Two things in my childhood contributed more than all the others to my choice of science as a career. The first was the $1 chemistry set I received on my seventh birthday. The second, of equal importance and impact, was reading science books. I read all the books on science and scientists that came my way, from the well-known classics to the most transient science fiction. Thus it is with a profound sense of nostalgia in recalling my 50-year love affair with chemistry that I review this selection of children’s science books.
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
The Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out-Science Books series, originated by astronomer Franklyn M. Branley, presents basic science information with attractive pictures and a clear understanding of how children think. Brief enough to appeal to young children yet meaty enough to challenge them, the series includes more than 100 titles. The following five books published in 1987 are suitable for...