|
Albert Einstein and his inflatable universe |
Mike Goldsmith |
Reasonable combination of biography of
Einstein and his science, but somehow doesn't quite click at this level. |
|
Animal |
David Burnie (Ed.) |
Wonderful illustrated reference guide to the
animal kingdom - not popular science really, though. Technically for adults
but works fine for children too |
|
Bang! The Complete
History of the Universe |
Patrick Moore,
Brian May, Chris Lintott |
A superbly illustrated
introduction to the basics of cosmology, for older children and adults,
though we think it works best for 11-16 readers.
 |
|
Body |
Richard Walker
(Robert Winston - editorial consultant) |
Stunning 3D graphics of the
human body, derived from MRI scans, used to build up a graphic picture of
our inner structures. |
|
Bulging Brains |
Nick Arnold |
How can a young reader fail to enjoy a book
with instructions on DIY brain surgery? Excellent mixture of brain facts and
yuck factor. |
|
Bulging Brain Experiments |
Nick Arnold |
The DIY version of Bulging
Brains. Benefits from a plastic cover and full colour, but is a bit of a let
down, because the experiments tend to be optical illusions and the like. |
|
Can You Feel the Force |
Richard Hammond |
Good and well-illustrated
introduction to physics from forces to light, apparently authored by TV
presenter Richard Hammond. At its best when it gets practical. |
|
Car Science |
Richard Hammond |
Using cars to illustrate
science, mostly around the physics of motion and energy, this is an
enjoyable approach, hosted by Top Gear presenter Hammond.
|
|
Chemical Chaos |
Nick Arnold |
Sound introduction to chemistry with enough
pongs, bangs and mad goings on to please any fan of horrible science. |
|
[Would you believe]
Cobwebs stop wounds bleeding |
Richard Platt |
An enjoyable exploration of
the history of medicine, particularly the wackier quack cures and mistakes,
but also covering the oddities that do work (like the title) and the key
elements of modern medicine. |
|
Codes: how to make them
and break them |
Kjartan Poskitt |
Very practical introduction to
codes and ciphers with the usual Murderous Maths fun elements and a good mix
of history and how-to.. |
|
Cracking Codes |
Diana Kimpton |
Secret messages, dark mysteries - it's all
there in the history of codes and ciphers, and this book makes a great
introduction to the subject.. |
|
The Cause of Mosquitoes'
Sorrow |
Surendra Verma |
Chronological trip through
scientific breakthroughs, beginnings and blunders providing quick tasters.
|
|
Dangerous Dinosaurs Jigsaw
Book |
Nick Arnold |
Great fun with six 48-piece jigsaws, lots of info on
dinosaurs and the rare opportunity for a science book that will work with a
younger than usual reader. |
| Do
You Feel Lucky |
Kjartan Poskitt |
Of all the mindboggling fields of mathematics
there is no other than combines so much everyday value with being so
contrary to common sense. Delightful and fascinating. |
|
Earth (e.explore series) |
Matt Turner |
Series with good web links and
especially attractive online clipart, but the book on the Earth isn't really
readable through, nor does it work as a reference
|
|
e.encyclopedia of science (e.explore series) |
Camilla Hallinan (Ed.) |
Series with good web links and especially attractive online clipart. Quite a
good young person's science encyclopedia, but more suited to school than
home.
|
|
The Essential Arithmetricks [AKA Murderous Maths: Tricks of the Trade] |
Kjartan Poskitt |
Arithmetic is kind of useful, but could be
seen as dull. Not any more once the murderously mathematical Kjartan Poskitt
gets his hands on it. |
|
Evil Inventions |
Nick Arnold |
The master of popular science
for kids casts his eye over the world of inventions, both barmy and
practical. Not much science, but good fun.
|
|
Evolve or Die |
Phil Gates |
Evolution gets the Horrid Science treatment in
a fair and effective book, slightly let down by a couple of errors, but
generally a useful intro to evolution and genetics.
