Book Review - TIME for Kids Book of Why - Stellar Space

TIME For Kids Book of Why - Stellar Space 

By: Editors of TIME for Kids Magazine
Publisher: Time For Kids
Publication Date: May 2014 (reprint)
ISBN: 978-1603209854
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: June 2014

If you have a little time on your hands (pun intended) and really want to be up on those little odd facts about planet Earth, space, and tech-like stuff, you’ll love making your way through this eye-popping book. First, you’ll learn about our planet, including some flip-flop facts like how it can be wintertime in one part and summertime in another. Oh, and then there are those time zones. Then you’ll shoot out through our atmosphere into the planets and stars. Speaking of the word 'shoot,' you’ll even learn about shooting stars. Last, but not least, there’s the technology section where you can take a look at some interesting and strange, but true, facts. I always wondered why I could see my reflection in a mirror and now I know.

You probably know that tornadoes are dangerous, but do you know that people get sick whenever a volcano erupts? That makes volcanos dangerous critters. They can emit ash and dust that “can harm drinking water, and create volcanic smog call ‘vog.’” Now ‘vog’ is probably a new one on you! In the section about space you’ll learn the reason stars twinkle. You probably learned that in a kindergarten song, but in this book you’ll get the facts, the real ones. Lots of people are techies, but it’s the old-fashioned stuff that might amaze you. Do you know why people have red eyes in photographs? It’s because ... well, I guess if you want to know that you should read about it in this “fact-cinating” book!

This Book of Why is far from boring. The layout has great kid appeal, but very few grownups would be able to pass it by without taking a look. I know I did and couldn’t put it down until the very last page. Now that page was a colorful one and I learned all about crayons, colored pencils, and ink. Full-color photographs swirl through these pages, with a few action-oriented ones like that massive tornado and a daredevil surfer riding a wave. Do you want to know why Tornado Alley gets pummeled with tornadoes? I did. Interested in knowing how sinkholes form? Ever wonder why you can see the moon during the day now and then? You’ll find the answers to these questions and many, many more in this fabulously funtastic book. In the back of the book you’ll find an index, a glossary, and additional book and website resources to explore.

Quill says: This is a funtastic book of space facts the young reader will love!

Book Review - TIME for Kids - Amazing Sports and Science

TIME For Kids Book of Why - Amazing Sports and Science 

By: Editors of TIME for Kids Magazine
Publisher: Time for Kids
Publication Date: May 2014
ISBN: 978-1603209861
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: June 12, 2014

If you have a little time on your hands (pun intended) and love sports and science, you’ll love making your way through this eye-popping book. First up you’ll be treated to a bit of sports and then some science. If you’re a sharp thinker, you could even think of ways you could combine them. Perhaps you run in the opposite direction when someone offers you a jalapeño pepper. The running might be the sports part, but “why does eating a hot pepper burn my tongue?” is the science part. You’ll learn several interesting facts about capsaicin, the h-o-t part of that jalapeño. The capsaicin doesn’t bother birds though and you’ll read about one interesting thing that happens when they snag those hot peppers.

Back to the sports section. Perhaps you are into baseball and want to know a few interesting facts about Honus Wagner. If you’ve ever seriously collected baseball cards you may or may not know that his is the rarest of the rare. Just why is laid out right in this book. I’ll only give you one hint and that’s that Honus played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. No, it’s not a good hint and you’ll just have to read this book to find out just why that card is so collectible. I will tell you that there were a couple of one-armed pitchers, Pete Gray and Jim Abbott. One played for the St. Louis Browns and the other for the New York Yankees. If you guessed who played for which team, you just might be correct. That’s just one more interesting fact in this “fact-cinating” book!

This Book of Why is far from boring. The layout has great kid appeal, but very few grownups would be able to pass it by without taking a look. I know I did and couldn’t put it down until the very last page. Now that page told me a lot about HDTV and standard TVs. I’m now in the know, but not just about television. Full-color photographs swirl through these pages, many of them action-oriented while some are totally hot (think jalapeño here). Do you want to know who the fastest human was and is? Now just why does that baseball curve? How come we can stretch a rubber band way out and it returns to it’s original shape? You’ll find the answers to these questions and many, many more in this fabulously funtastic book. In the back of the book you’ll find an index, a glossary, and additional book and website resources to explore.

Quill says: The is a funtastic book of sports and science facts the young reader will love!