Vicki Cobb (1938–2023)
Author of Science Experiments You Can Eat
About the Author
Vicki Cobb's Science Experiments You Can Eat has stood the test of time, filling the minds-and stomachs-of kids for more than forty years. Now with revised and updated material that includes clever new procedures, many new experiments, and vital information on nutrition, a whole new generation of show more readers can devour this cornucopia of food for thought. show less
Series
Works by Vicki Cobb
Why Can't You Unscramble an Egg? and other not such dumb questions about matter (1990) 128 copies, 4 reviews
We Dare You!: Hundreds of Science Bets, Challenges, and Experiments You Can Do at Home (2008) 73 copies, 3 reviews
Vicki Cobb's Why Do I Dry Off?: STEM Kids Discover the Science of Evaporation (STEM Play) (2020) 3 copies, 1 review
Vicki Cobb's Why Can I Suck Through a Straw?: Smart Answers to STEM Questions (STEM Play) (2019) 2 copies
Vicki Cobb's Why Does My Ice Cream Melt?: Smart Answers to STEM Questions (STEM Play) (2019) 2 copies
I fall down 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Cobb, Vicki
- Legal name
- Trachtenberg, Vicki Linda Wolf Cobb
- Other names
- Wolf, Vicki Linda (birth)
- Birthdate
- 1938-08-19
- Date of death
- 2023-01-08
- Gender
- female
- Education
- University of Wisconsin (transferred)
Barnard College (BS|Zoology)
Columbia Teachers College (MA|Secondary Education) - Occupations
- laboratory researcher
science teacher
children's book author - Awards and honors
- Eve Gordon Award for Contribution to Children's Science Literature
SLMSSENY Award for Outstanding Contributions to Children's Literature. - Short biography
- [from Harper Collins Publishers website]
Vicki Cobb is the author of many award-winning science books for young people. With degrees from Barnard College and Columbia University Teachers College, Vicki enjoyed an early career as a science teacher. She now devotes all her time to writing and speaking to teachers, children, and librarians all over the country. She frequently writes for the Huffington Post and is also the founder and president of iNK Think Tank, an organization dedicated to getting high-quality nonfiction books into classrooms. To find out what recent science experiment Vicki has been cooking up, visit her online at www.vickicobb.com. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA
White Plains, New York, USA
Manchester, Vermont, USA - Place of death
- New York, New York, USA
- Burial location
- Sharon Gardens Cemetery, Valhalla, Westchester County, New York, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- New York, USA
Members
Reviews
In my opinion, this is a great book to incorporate in a science lesson on wind and the forces of air molecules. There are several reasons why I enjoy this informational text. The language is descriptive and child-friendly. The reader is asked different questions, which get them thinking about the wind. One example of this is, “Can you name some things you see wind do?” The book activates background knowledge, makes the content familiar and relevant in a child’s life, involves reader show more participation, and introduces new science terms. I believe these are very important aspects to include in a children’s information picture book. I also love that this book provides activities and experiments for readers to perform. One example of an experiment is, “You can weigh things on a balanced hanger. Tape an empty balloon or zip-close plastic bag to each side of the hanger.” This is a way to weigh air. Another activity is, “Wave this book. The book pushes against the air molecules and starts them moving. Then they push on you and you feel it. Wave it slowly. Wave the book quickly. Which wind is stronger?” This is a way to feel air molecules moving against you at different speeds. Another aspect I loved about this book is the writing. Words are written in different font styles, sizes, and colors. They are arranged differently on each page in order to go along with the information provided. For example, words are written in a funnel shape when describing tornados. This makes the pages appealing and exciting to read. The illustrations are very colorful, bright, and stand out. The animated pictures make you feel as if wind is really blowing on these pages. On one page, the words “Leaves on trees shake” is embedded in the illustration of a bright green tree. The information in this nonfiction text is accurate and engaging. It is clear to follow because the complexity of information is at a child’s level. I believe the experiments are great ways for readers to understand concept of wind. The big idea of this book is to learn about wind and air molecules. Readers learn why the wind pushes them, what is wind made of, and how to weigh air. show less
Did you know that a mirror is not the only object that can be used to see your reflection? I See Myself by Vicki Cobb is a fun and interactive book that takes the reader through several experiments and exercises that identify how and why we can also see ourselves in objects such as a water puddle. This is not a book that you can sit down and read. It is meant to be used as a vehicle for discovery. In the Note to the Reader, the author provides a list of materials that are needed to fully show more experience the book. I read this book with my son, and he had a blast trying out all of the different experiments.