|
|
Explosive Experiments |
Nick Arnold |
A good entry in the series,
describing the importance of experiments to science, and key examples in
different fields, made special by the addition of a pack of do-it-yourself
experiment cards |
|
Famously Foul Experiments |
Nick Arnold |
Physics, biology and cosmology
in a set of DIY experiments. Tend to be a little indirect, so lack impact,
but plenty of science. |
|
Fatal Forces |
Nick Arnold |
Otherwise excellent tour of the world of force
brought crashing to earth by perpetuation of the existence of centrifugal
force. |
|
Freak Food Experiments |
Nick Arnold |
A collection of experiments
using food and drink with a handy plastic cover - bound to cause a little
science to be learned and a lot of mess to be created. Fun. |
|
Frightening Light |
Nick Arnold |
What there is in this introduction to light is
quite good (with a couple of exceptions), but there's a lot missing. |
|
From Atoms to Infinity |
Mary & John Gribbin |
A collection of short pieces on everything from the size of space to
complexity theory. Some of it good, some less so.
|
|
The Future is Wild |
Douglas Dixon & John Adams |
Wonderful idea, mostly extremely well done, of
speculating on the way animal life will evolve in the next 200 million
years. Though technically an adult book, this glossy, illustrated volume is
fine for younger readers too. |
|
Galileo (What's Their
Story?) |
Jacqueline Mitton |
Reasonable biography of
Galileo for the young reader. Has most of the facts, but lacks a certain
bite, and compromises a little in the simplification
|
|
The Gobsmacking Galaxy |
Kjartan Poskitt |
The truth may be out there, but it's not all
in here - a fair but unexciting galactic tour. Marginally better than Space,
Stars & Slimy Aliens |
|
Gross Universe |
Jeff Szpirglas |
Almost all the yucky bits of
human and animal bodily functions exposed to the young reader, from snot to
farts - bound to attract. A bit like walking around a good museum of bodily
grossness.
|
|
How Loud Can You Burp? |
Glen Murphy |
More answers to children's science questions -
the dialogue format is a little forced, but plenty of good entertaining
stuff in here.
|
|
How Cool Stuff Works |
Chris Woodford et al |
There are few things more
appealing to a young reader than cool, and this book is packed with
explanations of the cool technology around us, superbly illustrated
|
|
How to Build a Time
Machine |
Hazel Richardson |
Uses the concept of building a time machine to provide
an excellent introduction to the history of time measurement and a fair
exploration of black holes, but gets in a twist over the time machine itself
|
|
How to Split the Atom |
Hazel Richardson |
Good children's popular
science approach to the basics of atoms using the pretence of being a "how
to split the atom" guide - sometimes a little worthy, but mostly good fun
|
|
Human Body (e.explore series) |
Richard Walker |
Series with good web links and especially attractive
online clipart. The book gives a very good, traditional exploration of the
body
|
|
The Incredible Internet |
Michael Cox |
The Internet is an essential part of modern
life, and having an introduction to it is an essential for today's young
technologist. The historical background here is fine, but the majority of
the content disappoints |
|
Insect (e.explore series) |
David Burnie |
Series with good web links and especially attractive online clipart. An
enjoyable tour around the lives and nature of insects.
|
|
Inventors & their bright ideas |
Mike Goldsmith |
Enjoyable mini-biographies of inventors from
Archimedes to Baird, but lacks a little oomph (perhaps nature of subject). |
|
It's All in your Head |
Sylvia Funston & Jay Ingram |
A good grounding in the
functions of the brain, from senses to recognition and memory. Reads well,
though the text seems aimed at a slightly higher age than the presentation. |
|
Killer Energy |
Nick Arnold |
One of the best of the Horrible Science
series, with an excellent introduction to energy, temperature and
thermodynamics. (Much more fun than that sounds!). |
|
Leonardo da Vinci & his super-brain |
Michael Cox |
Delightful story of Leonardo, taking in
history, art, science, engineering - popular science for the younger reader
with plenty of flair and fun. |
|
Living Science |
Anon |
What promised to be a good overview of physics
and its applications (title is a misnomer), let down by feeling of being a
string of unrelated articles, old fashioned science and lack of
acknowledgement of author(s)
|
|
Mammal
(e.explore series) |
Jen Green & David Burnie |
Series with good web links and
especially attractive online clipart (who can resist cuddly mammals?). Like
others in the series isn't readable through, but does work well as a reference
|
|
[Would you believe]
Marzipan contains cyanide |
Richard Platt |
A fun tour of the weird and
wacky side of food that takes in everything from dinosaur poo and roast
dormouse to poisonous meals and factory farming. Could do with a little more
science, though. |
|
The Mean and Vulgar Bits |
Kjartan Poskitt |
Fair introduction to fractions, spiced up with
a side line in averages, but try as he might, it's hard to make the subject
matter thrilling. |
|
More
Murderous Maths |
Kjartan Poskitt |
Very different from the original murderous
maths - more a case of junior mathematical puzzles and diversions, and
that's not a bad thing at all |
|
Murderous Maths |
Kjartan Poskitt |
We get an excellent introduction to the basics
of maths - the only reason for the three stars is, the basics aren't very
exciting! |
|
Murderous Maths: Desperate Measures |
Kjartan Poskitt |
Measuring,units, shapes, time measurement and
angles all come under the Murderous Maths microscope. With more practical
exercises than usual, a great addition to the series.
