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Snowball the dancing cockatoo by Sy Montgomery | Book Review

Posted 17 June 2013 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: A witty and engaging children's book that tells the true story of an internationally famous cockatoo who changed the way scientists think about dancing. "If life doesn't give you fruit, you can always eat nuts. And if you don't like nuts, at least you can throw them on the floor, which is highly entertaining." ~Snowball the dancing cockatoo (p. 14). A couple years ago, Snowball the dancing cockatoo burst upon the scene after one of his YouTube videos went... Read more

Posted in Birds, Book review, Ethology (Behaviour) |

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Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter by Simon Mayo | book review

Posted 4 June 2013 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: An engaging young adult mystery about a boy's peculiar passion to collect all the elements of the periodic table, his friendship with his sister and cousin, and the adventures they have as a result Have you wondered how to pique your kids' interest in science? Perhaps another child can help? In Simon Mayo's Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter [Corgi Childrens, 2012; Amazon UK/kindle UK; Amazon US/kindle US], we meet just such a child, 14-year-old Itchingham Lofte... Read more

Posted in Book review, Chemistry |

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Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books longlist announced

Posted 3 June 2013 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: A smorgasbord of excellent science writing to keep your mind engaged and educated during the summer months. Entries for the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books 2013.Image: The Royal Society, 13 February 2013. Do you like good science books? If so, then you are going love this: the Royal Society just announced the longlist for their 2013 Winton Prize for Science Books. This prize celebrates the best in science writing, and the list is comprised of 12 English-language... Read more

Posted in Literature & writing, Prizes & awards |

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Buzzing! by Anneliese Emmans Dean | Book Review

Posted 24 May 2013 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: A delightful partnership of science, poetry, photography and insects, this informative and witty book is an excellent introduction to common British minibeasts, intended especially for young naturalists. How can you introduce a young child to insects and give them a lifelong appreciation and respect for these important creatures? I think Anneliese Emmans Dean has found an appealing formula in her lovely children's book, Buzzing!: discover the poetry in garden minibeasts [Brambleby Books Ltd., 2012; Amazon UK]. An unusual partnership... Read more

Posted in Biology, Book review |

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Don’t Flush: Lifting the Lid on the Science of Poo and Wee by Richard & Mary Platt | Book Review

Posted 24 May 2013 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: Join the Poo Crew as they guide you through time in this craptastic and pissarific children's book that tells you about the many amazing uses for poo and wee! After relocating to Germany, I was initially intrigued, then amused, by The Shelf that is built into many German toilets. This shelf is designed so Germans can carefully inspect their fæces before flushing. What are they looking for? I wondered. Let's face it, most people -- children and quite a... Read more

Posted in Biology, Book review, Chemistry |

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Human Body Factory by Dan Green | Book Review

Posted 23 May 2013 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: A comic yet scientifically accurate "Where's Wally"-style examination of how the human body factory works. Everyone is curious to learn how their body works, but understanding the details can often be a daunting task. But a new children's book rises up to meet this challenge, and it does so admirably: Human Body Factory by Dan Green [Kingfisher – An imprint of Macmillan Children's Books, 2012; Amazon UK; Amazon US] ... Read more

Posted in Book review |

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Build the Human Body by Richard Walker | Book Review

Posted 22 May 2013 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: This kit overcomes one of the main challenges for teaching anatomy by adopting a build-it-yourself approach. The book is concise, well-written and engaging and the kit is accurate and interesting and will provide many hours of enjoyment as children and adults work together to build the human body. Sometimes, the best way to learn is to wrap your hands around stuff and ... build it yourself! This perhaps is never more important than when trying to learn anatomy, which... Read more

Posted in Book review |

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Discover More: The Elements by Dan Green | Book Review

Posted 21 May 2013 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: crammed with gorgeous full-colour photographs and rich graphics, clear and concise writing, and large, easy-to-read font, this is the best chemistry primer I've ever read! Did you know that the bamboo lemur consumes enough cyanide daily to kill a human? ...that Paris green paint, which gets its colour from arsenic, was so toxic that it was used as a rat poison as well for painting masterpieces? ...that there is a lump of crystallised carbon (a diamond) that is 3,000... Read more

Posted in Book review, Chemistry |

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Look inside space by Rob Lloyd Jones | Book Review

Posted 20 May 2013 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: This well-constructed and engaging "flap book" is interesting, accurate and highly interactive -- a wonderful introduction to space for young children. Do you like flaps in your books? Even though I am an adult, I really like books with flaps. So knowing that, it's almost a foregone conclusion that I'd really enjoy Rob Lloyd Jones's new children's book, Look inside space [Usborne Publishing, 2012; Amazon UK; Amazon US]. That this is a children's science book makes it even better. ... Read more

Posted in Book review |

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Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize shortlist announced

Posted 20 May 2013 by GrrlScientist

Summary: Finally, what I know you've all been waiting for: the six shortlisted young people's science books have been selected and are now in the mail to hundreds of children across the UK who will select the winner of the 2013 Royal Society's Young People's Book Prize! The complete shortlist for the 2013 Royal Society's Young People's Science Book Award. Image courtesy of the Royal Society. Are you a scientist who was inspired to pursue your passion after reading a... Read more

Posted in Prizes & awards |

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