In the Next Three Seconds

A collection of predictions about life on Earth in both the short term and the distant future contains thought-provoking trivia and forecasts about the planet's resources, human population, and other timely topics.

Grade 3-6. A collection of intriguing forecasts based on statistical information. Morgan presents a variety of things that could occur in 3 seconds, minutes, hours, days, nights, weeks, and so on to 3,000,000 years. Each category is presented on a double-page spread in an engaging clutter. The statistics are nicely illustrated with all the realism necessary and a wit sure to amuse observant children. Perhaps the prediction that in the next three seconds, "Enough tourists to fill a bus will arrive somewhere" is painfully vague but other observations offer more to ponder (e.g., in the next three hours, "Oil-rich Middle Eastern states will spend about $15 million on machinery for war"). Facts have been gathered from so many nations that the title's British roots are not intrusive. Sources are listed and a brief index is provided for those who seek an interesting tidbit to perk up a paper. This book will have great appeal for browsers, and enlightened teachers should find many ways to connect these entertaining moments to math.?Jody McCoy, Lakehill Preparatory School, Dallas, TX
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A fine compendium of curious events that will transpire over periods of time as measured in multiples of three. In the next three seconds, Britons will eat 3,600 potatoes, Fijians will pick 38 coconuts, three teddy bears will be given as gifts. In three minutes: People on Earth will take six railcars of aspirin, 176 mobile phones will be purchased, fishermen will kill more than 25 wild porpoises or dolphins. In the next three million years: The space probe Voyager 2 will leave the Milky Way. Every illustrated tidbit can serve as a starting point for discussion--a guide to making predictions and a handy conversion table are included--and the book is sensitive to environmental concerns, particularly consumption and waste. This is a British import, so there is an understandable emphasis on UK and European notions, but Morgan and the Joseys include global references as well. There is plenty of wishful thinking afoot as the spans of time become greater: In the next three centuries, ``millions of families will choose to enter wilderness reserves and enjoy the easy-going Stone Age nomad's lifestyle,'' and in the next three decades, ``pairs of very rare white-tailed eagles will try to nest 240 times in the British Isles.'' Then again, they may be extinct. (Picture book. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.