Children's Books, Reviewed

Dinosaurs Walked Here and Other Stories Fossils Tell (Patricia Lauber, Bradbury/Macmillan, 1987, 64 pp., $15.95, ages 8 and up) is an excellent introduction to paleontology that discusses how fossilized remains of plants and animals reveal characteristics of the prehistoric world. Fossil bones, teeth, shells, leaf prints, eggs, insects and animal tracks reveal stories of plant and animal extinction or adaptation and changes in the Earth’s surface and climate. The text is accompanied by a generous selection of full-color photographs. The Living World (Tony Seddon and Jill Bailey, Doubleday, 1987, 160 pp., $12.95, ages 8 and up) is packed with fascinating facts and illustrations. It gives a comprehensive view of the mysterious world of plants and animals, ranging from one-celled organisms to giant whales. The Physical World (Tony Seddon and Jill Bailey, Doubleday, 1987, 160 pp., $12.95, ages 8 and up) explains in simple, straightforward terms the formation of the Earth, and the origins of mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, rivers, oceans and glaciers. It also delves into many forms of matter and energy—electricity, light, weather, sound—and other basic principles of natural science. Both books contain quizzes, lists of world records, suggestions for further reading, glossaries, indices and hundreds of color photographs and illustrations. They are gold mines of science fact and fun, and the best buys of all the volumes reviewed here. How to Think Like a Scientist (Stephen P. Kramer, illustrated by Felicis Bond, Crowell/ Harper, 1987, 48 pp., $11.50, ages 8-12) uses humorous pictures and questions about hypothetical situations to introduce the process of thinking according to the scientific method. What kind of food does your dog like best? Is your sister more likely to help you with your homework if you say “please”? Can throwing a dead snake over a tree branch make it rain? After these questions are asked, they are answered systematically, providing an excellent introduction to scientific methodology. Exploring the Solar System (Peter Seymour, illustrated by Robert Cremins, with paper engineering by John Strejan, Macmillan, 1986, 10 pp., $7.95, ages 8-12), a very short book in the Science Action Series, introduces young readers to the workings of the sun, moon, Earth and other planets. It features pop-ups, lift-ups and action pull-tabs. Also included are a telescope with a dial that provides a close-up look at the way astronomers view the universe, and a lift-up quiz that tests the reader’s newly gained knowledge. Subjects such as “cosmic soup,” the Earth’s rotation, shooting stars, eclipses, Halley’s Comet and the phases of the moon are explained and illustrated in three dimensions. Other books in the series include Discovering Our Past, Animals in Disguise, What Lives in the Sea, In- sects: A Close-up Look and How the Weather Works. The First Woman Doctor (Rachel Baker, Scholastic, 1987, 192 pp., $2.50 PB, ages 8-12) presents an inspirational role model to the younger generation. Originally published in 1944, the book tells the story of Elizabeth’ Blackwell (1820-1910), who overcame the odds to become, in 1849, the first woman to receive an M.D. degree in the United States (from Geneva Medical College in New York). Later she founded the London School of Medicine for Women. By pursuing her own dream, she gave other women in a prefeminist age the opportunity to become physicians. This is well portrayed in the book. FOR PRETEENS AND TEENAGERS Carl Sagan: Superstar Scientist (Daniel Cohen, Dodd, Mead, 1987, 160 pp., $12.95, ages 12 and up) looks at the life and works of the popular and dynamic Cornell University astronomer, educator and author, who believes fervently that science is everyone’s business. This illustrated biography deals with his involvement with space probes; his development of the enormously successful Cosmos television series; his role as an originator of and chief spokesman for the controversial nuclear winter theory; and his fight against superstitions such as UFOs and Velikovsky’s theories. In May 1987, Scholastic, the world’s largest purveyor of Englishlanguage publications for children, launched the four-book Explorer series, which invites readers to become stars of the stories as they complete fictitious missions based on scientifically factual clues. According to creator Byron Preiss, “the Explorer series is designed to communicate basic scientific con-cepts while making the subject matter exciting and fun.” Each book begins, “You are an explorer. You journey to places no one has ever been and face dangers no one has ever known.” Told in the second-person singular, the interactive stories contain project summaries, personal dossiers on fictional scientists and reports on equipment available for research. All the books ask readers to make choices that will lead to successful completion of top-secret assignments. Journey