechnology.

LERNER COOL SCIENCE BOOKS. Johnson, Rebecca L. Nanotechnology. 0-8225-5773-8. Winner, Cherie. Life on the edge. 0-82255772-X. Lerner. 48p. illus. bibliog. index. c2006. $795 each. JS

Rebecca Johnson, an award-winning science writer for children, presents an emergent scientific field in Nanotechnology. Richard Feynman is credited with originally presenting the idea of "creating new things on a small scale" in the late 1950s. Johnson provides a broad overview of the advances made thus far (e.g., stain resistant fabrics, improved tennis balls, cosmetics) and presents future directions in this area, including nano-bots, which would work independently assembling atoms and molecules.

Life on the Edge takes readers to the homes of "extremophiles." These plants, animals, and microbes inhabit parts of the Earth inhospitable to most organisms, such as extremely hot or cold climates, the depths of the ocean, salt lakes and in the darkest corners of isolated caves. Winner describes and explains how these varied organisms have adapted to their unique and unusual environmental niches.

These volumes are filled with illustrations, supporting photographs and colored backgrounds. Their slim size and glossy page layouts give them the appearance of a popular magazine. In addition to the main text, each volume provides snippets of fun facts and trivia related to its subject. Lerner Cool Science Books could be used for casual browsing or to generate ideas for more involved research. Ernie Cox, Libn., St. Timothy's School, Raleigh, NC