Computers and Technology

Children's Literature - Sally J. K. Davies

This book is really a collection of essays about computers and technology with page-long introductions to each essay. Each of these essays or articles comes directly from the Science News for Kids web site. Although the layout looks very academic and the author gives plenty of technical details, the language is accessible for young readers who are interested in new ideas in computers and technology. The book is divided into four sections. The first section includes articles about computers, how they are being developed to sense the feelings of the operator, how instant messaging is changing our language, the virtual classroom, and all about electronic paper and "roll up computer monitors to go." The second chapter is about robots and discusses the Grand Challenge robot races, muscle bots, and robots in space. The third section covers transportation, the environmentally friendly cars, solar sails, supersonic flying, remote-controlled planes, and the way designers use animal movements to inspire vehicles. The fourth section deals with innovations like medical microchips, using nature's design for the scientific products, and a new way to produce energy. Color photographs punctuate the text, as do the little pastel colored "Question" boxes. These little boxes contain probing questions to help the reader focus on the main point in the article. At the end of every article there is often a section called "After Reading," which poses additional questions for the reader to consider. Sometimes, at the end of an essay, a section called "Going Deeper" lists related articles from Science News for Kids. Occasionally, a chapter begins with a highlighted box entitled "Before Reading."Just like a good teacher, this gives readers a few probing questions to get them thinking about the topic. The book's back matter contains a glossary, a bibliography, a list of related web sites, and an index. This book is part of Chelsea House Publisher's "Science News for Kids" series, which includes the titles Computers and Technology, Health and Medicine, Earth Science, Food and Nutrition, Space and Astronomy, and the Environment.