The placement of the words also made this an engaging book. For example, on the pages that explain how a mirror works, the words bounce around just like a mirror refracts light.
The book is easy to read, and the objects mentioned are everyday items that children are familiar with such as sweaters, mirrors, and doorknobs. It begins with a simple example of how light bounces like a ball bouncing on a smooth, hard floor. Cobb then goes on to explain why you cannot see yourself in certain things such as the grass.
I See Myself will captivate verbal learners as well as those who learn kinesthetically. This book makes the topic of reflection exciting ad fun. show less
The placement of the words also made this an engaging book. For example, on the pages that explain how a mirror works, the words bounce around just like a mirror refracts light.
The book is easy to read, and the objects mentioned are everyday items that children are familiar with such as sweaters, mirrors, and doorknobs. It begins with a simple example of how light bounces like a ball bouncing on a smooth, hard floor. Cobb then goes on to explain why you cannot see yourself in certain things such as the grass.
I See Myself will captivate verbal learners as well as those who learn kinesthetically. This book makes the topic of reflection exciting ad fun. show less
This is an attractive nonfiction book from some years back, apparently geared towards older children, maybe even young adults. It certainly requires prior knowledge about the human body, as the author is not particularly adept at filling in information that many younger readers require. A few basic details on cell components, for example, or a brief explanation about what an electron actually is (since she does talk about how a scanning electron microscope works.) Honestly? The material (as show more is) would likely be over the heads of most in the target audience.
The title is evidently intended to entice a certain kind type of kid. Yes, “blood” and array of other tissues, organs, and structures are covered, but there’s no gore whatsoever. We’re talking blood components here: red blood cells, white blood cells (one variety only: the macrophage) and platelets. There are sections dedicated to the skin, bone, muscle, nerves, villi in the small intestine and goblet cells in the large, as well as lung tissue.
Many scanning electron microscope images are included—some showing structures magnified millions of times. They’re quite fascinating, but no labels are provided, and it’s sometimes hard to appreciate what the author is talking about without them.
Cobb’s discussion of muscles and how they contract is muddled and particularly hard to follow. A statement about supportive cells in the brain, astrocytes, forming that organ’s white matter is just flat-out wrong. (It’s the axons of nerve cells with their whitish myelin sheaths that make up the brain’s white matter.) My point here? There wasn’t sufficient commitment to clarity and accuracy.
The positives: there are a fair number of interesting facts; Cobb does use analogies effectively; and you do get to see some parts of the body up close (as promised in the subtitle “like you’ve never seen.”): the enamel of teeth, the cartilage at the end of your femur, the papillae on your tongue, and so on.
This could’ve been a very fine book. show less
The title is evidently intended to entice a certain kind type of kid. Yes, “blood” and array of other tissues, organs, and structures are covered, but there’s no gore whatsoever. We’re talking blood components here: red blood cells, white blood cells (one variety only: the macrophage) and platelets. There are sections dedicated to the skin, bone, muscle, nerves, villi in the small intestine and goblet cells in the large, as well as lung tissue.
Many scanning electron microscope images are included—some showing structures magnified millions of times. They’re quite fascinating, but no labels are provided, and it’s sometimes hard to appreciate what the author is talking about without them.
Cobb’s discussion of muscles and how they contract is muddled and particularly hard to follow. A statement about supportive cells in the brain, astrocytes, forming that organ’s white matter is just flat-out wrong. (It’s the axons of nerve cells with their whitish myelin sheaths that make up the brain’s white matter.) My point here? There wasn’t sufficient commitment to clarity and accuracy.
The positives: there are a fair number of interesting facts; Cobb does use analogies effectively; and you do get to see some parts of the body up close (as promised in the subtitle “like you’ve never seen.”): the enamel of teeth, the cartilage at the end of your femur, the papillae on your tongue, and so on.
This could’ve been a very fine book. show less
I feel like this book is a great tool for a science class. Vicki Cobb does an amazing job of breaking down and explaining scientific terms and concepts in this book to make it easy for young children to understand. Kids would love it because it includes discovery activities where students can experiment and learn from their experiences. The author includes questions for the reader throughout the book which makes the students think on a higher level.
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Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 103
- Members
- 5,275
- Popularity
- #4,721
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 210
- ISBNs
- 278
- Languages
- 2
- Favorited
- 1
