Science of Magnets

Children's Literature - Children's Literature

This comprehensive information book about magnets for the primary grade reader is smartly organized in chapters with brief but succinct double-page spreads that are richly illustrated. The text flows well from one chapter to another and within each chapter. Sidebars feature activities and puzzlers. The photographs support the text appropriately. Types of magnets, what makes a magnet magnetic and electromagnets are explained simply. The book presents the concept of migration with the information that animals have tiny bits of magnetite in their brains. The MRI is identified as an example of magnets in medicine. The book ends with safety considerations and lists how to protect audio and videotapes, credit cards and computer disks from magnets. The overall presentation of magnets is outstanding. 2000, Gareth Stevens Publishing, Ages 7 to 12, $19.93. Reviewer: Jacki Vawter

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-These volumes provide basic information about their respective subjects in attractive formats with colorful arrays of photographs. Chapters consist of two-page spreads with bold headers, a few paragraphs of text, and either a puzzle or an activity. The more thorough of the two is Magnets, which briefly introduces such topics as the different types of magnets, magnetic poles and properties, electromagnets, and magnetic animals and medicine. Dann touches on a number of subjects, but gives no more than a few sentences about any one. She mentions energy and the energy chain, turning energy into electricity, wind, water, and solar power. Activities in the books include making a compass and creating static electricity by rubbing a balloon against hair. These titles work as general introductions but offer little material for reports. Neil Ardley's The Science Book of Magnets and The Science Book of Electricity (both Harcourt, 1991) are better sources for project and experiment ideas.-Marilyn Long Graham, Lee County Library System, Estero, FL Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|