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Zoom - Science Books for Kids

An introduction to science for very young children

Aigner-Clark, Julie. 365 Days of Baby Einstein
(2003) Three hundred and sixty-five activities to do with your baby. A great way to introduce a baby or toddler not only to science, but all the wonderful and neat things the world holds! For age 6 months and up (or any age).
Call number: 372.21 Ai33t 2003
Brown, Lisa. How To Be
(2006) How To Be is a simple introduction to science for toddlers. Children learn how to be a bear, monkey, turtle, snake, spider and dog and are introduced to complex terms like hibernate (with a picture of a sleeping child). For age 18 months and up.
Call number: Picture Book Brown
Wormell, Christopher. Teeth, Tails & Tentacles: An Animal Counting Book
(2004) Markings, segments, rosettes -- this animal counting book features unusual, science-related nouns and adjectives. Count to twenty barnacles with your child, enjoy lino-cut illustrations and explore more advanced descriptions of the featured animals on the back pages. For ages 18 months and up.
Call number: Picture Book Wormell

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Earth Science

Carruthers, Margaret. National Audubon Society First Field Guide: Rocks and Minerals
(1998) National Audubon Society's First Field Guides are an excellent resource for children, teens or anyone investigating a new subject. The field guide to rocks and minerals features full-color photographs; another neat feature is the other related minerals section, showing the relationship between mineral types. For ages 8 and up.
Call number: 552 R359n 1998
Gallant, Roy. Minerals
(2001) This book highlights some of the mineral wonders of the world while describing properties and characteristics of common minerals. Age 4 and up.
Call number: 549 G1356m 2001
Morgan, Hooper; Baker, Sally; and Roseanna, Lucy. Planet Earth
(2001) An over-arching look at habitat, weather, conservation and everything that to do with Terra, or our planet Earth. For age 8 and up.
Call number: 577 M8235p 2001
Redfern, Martin. The Kingfisher Young People's Book of Planet Earth
(1999) A chronicle of our planet from birth to present day. Information on volcanoes, fossils, gems, minerals, weather, and other earth-related items are featured in the book. Age 8 and up.
Call number: 550 R2474k 1999
Skelton, Renee. Forecast Earth: The story of climate scientist Inez Fung
(2005) Part of a wonderful Scholastic series by Joseph Henry Press, Forecast Earth is an engaging biography of climate scientist Inez Fung. Filled with interesting personal details such as married life, college classes and ordinary, everyday struggles, this biography brings the life of a scientist alive to the reader. For age 8 and up.
Call number: 92 F9633s 2005

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Life Cycles

Lasky, Kathryn. The Most Beautiful Roof in the World
(1997) Lasky explores a rainforest canopy, introducing such ideas as biodiversity, conservation, proper collection techniques and other scientific principles. For age 10 and up.
Call number: 574.52642 L335m 1997
Pfeffer, Wendy. A Log's Life
(1997) This beautifully illustrated picture book follows the life cycle of an oak tree. Featured flora and fauna include moss, fungi, millipedes, beetles, salamanders, termites and other stars in the world of decomposition. For ages 3 and up.
Call number: Picture Book Pfeffer

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Mycology

Kuhn, Dwight. Slime Molds and Fungi
(1999) That thing at the back of the refrigerator -- it may be your new fungal pet! Read about slimy, gross cultures or grow your own. For age 8 and up.
Call number: 579.5 P263s 1999

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Archeology

Bishop, Nic. Digging for Bird Dinosaurs
(2000) Journey to Madagascar to discover archeology in this well-written book about bird dinosaurs. A warm, personable tone and full-color photographs makes it a pleasure to read. For age 6 and up.
Call number: 567.909691 B5417d 2000

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Wildlife

George, Lindsay. In the Woods: Whos's Been Here?
(1995) Various clues -- a broken flower stem, a feather, a stone in a tree -- lead the children to guess what animal was there last. Species name and a short description can be found on the back pages. For ages 3 and up.
Call number: Picture Book George
Harrison, George. Backyard Bird Watching For Kids
(1997) A fun, interactive book for beginning avian enthusiasts. Complete with crafts and techniques for photographing birds. For age 5 and up.
Call number: 598.07234 H246b 1997
Markle, Sandra. Little Lost Bat
(2006) Little Lost Bat chronicles an intriguing bit of bat trivia; the fact that Mexican free-tailed bats sometimes adopt and foster babies that are not biologically their own. For age 3 and up.
Call number: 599.4 M3419L 2006