|
|
Nature Shockers |
Keltie Thomas |
A nice idea - presenting the
odd bits of the world, particularly biology, is a shock, horror tabloid
fashion - but it gets a bit wearing after a while
|
|
Night Sky Atlas |
Robin Scagell |
Beautifully illustrated and very effective
guide to the night sky that should appeal to all ages
|
|
The Number Devil |
Hans Magnus Enzensberger |
Delicious and successful
attempt to make maths fun by turning it into a story. It works so well
because it reaches to the very root of mathematics. Excellent!
|
|
Numbers: The Key to the Universe |
Kjartan Poskitt |
Moments of joy with golden
ratios, primes and more, but rather too much tedious numerical manipulation
to keep the attention |
|
Oxford Children's Book of
Science |
Charles Taylor & Stephen Pople |
A good stab at covering all
science in one book - well illustrated and designed. The text is just
occasionally a little worthy, but mostly reads well and achieves its purpose
|
|
Oxford First Book of
Maths |
Rose Griffiths |
Excellent introduction to maths for 5-8 year olds,
well illustrated and with plenty of interaction (though does bow to fashion
a little) - rating only reflects that it's not popular maths per se
|
|
Oxford First Book of
Science |
Nina Morgan |
Reasonable introduction to science for 6-8 year olds,
covering UK curriculum topics, but a little old fashioned in style
|
|
Oxford First Book of
Space |
Andrew Langley |
Well illustrated and enjoyable introduction to
astronomy and space for 6-8 year olds, though over-focussed on the solar
system and a little wordy.
|
|
The Phantom X |
Kjartan Poskitt |
Algebra often frightens off younger readers
before they get started, and this book provides it with just the fun it
needs to make all the difference
|
|
Physics: Why Matter Matters |
Dan Green and Simon Basher |
Tiny format and dramatic Japanese-style
illustrations make this an original looking book on physics - but the heavy
handed attempt to sound cool won't appeal to everyone.. |
|
Pick Me Up |
David Roberts & Jeremy Leslie |
Stunningly different book with
a collection of fascinating pages on totally different subjects. Designed
more for a dip in than an end-to-end read, it will appeal even to adults,
though some will find the format confusing. |
|
Riotous Robots |
Mike Goldsmith |
Enjoyable exploration of robots in fiction and
reality (mostly reality) with good cartoon illustrations. Rather bitty,
though. |
|
Rock & Mineral (e.explore
series) |
John Farndon |
Series with good web links and
especially attractive online clipart. Like others in the series isn't really
readable through, but does work better as a reference than most
|
|
Science Magic in the Bathroom |
Richard Robinson |
Lovely mix of magic tricks and the science behind
them, mostly on water, but with bits of acoustics and refractive index
thrown in. Great fun
|
|
Science Magic in the Bedroom |
Richard Robinson |
Rather tenuous connection between bedrooms and
subjects like optical illusions and the mechanism of flight, but another
successful collection of science-teaching tricks
|
|
Science Magic in the
Kitchen |
Richard Robinson |
Great idea of presenting
science experiments as magic tricks. The hands-on approach works well in
this mostly chemistry-based book set in the kitchen
|
|
Science Magic in the
Living Room |
Richard Robinson |
More science pretending to be
magic tricks - in principle linked by the living room, in practice by
Newton. A couple of quibbles, but largely very good
|
|
Scientists & their mind-blowing experiments |
Mike Goldsmith |
Nine top (dead) scientists revealed in all
their glory: biography, work and contribution to history. You may not agree
with the selection - but that's part of the fun.. |
|
Scientists Anonymous |
Patricia Fara |
Interesting
revelations of the life and work of often forgotten early female scientists.
