You Wouldn't Want to Live out Cell Phones! Pipe, Jim and Walker, Rory

What would life be like if you had to do without modern inventions? How would you cope without a toilet or live without electricity? Starting from these thought-provoking questions, each title takes us on a historical journey to see how people coped in the past, and how they developed ingenious ways to make life safer and more pleasant.

Key Features:

• Full-color cartoon-style original illustrations that make the books fun and attractive to reluctant readers
• A simple timeline providing an easily understood history of the subject
• A Top Tip offering helpful advice on what you should or shouldn't do in a tricky situation
• A How It Works section explaining the science behind the technology
• A You Can Do It! section which describes a simple, safe experiment, or an action you can take to help make the world a better place
• A helpful glossary and index in each book

Gr 5-8-Modern-day conveniences, such as cell phones and toilets, and the ingenious ways that people in the past made do without them are explored in this engaging series. Filled with bite-size facts and humorous, cartoon illustrations, the books take readers on a journey through history, showing them how science and technology have made life easier, safer, and more comfortable. Time lines chart the inventions' major developments and discoveries, providing a solid background for each subject, while brief yet interesting historical examples will appeal to even the most reluctant reader. The "ick" factor and potty humor in Toilets and Antibiotics are sure to entertain many, and interactive elements, such as the hands-on activities in "You Can Do It!," encourage experimentation and critical thinking. The books are packed with so much information that the lack of a pronunciation guide in the glossary can certainly be overlooked.α(c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.