to the Center of the Atom! (Carol Gaskin, illustrated by Walter P. Martishius, Scholastic, 1987, 128 pp., $2.25, ages 9-14), the first book in the series, presents the task of proving the existence of a quark, the smallest particle of matter known to science. Shrunk to subatomic size, readers make their way through the atomic world, encountering protons, neutrons and electrons as well as enemy terrorists. Depending on the choices they make, readers may become an ant’s feast, a giant glob, or fall in love with a proton and live happily ever after. Destination: Brain (Seth McEvoy, illustrated by Walter P. Martishius, Scholastic, 1987, 128 pp., $2.25, ages 9-14) leads readers into an injured scientist’s brain to find the cure for a deadly plague. While unlocking the mysteries of the human mind, the reader is again confronted with various choices, each leading to radically different conclusions. In Search of a Shark (Peter Lerangis, illustrated by Walter P. Martishius, Scholastic, 1987, 128 pp., $2.25, ages 9-14) assigns readers the task of diving to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to find a runaway shark. The final book in the series, which describes a visit to the moons of Jupiter, will be published shortly. Isaac Asimov, with nearly 370 books under his belt, is undoubtedly the United States’ most prolific science/science fiction writer. Yet many people are unaware that this articulate spokesman of science for adults is equally at home in the field of juvenile literature. His How Did We Find Out... ? series, which currently contains more than 30 short volumes on the history of discovery, explores the steps leading up to our present knowledge of familiar scientific subjects. How Did We Find Out About Sunshine? (Isaac Asimov, illustrated by David Wool, Walker, 1987,63 pp., $10.95, ages 10-13) explains what the sun is made of and why it keeps shining. Asimov leads the young reader through the findings of Galileo, Copernicus, Gassini, Newton, Helmholtz and others to the discovery of nuclear energy and hydrogen fusion. Other titles in the series deal with blood, electricity, dinosaurs, germs, vitamins, comets, energy, atoms, nuclear power, outer space, earthquakes, black holes, Antarctica, oil, coal, solar power, volcanoes, the beginning of life, the universe, genes, computers, robots, DNA, the speed of light and our human roots. Hello? Who’s Out There?: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life (Don Dwiggins, Dodd, Mead, 1987, 93 pp., $10.95, ages 10 and up), written by a veteran aerospace reporter, traces speculation about extraterrestrial life. It describes space exploration in search of such life—from space probes and Project Ozma to NASA’s Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence program and the renowned phonograph records describing life on Earth sent into outer space on Voyager spacecraft. Mysteries of Life on Earth and Beyond (Franklyn M. Branley, diagrams by Sally J. Bensusen, Dutton, 1987, 80 pp., $11.95, ages 12 and up) is the fourth book in Branley’s Mysteries of the Universe series. It explains present and future methods of space exploration and the search for life on other planets. Is there life in outer space? Can we communicate with alien beings? What conditions are necessary to sustain life? Answers to these and similar questions are explored. The other volumes in the series are concerned with the universe, outer space and satellites. Star Wars (Christopher Lampton, Franklin Watts, 1987,70 pp., $9.90, ages 12 and up), a volume in the Space Age First series, describes the satellites and lasers to be used in President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and how the hypothetical system is expected to function. The pros and cons of the controversy surrounding space weapons research are dis- cussed, and the author concludes that negotiation with the Soviet Union offers the best alternative to Star Wars. How the World Works (Boyce Rensberger, William Morrow, 1986, 448 pp., $7.95 PB, ages 13 and up), despite its somewhat pretentious title, is a valuable and lucid sourcebook (without illustrations) for teens and adults. Subtitled A Guide to Science’s Greatest Discoveries, it presents 24 major scientific concepts that explain how the natural world functions. It also has an alphabetical compendium of more than 300 brief articles on discoveries, scientists and terms essential to scientific literacy. Kauffman, professor of chemistry at the California State University, Fresno, 93740, is a former Guggenheim fellow and winner of the Manufacturing Chemists Association Award for Excellence in College Chemistry Teaching. A contributing editor to four journals, he is a prolific contributor to the scientific literature and a frequent reviewer of books.

Children's Books, Reviewed

Dinosaurs Walked Here and Other Stories Fossils Tell

The Living World

The Physical World

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