Science: True Tales Series.

Science: True Tales Series

Children's Press, A Division of Scholastic, Inc.

1-800-621-1115

Box 1795 Danbury, CT 06816

www.scholasticlibrary.com

ISBN# 0516233939 $21.50 Set of 5 books $107.50 48 pgs.

Awesome Science by Katherine Gleason ISBN# 0516237276

High-tech Inventions by Mary Packard ISBN# 0516237284

Medical Marvels by Catherine Nichols ISBN# 0516237268

Natural-born Killers by Linda Casterline ISBN# 051623725X

Up Close by Louise A. Gikow ISBN# 0516237292

If ever there were a set of books tailor made for me, this is the one. Science has always held a deep fascination for me. I remember as a child in junior and senior high school taking as many electives of the subject as were offered--a trait that stayed with me throughout college. However science is not always as loved by children as it was by me; why even my own daughter has taken a favor to subjects of a less technical nature. This series helps to show everyone the fun and magic found in the different aspects of Science, while unmasking some of the mystery and making it widely accessible for children in, but not limited to, grades two through four.

All of the books in this set have a durable hard binding, with sturdy pages. In addition to being an informative chapter book, they each have a glossary and section with information on how to find out more about the things covered. Throughout the book the glossary words are darkened to make spotting them and thus discussion of the new vocabulary easy.

Awesome Science is broken into four chapters. The first covers the fascinating study of DNA, explaining the basics of this complex topic in a way that a child can easily grasp, yet covering ideas that I remember from my high school studies. In Chapter Two we look at the battle against fat and obesity. With this being an ever-increasing problem in our society, it is great to show children that Scientists are doing their part to help us all overcome the battle of the bulge, as well as showing ways they can handle that battle for themselves. Chapter Three looks at Dolly, the worlds most famous and controversial sheep, and introduces children to the fascinating study of cloning. Chapter Four starts with an introduction of the last known thylacines or Tasmanian tigers and discusses the efforts that are being made to bring back this wonderful animal using the processes of cloning the DNA.

High-tech Inventions is also broken into four chapters. Chapter One gives children a great look at the way computers used to be and even explains their inner workings, making it an utterly fascinating read. Chapter Two looks at the use of cockroaches in robotics technology, giving a lot of information that was used in making many robotics items. I wasn't aware that so much work had been done with the very insects that I as a Floridian try so hard to vanquish. Chapter Three looks at the environmentally friendly mode of transportation called the Segway HT, which operates without the use of a steering wheel, only by using a gyroscope. Chapter Four tells readers about Michael Moshier who designed his own personal flying machine, using his knowledge of past machines and modern technology.

Medical Marvels a four-chapter book as well. Chapter One looks at the amazing story of Phineas Gage, a man who had a metal rod enter his left cheek, pass through his brain and exit through the middle of his forehead, cracking his skull. Although he fully recovered, he was a different man in terms of personality and endeavors to explain why the transformation happened. Chapter Two is the story of conjoined twins Mohamed and Ahmed Ibrahim, who were joined at the head. It is the miraculous story of how modern medicine allowed these brothers to finally look at each other. Chapter Three is the heart warming story of Diamond Excell, born without shoulders or arms, and of inventor Ivan Yaeger who created the electronic arms that would allow her to hug her mother. Chapter Four is a story that is so near to my heart and one that has very recently come to an end, that of the only man who will ever be Superman to so many people, Christopher Reeve. The chapter tells the story of his tragedy and struggle to recover straight through to the triumph of his movements, something that is miraculous indeed for a quadriplegic. He was a great man that did a lot of work for the betterment of life for all in his position. Although he may be gone from us now, his courage and perseverance still lives on, and there may yet be those to recover from their own tragedies due to the hard work he did for them all.

Natural-born Killers is--you guessed it--four chapters. Chapter One is about the work of William Withering who is responsible for the medical use of foxglove to treat dropsy and other heart related conditions. I found it to be rather interesting that a poisonous plant can actually be used to heal. Chapter Two is about Bill Haast and his work with snake venom. He had the correct assumption that snake venom could be used to treat health conditions in humans. Chapter Three is about John Daily who studies poisonous frogs, and maps his research using the compounds of the poison to make a strong painkiller that will have fewer side effects. As someone suffering from arthritis I found his work to be of particular interest. Chapter Four is absolutely fascinating. It is about foods made from Bt plants. These are plants that contain Bt, which is a pesticide that kills insects that eat the plants. Currently the dilemma is that these foods are not labeled and thus consumers aren't fully informed about what they are eating.

Up Close is a chapter book, with four chapters. Chapter One is about Antony van Leeuwenhoek and his fascination with studying things under his homemade microscopes. It is interesting to see that he was so ahead of his time as well as being so detail oriented. Chapter Two is about the scientist and tools they used to study the belemnites eaten by the giant ichthyosaur. After research it was found that like many of today's animals, after eating they would regurgitate the hard shells as to not hurt any of their own internal organs. Chapter Three is about Kellar Autumn and his study of the gecko and its ability to climb walls. This study may well be something we all find a use for, in a more powerful adhesive--gecko tape. Chapter Four is about Dennis Kunkel and his study of how places such as Mount St. Helens can recover after a natural disaster. It is curious indeed to watch as life begins to reemerge in a previously lifeless area.

All of these books are geared toward teaching second to fourth grade students Science and accomplish this in a way that makes learning fascinating, as it should be. Even as an adult reading the books, I found that each and every chapter offered me a bit of new information in such vivid words and pictures that the experience will stay with me long after I close the covers. This collection is something that should find a home in all classrooms as well as homes with children of this age range, even a little younger and older would surely benefit from this learning adventure. This is Science made fun, no easy task in this world of MTV, Video Games and instant gratification. Yet it gives the still wannabe Scientist inside of me a glow like that of a Bunsen burner that books such as these might just open the door for the next generation or explorers of information and seekers of answers to step through.