Claude Delafosse

This book from the series First Discovery Books is one of the best. It uses a simple cardboard flashlight (that is a flashlight-shaped piece of sturdy paper with a white circle on the end to represent the "light") to reveal the secrets of underground dens and lairs. Each clear plastic page is illustrated with an image of an underground nest--such as a mole's home--and is placed in front of a black page. You can see vague outlines of things, but nothing clearly. That is until you put show more the"flashlight" between the clear plastic page and the black page and against the white circle the creatures become visible! It is so simple, but so, so effective. It is really magical. A child could easily spend hours scrutinizing each habitat. Wonderful little book. show less

My 7 year old grandson found the earth as an orange concept ridiculous and my daughter agreed -- what? this orange has a magma core? And this other orange is segmented into time zones? (Yes, there were quite a number of gratuitous oranges in this book... as well as the silly one on the cover.) Very weird. She refused to read it again and I don't blame her.

This book explains different systems of the human body. Almost every page has a transparent flap that layers over the other illustrations and shows the different system being explained, which is really unique. Each concept is explained fairly well, especially heredity. There was a weird section about dreams that didn't really seem to fit in with the rest of the book, but it was still interesting. The book ends with a message about how everyone is different on the outside, but we're all the show more same on the inside. I thought it was a pretty unique book with fun way of presenting information. show less

"Houses" is a book all about the different types of houses you'll see around the world. It starts off with showing homes that are typical for most people in America- single family homes and apartment buildings. The way these types of homes are built is explained, with the types of materials that are used and who builds the houses being mentioned as well. The book then begins talking about homes that the young reader may not be aware of. Igloos are shown, though are explained to be temporary show more shelters made while the Inuit are out hunting. The process of making an igloo is shown, as well as the actual homes that the Inuit live in. Homes from hot countries are shown on the next page, where the typical building materials of "hot climate" homes are included, as well as examples of homes from Cameroon, Mali, Nigeria, Egypt, and New Mexico. More temporary homes are shown, with Native American tepees, Tuareg tents, summer Siberian tents, and Mongolian felt tents being featured. Raised homes and homes that are used by multiple families are also included. The last few pages feature houses that can travel with the people living in them: mobile homes, trailers, caravans, tents, house boats, submarines, and even the space stations that astronauts live in. The last page tells the reader that they too can make a house, whether it's made out of pillows, blankets, or even a cardboard box. Although this book is really simple, I really learned a lot! I like that the book breaks the common stereotypes that igloos and tepees are permanent homes, and I also like that so many homes from around the world are shown as well. This book would be great for an introduction on homes seen in different cultures. show less