Book Review: Mind Games: 10 Fun Optical Illusions and Perception Projects by Scientific American Editors

Mind Games: 10 Fun Optical Illusions and Perception Projects by Scientific American Editors is a children's nonfiction book. What concepts are behind the creation of cartoons and the ability to seemingly make a dot on a page disappear? Readers will learn the answers through the ten hands-on activities featured in this intriguing title. Each optical illusion is broken down using step-by-step instructions paired with helpful illustrations. Accessible text reveals the important scientific ideas behind each activity, such as the principles of human vision, perception, and light.

Mind Games is a well organized and accessible book that would be a good classroom, homeschooling, and public library addition.  I thought the book is well formatted, with well written text that explains the concept and related experiment well. I thought the extended information to help formulate a science fair project or further experimentation was a nice touch. The tools and items needed for the experiments were all things most likely already in the home, which makes the experiments so much more doable, and repeatable as desired. I also liked that an explanation of the scientific method was included, for those that might think they know what it is but need a bit more detail to be able to apply or explain it themselves. I also liked that a glossary and resources for further research were included as well. 

Early Book Review: Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts by Joyce Grant, Kathleen Marcotte

Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts is a children's book written by Joyce Grant and illustrated by Kathleen Marcotte. It is currently scheduled for release on June 7 2022. This book explores in depth how real journalism is made, what “fake news” is and, most importantly, how to spot the difference. It has practical advice, thought-provoking examples and tons of relevant information on subjects that range from bylines and credible sources to influencers and clickbait. It gives readers context they can use, such as how bias can creep into news reporting, why celebrity posts may not be truthful, and why they should be suspicious of anything that makes them feel super smart. This guide helps readers decide which information they can trust (and which they can't), encouraging readers to approach what they find online with skepticism and to hone their critical thinking skills. to make good choices about what to believe and share. 

Can You Believe It? is a well written and organized book that would fit perfectly into a social studies or library curriculum at the elementary school level. This topic is something we covered when I worked in an elementary school library, in our unit about evaluating sources, and think it only becomes more important as the amount of time spent online continues to increase. I thought the text was simple to follow and understand, explained things well, and did not talk down to the readers. I thought that the text and fun illustrations came together well in a nice balance to keep engagement high. The text is broken down into reasonable chunks, and I found the breakdown of the news examples to be helpful and accessible. All of this combined with the valuable endmatter made this book a must have for school libraries, classrooms, and homeschool families. 

Book Review: Adventures in Architecture for Kids: 30 Design Projects for STEAM Discovery and Learning by Vicky Chan

Adventures in Architecture for Kids: 30 Design Projects for STEAM Discovery and Learning by Vicky Chan offers readers a world of possibilities for learning math, engineering, history, social studies, planning, geography, art, and design. It includes hands-on projects that allow kids to experiment, design, build, succeed, fail, and try again. Complete building challenges with corrugated cardboard and geodesic forms. Look at how designers have solved impossible problems of gravity and space with creations such as suspension bridges, the Loretto helix staircase, and Brunelleschi’s dome. Explore how materials can be used in interesting ways—how paper can go from flimsy to structural, for instance. Participate in family game playing: client and design team—finding creative ways to meet a client’s wish list. Use games to test strength, balance, and structure. Engage in pure imaginative archi-doodling.Explain the why. Why did styles evolve as they did? What technology was available when?

Adventures in Architecture for Kids is a well organized and visually appealing book. I found the layout and instructions to be easy to understand and follow, and the images chosen to match the content and intent perfectly. I liked that the materials used in the activities were all things that were likely to already be in the home (or school) or easy and inexpensive to get. I also liked that the notes to adults were interesting, informative, and could easily lead to further instruction or discussion about the project, not just the mechanics of it but sometimes the practical history and application of the architecture involved. I did like that an index and glossary were included at the end of the book, but I would have loved to see a page of resources at the end of the book for further reading and research.

I think this book would be a fantastic addition to a home library for families with members that are interested in projects like this, and homeschooling families. I think it would be a valuable resource in school and public libraries as well.  