Slow to start, but a great inspiration for a teenage audience once it gets
going |
|
Shocking Electricity |
Nick Arnold |
A mostly solid entry to the Horrible Science
series, largely effective in introducing electricity, but rather skipped
some of the basics. |
|
Smart Kids:
Discovering Life: Water, Air,
Matter |
Softkey/Science Museum |
Fun interactive CD-ROM with 100 experiments to
gain insights into water, air and matter. Some problems with the transfer
from French, though |
|
Smart Kids: Touring the Planets |
Softkey/Science Museum |
Fun interactive CD-ROM with 100 experiments to
gain insights into solar system science. Some problems with the transfer
from French, though |
|
Sounds Dreadful |
Nick Arnold |
Sound made simple with excellent illustrations
- not entirely popular science, and couple of small flaws, but still good. |
|
Space Travel (e.explore
series) |
Ian Graham |
A solid entry in the
Google-linked e.explore series. The page layout is a bit messy and not
really a through-read, but a good reference and useful website
|
|
Space, Stars & Slimy Aliens |
Nick Arnold |
Not our favourite in the series - very skimpy
on everything but the solar system, and sometimes tedious there, but useful
basics. See also Gobsmacking Galaxy
|
|
Strange New Species |
Elin Kelsey |
An enjoyable tour of the weird
and wonderful in species, with some hot topics like cloning thrown in. A
collection of individual two pages articles, but readable nonetheless.
|
|
The Stunning Science of
Everything |
Nick Arnold |
The Horrible Science team go
large format in a whirlwind trip around all of science from the very small
to the incredibly vast = and it works wonderfully well
|
|
The Terrible Truth about Time |
Nick Arnold |
One of the better Horrible Science entries,
with a gallop around time, measuring it, relativity and more
|
|
Transform[ed]: How
Everyday Things Are Made |
Bill Slavin |
Excellent introduction to the
manufacturing process of everything from chocolate to surfboards, with an
enjoyable short historical introduction and a well-illustrated step-by-step
description of manufacture
|
|
The Way Science Works |
Robin Kerrod & Sharon Ann Holgate |
Brilliant summary of the
physical sciences, brought alive by experiments that encourage the reader to
get into everything from chromatography to building an electric motor
|
|
The Way the Universe Works |
Robin Kerrod & Giles Sparrow |
Effective exploration of astronomy and cosmology
through experiment and observation, with a fair amount of the usual DK
illustrated genius
|
|
What Makes Me Me? |
Robert Winston |
Stunningly good DK
mega-illustrated guide to what make a human being and an individual person.
Everything from body parts to personality tests.
|
|
Wholly Irresponsible
Experiments |
Sean Connolly |
Sixty-five fun science
experiments to do in the home, learn a little science and make a mess while
your at it (hence irresponsible). An excellent gift for parents who like to
do things with their children, or older kids.
|
|
Wholly Irresponsible
Exploits |
Sean Connolly |
Sixty-five more fun science
experiments to do in the home. As with the companion volume, an excellent gift for parents who like to
do things with their children, or older kids.
|
|
Why does a ball bounce? |
Adam Hart-Davis |
The UK's favourite TV boffin
explains 101 phenomena - much too short, but still great fun. Not
specifically a children's book, but fine for a young audience.
|
|
Why Explore? |
Susan Lendroth |
Interesting attempt to bring
the wonder of scientific (and other) exploration for the sake of knowledge
to the younger audience through verse and imagery
|
|
Why is Snot Green? |
Glen Murphy |
Fun collection of interesting
science questions, from the book's title to "how big is the universe",
answered in an approachable but informative style.
|
|
Wow Events that Changed the World |
Philip Ardagh |
More historical summary
textbook than popular science book, with an odd choice of topics. Arguably
no science in it at all, the race to the moon being the closest subject.
|
|
Wow Ideas that Changed the World |
Philip Ardagh |
More cultural history summary
textbook than popular science book, with some interesting contact, but
missed opportunities to make things more engaging.
|
|
Zodiac: Celestial Circle of the Sun |
Jacqueline Mitton & Christina Balit |
Beautiful picture book of the zodiacal
constellations with interesting historical background, but worryingly never
says that astrology is bunk.
|
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