How Things Work: 100 Ways Parents and Kids Can Share the Secrets of Technology - Hardcover

Neil Ardley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0895776944 ISBN 13: 9780895776945

Publisher: Readers Digest, 1995

Synopsis

Identifies the scientific principles behind a variety of everyday objects while providing a range of informative and easy-to perform experiments, and highlights such items as a battery, a bar-code reader, and a disk drive. 40,000 first printing.

About this title

Review

Hey, this is a fun book! Even a casual page-through revealed a number of things many adults probably don't know. How Things Work would be a great book for parents who don't want to look like idiots in front of their own children when asked a question they don't know the answer to. It's filled with fun experiments, clear directions, and does a splendid job of simplifying and clarifying elaborate technological concepts.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8?Ardley's book combines scientific explanations with over 80 experiments. Six chapters cover the basics of machines, construction and buildings, household appliances, transportation, leisure items, and information technology. Each chapter features several double-page spreads that introduce such topics as "walls and floors" or "weighing machines," usually followed by one or two activities. Captioned, full-color photographs and diagrams provide examples or additional information. In a few cases?"dams" and "combustion engines," for example?the concept is explained through captioned photos that show a child enacting an experiment. The author's weaving of history, narrative explanation, and projects is generally successful, giving children a solid context for the activities and showing how various areas of science apply to the everyday world. The majority of the experiments include an adult help advisory, and some require materials most kids will have to purchase or borrow. On the other hand, many are easy enough for youngsters to manage on their own with common household items, and the variety and quantity insure that most readers will be able to find several that are intriguing and accessible. An attractive layout, with white backgrounds and plenty of color, adds to the book's appeal, but at times the pages are crowded.?Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Readers Digest
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0895776944
• ISBN 13: 9780895776945
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192