Reviews of popular science books for children http://www.popularscience.co.uk 2000-2008 Creativity Unleashed Limited Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:00:00 GMT Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:00:00 GMT Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:00:00 GMT Young readers' (5 to 7) dinosaur fun with four board page spreads and 11 magnets - but could be a bit more for the money. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev89.htm Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:50:00 GMT Not as strong a popular science source as the more conventional Horrible Science books, but good fun and would make an excellent present that might lead a young reader into this excellent series. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev88.htm Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:40:00 GMT Imaginative and fun take on a book exploring the working of the human body, though the Frankenstein part is rather underplayed. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev87.htm Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:50:00 GMT Measuring,units, shapes, time measurement and angles all come under the Murderous Maths microscope. With more practical exercises than usual, a great addition to the series. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev86.htm Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:45:00 GMT The DIY version of Bulging Brains. Benefits from a plastic cover and full colour, but is a bit of a let down, because the experiments tend to be optical illusions and the like. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev85.htm Wed, 2 Jul 2008 07:45:00 GMT More answers to children's science questions - the dialogue format is a little forced, but plenty of good entertaining stuff in here. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev81.htm Tue, 3 Jun 2008 14:45:00 GMT Using cars to illustrate science, mostly around the physics of motion and energy, this is an enjoyable approach, hosted by Top Gear presenter Hammond. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev83.htm Fri, 30 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT Sixty-five more fun science experiments to do in the home. As with the companion volume, an excellent gift for parents who like to do things with their children, or older kids. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev82.htm Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:45:00 GMT Tiny format and dramatic Japanese-style illustrations make this an original looking book on physics - but the heavy handed attempt to sound cool won't appeal to everyone. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev80.htm Sun, 25 Nov 2007 09:45:00 GMT The master of popular science for kids casts his eye over the world of inventions, both barmy and practical. Not much science, but good fun. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev79.htm Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:55:00 GMT Very practical introduction to codes and ciphers with the usual Murderous Maths fun elements and a good mix of history and how-to. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev78.htm Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:55:00 GMT Chronological trip through scientific breakthroughs, beginnings and blunders providing quick tasters. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev77.htm Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:00:00 GMT A short interview with the author of the Horrible Science books. http://www.popularscience.co.uk/features/feat33.htm Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT Great fun with six 48-piece jigsaws, lots of info on dinosaurs and the rare opportunity for a science book that will work with a younger than usual reader. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev76.htm Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT Physics, biology and cosmology in a set of DIY experiments. Tend to be a little indirect, so lack impact, but plenty of science. Fun. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev75.htm Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:00:00 GMT A collection of experiments using food and drink with a handy plastic cover - bound to cause a little science to be learned and a lot of mess to be created. Fun. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev74.htm Science CD-ROM for UK key stage 2 (8 to 11) - 100 interactive onscreen experiments. Nice that you can also print off a good range for hands on experiments. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/software/rev21.htm Space CD-ROM for UK key stage 2 (8 to 11) - 100 interactive onscreen experiments. A bit less potential for real hands on than the virtual lab, but still effective. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/software/rev20.htm Series with good web links and especially attractive online clipart. Quite a good young person's science encyclopedia, but more suited to school than home. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev73.htm Series with good web links and especially attractive online clipart. An enjoyable tour around the lives and nature of insects. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev72.htm More historical summary textbook than popular science book, with an odd choice of topics. Arguably no science in it at all, the race to the moon being the closest subject. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev71.htm More cultural history summary textbook than popular science book, with some interesting contact, but missed opportunities to make things more engaging. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev70.htm Sixty-five fun science experiments to do in the home, learn a little science and make a mess while your at it (hence irresponsible). An excellent gift for parents who like to do things with their children, or older kids. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev69.htm Fun collection of interesting science questions, from the book's title to "how big is the universe", answered in an approachable but informative style. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev68.htm A solid entry in the Google-linked e.explore series. The page layout is a bit messy and not really a through-read, but a good reference and useful website. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev67.htm A fun tour of the weird and wacky side of food that takes in everything from dinosaur poo and roast dormouse to poisonous meals and factory farming. Could do with a little more science, though. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev66.htm Stunningly different book with a collection of fascinating pages on totally different subjects. Designed more for a dip in than an end-to-end read, it will appeal even to adults, though some will find the format confusing. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev65.htm An enjoyable exploration of the history of medicine, particularly the wackier quack cures and mistakes, but also covering the oddities that do work (like the title) and the key elements of modern medicine. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev64.htm A superbly illustrated introduction to the basics of cosmology, for older children and adults, though we think it works best for 11-16 readers. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev63.htm Good and well-illustrated introduction to physics from forces to light, apparently authored by TV presenter Richard Hammond. At its best when it gets practical. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev62.htm An enjoyable tour of the weird and wonderful in species, with some hot topics like cloning thrown in. A collection of individual two pages articles, but readable nonetheless. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev61.htm The misnamed Big Numbers reappears with a better title to describe its sampling of all manner and scale of aspects of the physical world. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev41.htm What promised to be a good overview of physics and its applications (title is a misnomer), let down by feeling of being a string of unrelated articles, old fashioned science and lack of acknowledgement of author(s). *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev60.htm Excellent introduction to the manufacturing process of everything from chocolate to surfboards, with an enjoyable short historical introduction and a well-illustrated step-by-step description of manufacture. ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev59.htm A good grounding in the functions of the brain, from senses to recognition and memory. Reads well, though the text seems aimed at a slightly higher age than the presentation. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev58.htm A nice idea - presenting the odd bits of the world, particularly biology, is a shock, horror tabloid fashion - but it gets a bit wearing after a while. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev57.htm Almost all the yucky bits of human and animal bodily functions exposed to the young reader, from snot to farts - bound to attract. A bit like walking around a good museum of bodily grossness. **** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev56.htm Well illustrated and enjoyable introduction to astronomy and space for 6-8 year olds, though over-focussed on the solar system and a little wordy. *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev55.htm Delicious and successful attempt to make maths fun by turning it into a story. It works so well because it reaches to the very root of mathematics. Excellent! ***** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev54.htm Reasonable introduction to science for 6-8 year olds, covering UK curriculum topics, but a little old fashioned in style *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev53.htm Excellent introduction to maths for 5-8 year olds, well illustrated and with plenty of interaction (though does bow to fashion a little) - rating only reflects that it's not popular maths per se *** http://www.popularscience.co.uk/kreviews/rev52.htm