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Caves and Spelunking

Gaff, Jackie. I wonder why stalactites hang down and other questions about caves
(2003) Questions and answers explore the world of caves on land and under the sea, such as how they are formed, the different zones of caves and what life can and cannot survive there. Each section features a natural cave wonder in some area of the world. For age 8 and up.
Call number: 551.447 G12i 2003
Harrison, David. Caves
(2001) An introduction to caves for young children, with an emphasis on conservation. Age 3 and up.
Call number: 551.447 H2457c 2001
Silver, Donald. One Small Square: Cave
(1993) One small square books examine biological life in a small area. This book focuses on caves, and gives useful information on safety, instructs children not to explore a cave without an adult and gives detailed descriptions of animals that use or live in caves. For age 5 and up.
Call number: 551.44 Si392c 1997

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Astronomy

Bortz, Alfred. Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel
(2005) Part of a set of biographies about modern scientists, Beyond Jupiter is a fascinating read about the life of Heidi Hammel. This book chronicles her life using fascinating details and includes failures and successes, revealing that even those who succeed must fail along the way. An important book for young women interested in science and in becoming scientists. For age 9 and up.
Call number: 92 H1829b 2005
Carson, Mary. Exploring the Solar System
(2006) Complete with short experiments, this book covers the history of space exploration from pre-history to present. Build a telescope, outline orbits and make a rocket using the simple instructions at the end of each chapter. For age 10 and up.
Call number: 523.2 C2395e 2006

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Entomology

French, Vivian. Caterpillar, Caterpillar
(1993) A young girl watches her grandfather's unlikely crop of nettles grow Painted Lady butterflies. Questions like "Why does a caterpillar curl?" and other interesting facts are scattered throughout the illustrations. For age 3 and up.
Call number: 595.78904 F889c 1993
Latimer and Nolting, Jonathan and Karen. Caterpillars
(2000) A good resource for identifying all types of common caterpillars and the adults they become. For age 6 and up.
Call number: 595.78139 L3492c 2000
Lowenstein and Lechner, Frank and Sheryl. Bugs: Insects, Spiders, Centipedes, Millipedes and Other Closely Related Arthropods
(1999) Huge, beautifully illustrated Bugs has full-size color photographs of members of the insect world. Giant spiders, caterpillars, beetles and other insects are detailed with amazing photographs, anatomical charts, genetic description and more. Page through the pictures for younger children, read page descriptions for intermediate levels or read from front to back for advanced levels. For age 3 and up.
Call number: 595.7 bL952b 1999
Patent, Dorothy. Fabulous Fluttering Tropical Butterflies
(2003) A simple, beautifully illustrated book of tropical butterflies, featuring blue morphos, owl and postman species, with scientific details easily woven into simple descriptions. Ideal for preschool-aged children. Age 3 and up.
Call number: 595.789 P2726f 2003
Swinburne, Stephen. Wings of Light: The Migration of the Yellow Butterfly
(2006) This illustrated children's book focuses on the migration of the cloudless sulphur butterfly. Although the cloudless sulphur migrates differently than the monarch, this book adds more depth to butterfly migration and is a nice addition to monarch books. For age 4 and up.
Call number: 595.7891568 Sw63w 2006

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Epidemiology/Health

Barnard, Bryn. Outbreak: Plagues that Changed History
(2005) What did physicians wear to protect themselves from "The Black Death"? What role did smallpox play in conquering the New World? Why did Chinese doctors blow scabs up a patient's nose 300 years ago? These and other grisly details are chronicled by Bryn Barnard in this historical account of deadly human diseases. For age 10 and up.
Call number: 614.49 B253o 2005
Gitchel and Foster, Sam and Lorrie. Let's Talk about S-E-X
(2005) A very complete book about human reproduction, puberty and other health issues for pre-teens. Age 10 and up.
Call number: 649.65 G4473L 2005
Miller, Edward. The Monster Health Book
(2006) Monsters show kids the basics of good nutrition by discussing healthy eating habits and proper exercise. For age 4 and up.
Call number: Picture Book Miller
Newquist, H.P. The Great Brain Book
(2004) An intriguing look at what's inside your head. For age 9 and up.
Call number: 612.82 N473g 2004
Pfeifer, Kate. American Medical Association Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen
(2006) An excellent guide for pre-pubescent boys, with answers to common health questions and tips on such problems as acne, weight gain, body hair and other changes. For age 8 and up.
Call number: 613.04233 Am3563 2006
Walker, Richard. Body: An amazing tour of human anatomy
(2005) An excellent interactive reference on human anatomy. For age 8 and up.
Call number: 612 W1537b 2005

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Physics

Macaulay, David. The New Way Things Work
(1998) A great book for the young physicist or mechanical engineer! Colorful illustrations give a visual guide to the world of machines. For age 9 and up.
Call number: 600 M119n 1998

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Water Cycle

Hooper, Meredith. The Drop In My Drink
(1998) Follow a drop of water as it travels around the world. For age 6 and up.
Call number: 551.48 H766d 1998

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