Simon Basher

This adroit and delightful introduction to an oft-recondite topic covers a lot of ground in charming yet substantial fashion. I recall being disappointed as a child that atoms weren't really little beings with faces (the fact that they were so small made up for that, however); this book anthropomorphizes Blackbody Radiation, Friction, Entropy and Sound! And does it quite well, too! A fine and unique science read on any level, and highly recommended.

~Opinion
This book is not good to sit down and read all in one sitting. This can be very overwhelming with its 128 pages. The book should be broken down by chapter. So much information that children would be just hearing rather than listening if they were to be read this entire book. This book takes time to process and understand. I am not putting down the information. The content is excellent! It is just a LOT to comprehend and needs time.

~Within the book:
The book is divided into 8 show more chapters:
1) Water World
2) Ocean Motion
3) Shoreline Gang
4) Reef Chillin'
5) Open-water Crew
6) Sea Cucumber
7) Frosty Fellows
8) Ocean Explorers

~Does the book contain layers of meaning and enable natural connections to science?
Yes. Every single page has one (or more) of fun facts about each term. Humans spend a lot of in the water, but most of us know little about it. Children are curious about many things and one of them is the ocean. This book can answer all of their questions!

~discovery? wonder? Or reader's curiosity?
Yes. It contained information about the ocean from its creatures to the types of wave. It makes the readers want to know more facts about the ocean. It is very engaging.

~Is it humorous or conversational tone?
I did not find it humorous. This book is only informational. The author wrote this book to inform his readers, not to entertain. show less

~Opinion
This is a book that I find that is not good to sit down and read all in one sitting, unless you are older than a 7th grader, because most of it might confuse you. As a child is introduced to a term in this book, the teacher/parent can help them better understand MATH using this book.

~Within the book:
The book is divided into 3 chapters, with each chapter increasing in difficulty:
1) Number Bunch
2) Special Sum-Things
3) Shape Shifters
4) Data Gang
The beginning of the chapter introduces show more the characters with their names being MATH terms. So in Chapter 1, it includes the characters: Zero, Infinity, Minus Numbers, Fraction, Decimal Fraction, and Units. In chapter 2: Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, & x (variable).
The back of the book has a glossary, which can be useful for the reader look up specific MATH terms. It also includes a big poster where you can hang up that children/students can look at the characters in the book and reflect on who they are.

~Does the book contain layers of meaning and enable natural connections to math?
Yes. Every single page has one (or more) of these fun facts about each term... the history, how it's used in the real world, symbol name, or plain facts.
In the 2nd chapter, at the bottom, there is "head puzzle" where a riddle/example is giving that makes the readers think. It also gives the answer.
(One thing I wish this book did was put the answer either upside down OR in the back of the book. Not just give the answer right away).
Along with this, the main text goes on with what the term is, why it's important, and how it is used in math class/real world.

~discovery? wonder? Or reader's curiosity?
(Page 10-Minus Numbers) "You can't take nine cookies from a jar that has only five cookies in it, can you?"
This quote makes the readers think and pictures it. Is this legitimately possible? It goes on saying this is where minus/negative numbers come in. How else can we use these special Numbers? TO TELL TEMPERATURE, OF COURSE!
This book makes you want to draw out the shapes/lines/numbers and test it out. At some points, it makes you scratch you head & think.

~Is it humorous or conversational tone?
It has some humorous lines/puns, but the overall tone I did not find it humorous.
"Shh! Don't tell the others. I'm not a number. " -Infinity
"People often think I'm gloomy. Ok, I admit it, I'm the exact opposite of Add, that bubbly ball of smirking positivity." -Subtract

The voice is aimed towards the reader... so the terms/characters are talking to you (the reader)! show less

The author of this book makes a variety of chemistry topics come alive in short, crazy, funny stories of characters like the "obnoxious organics", "bright sparks", "lab rats" and the "nasty boys". Difficult chemistry topics like how compounds are formed, how chemical reactions occur, what are precipitates, ions and pH are all explained. Each story is accompanied by silly images of the characters. The book is grouped into sections, like chapters, with related chemistry terms organized into show more each section. This book makes complicated chemistry topics easy to understand and fun. This is a great read aloud book for any age group science class. It was the highlight of my 5th grade science class one lesson. The students really got into it and wanted me to read more. show less