Early Book Review: Hack Your Kitchen: Discover a World of Food Fun with Science Buddies by Niki Ahrens

Hack Your Kitchen: Discover a World of Food Fun with Science Buddies by Niki Ahrens is a children's nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on February 2 2021. Young scientists will learn all about many different scientific principles and properties using everyday tools and ingredients from their own kitchens! Make a lemon volcano, flour craters, edible paper, and more with these hands-on science projects.

Hack Your Kitchen is a well written and organized book. I liked that the items needed for the experiments, and the note that parental supervision or actions for certain things might be important right in the beginning of the book- so there are no surprises of that nature in the midst of picking a project. Equally important, at the end of the book a reminder to leave the kitchen as you found it, and resources for further reading and experimentation are included. The experiments are short and simple, with good pictures and clear instructions. I like that many resulted in edible results, like the slushy, ice cream, and meringue. I also like that the tools and ingredients for each activity are in most homes, or easily found if not currently in the pantry or junk drawer. I think the book is easy to read and follow, accessible to kids and  their adults that might be helping or supervising. I think this book could be helpful for keeping kids engaged and learning while so many are deep into home school or remote learning- and might need a little something extra to stay invested or engaged. I think some teachers and/or parents could use it for inspiration. In fact, I think my kids and I might be giving the baked ice cream a go sooner rather than later.

Early Book Review: SuperSimple Chemistry and SuperSimple Biology: The Ultimate Bitesize Study Guide by DK Children

SuperSimple Chemistry: The Ultimate Bitesize Study Guide by DK Children is currently scheduled for release on June 23 2020. It is an aid for coursework, homework, studying for tests, and a comprehensive guide for grades 6-10. Each topic is fully illustrated to support the information, make the facts crystal clear, and bring the science to life. A large central image explains the idea visually and each topic is summed up on a single page, helping children to quickly get up to speed and really understand how chemistry works. Information boxes explain the theory with the help of simple graphics and for further studying, a handy "Key Facts" box provides a simple summary you can check back on later. 

SuperSimple Biology: The Ultimate Bitesize Study Guide by DK Children is currently scheduled for release on June 23 2020. This biology book for kids 12+ years old is ideal for home and school learning. From reproduction to respiration and enzymes to ecosystems, this guide makes complex topics easy to grasp at a glance. Perfect support for coursework, homework, and studying for tests. Each topic is fully illustrated to support the information, make the facts crystal clear, and bring the science to life. For key ideas, "How It Works" and "Look Closer" boxes explain the theory with the help of simple graphics. And for studying, a handy "Key Facts" box provides a simple summary you can check back on later. 

Both of these books are exactly what one would expect from the titles, and the publisher. They are crisp, clean, and bright looking resources with concise and well written text. The sections are well organized and the pages are formatted to keep readers focused. I liked the balance of illustrations, charts, text, and the key facts boxes. I think resources like this are well timed (although I know they have been around previously) with everyone learning from home for months, and the worries about losing ground with studies, and the possibility of more home learning in the future for many. This would be useful both as a personal resource to support classroom work, as a resource in the classroom, or independent study for those interested in the specific field of study. 

Book Review: Geology Lab for Kids: 52 Projects to Explore Rocks, Gems, Geodes, Crystals, Fossils, and Other Wonders of the Earth's Surface by Garret Romaine

Geology Lab for Kids: 52 Projects to Explore Rocks, Gems, Geodes, Crystals, Fossils, and Other Wonders of the Earth's Surface by Garret Romaine is a non fiction book for middle grade readers. It features 52 simple, inexpensive, and fun experiments that explore the Earth’s surface, structure, and processes. This family  and classroom friendly guide explores the wonders of geology, such as the formation of crystals and fossils, the layers of the Earth’s crust, and how water shapes mountains, valleys, and canyons. The book leaves no excuses for boredom as it contains a year’s worth of captivating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) activities.

Geology Lab for Kids is a great resource for classrooms, homeschooling families, and kids that just love science and experiments. The photography and explanations of the experiments are very well done, accessible to young readers and the adults by their side. In the book there is information that will help readers identify the most common rocks and minerals, maintain and display a rock collection, understand insects are trapped and preserved in amber, understand how geysers and volcanoes form and erupt, understand how layers of rock reveal a record of time, and how to pan for gold like a real prospector. The activities are creative and fun, including some edible (and plenty on inedible) experiments and projects. I think that this is a perfect resource for getting children excited and engaged in science.