Lasers and Holograms

School Library Journal

Gr 5-6-- Two books that feature full-color photos and paintings, an easy text supplemented by comparatively long explanatory captions, and simply put information. Bender is specific about many kinds of Telescopes and the differences between them; he also discusses how large telescopes are mounted, how computers assist in deciphering astronomical data, and special problems posed by astronomers who want to study neutrinos or the sun. Except for a confusingly crowded cutaway of a reflecting telescope at the beginning, plus occasional filler, the illustrations are clear and useful. Graham skims through lasers (and their use in industry, medicine, and war) and holography at a more superficial level; statements such as ``wounds can be healed without using bandages and stitches'' raise questions rather than give answers, and readers get no specific explanations of various applications. Unhelpful illustrations include many unintelligible closeups and underlabelled schematics. Telescopes will add depth to collections that already own Couper and Henbest's Telescopes and Observatories (Watts, 1987); Lasers and Holograms makes an up-to-date but less significant companion to Barrett's work of the same title (Watts, 1985). --John Peters, New York Public Library