Chemistry: Experimenting with Science. Antonella Meiani. (Illus.; from the Experimenting with Science Series.) Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications, 2002. 40pp. $23.93. 2001050503. ISBN 0-8225-0087-6. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Basic concepts are clearly conveyed in the introduction of each section through experiments and the text summary statements beneath each experiment. The experiments range from the standard, e.g. creating an indicator from red cabbage juice, to the distinctive, e.g. using ice to curl up a plastic bottle. The experiments are perfect for fourth through sixth grader students, but would easily extended to both younger and older children. This book makes chemistry both accessible and exciting.

Electricity. Darlene Lauw. (Illus.; from the Science Alive! Series.) NY: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2002. 32pp. $21.95. 2001042421. ISBN 0-7787-0561-7. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Light. 2001042423. ISBN 0-7787-0560-9.
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These two books explain their subject matter in a colorful and easy to understand format geared for the lower to middle elementary student. The experiments in each are presented in a large diagram format but in most cases will have to be completed with a teacher present. All experiments use easily obtainable parts and in some cases actual household items. The chapters of each book presents modern concepts, simple experiments, a quiz, a caution section and, in some cases, an environmental section. Both books are easy to use, read and understand.

Electricity and Magnets. Sarah Angliss. (Illus.; from the Hands-on Science Series.) NY: Larousse Kingfisher Chambers, 2001. 40pp. $6.95. ISBN 0753453495. Glossary; Index.
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Forces and Motion. John Graham. ISBN 0753453487. Order
Matter and Materials. Peter Mellet. ISBN 0753453509. Order
Sound and Light. Jack Challoner. ISBN 0753453479. Order

Clearly written for elementary-school-aged children, this series has great experiments. The graphics are clean and reinforce the directions. The sidebars are interesting and use photos. As a result, the illustrations in each book are exceptionally crisp and engaging. In the corner of the books are sidebars with practical applications to reinforce the concepts. Best of all, each book uses simple materials that are readily available. The Hands-on Science Series is full of ideas and exeperiments to get students thinking about science fair projects.

Experiments with Elecricity. Salvatore Tocci. (Illus.; from the True Book Series.) Danbury, CT: Children's Press, 2001. 48pp. $23.00. 00-065596. ISBN 0-516-22247-3. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Experiments with Magnets. 00-065595. ISBN 0-516-22248-1. Order
Experiments with Sound. 00-052119. ISBN 0-516-22251-1. Order

These three books in the True Book series cover electricity (charges and circuits), sound (sound waves, generation, and propagation), and magnets (permanent magnets and electromagnets). Each colorful and nicely illustrated little book contains 7 or 8 science experiments that address a question the author poses, followed by an explanation of what the children should see and related facts. An additional experiment at the end is a "fun" experiment usually based on slightly more complicated principles that aren't fully explained in the text.

Flying Things: Simple Experiments in the Science of Flight. Michael DiSpezio. (Illus.) Parsippany, NJ: Dale Seymour Publications, 2000. 77pp. $12.95. ISBN 1572328649.
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Written in a language kids understand, the book has illustrations, mentions the materials required for each experiment, and is an ideal adventure in self-paced fun. Science education should be fun for students as they gain a conceptual understanding of the subject through reading, experiencing, and observing. DiSpezio's book fosters such an understanding. Flying Things is a library of quick, fun, and motivating learning experiences. Kids can jump from one activity to another, filling rainy afternoons or lazy summer days at home or in camp. The activities may even lead to some creative ideas for science projects.

Great Physicists: The Life and Times of Leading Physicists from Galileo to Hawking. William H.Cropper. (Illus.) NY: Oxford University Press, 2001. 500pp. $35.00. 2001021611. ISBN 0-19-513748-5. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This book is an excellent vehicle for understanding the personal lives of the giants of the modern world of science. Among the scientists presented are Galileo, Newton, Bohr, Einstein, Gibbs, Faraday, Marie Curie, Rutherford, Chandrasekhar, and Hawkins. Their contributions and their personalities are recounted in a continuous chain of events. This book is a superb reference for younger readers who want to learn more about the people behind some of the greatest scientific discoveries.

Janice VanCleave's A+ Projects in Chemistry: Winning Experiments for Science Fairs and Extra Credit. Janice VanCleave. (Illus.) NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1993. vi+231pp. $22.95; $12.95 (paper). 93-10588. ISBN 0471586307. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This book contains 30 topics, each of which has a detailed step-by-step experiment, suggestions for variations on the experiment, an invitation to the reader to design his or her own experiment, and some prompts for further information. The topics are interesting and appropriate for students who read well, follow instructions well, and are independently responsible. This book is recommend as a worthy supplement to a secondary school science program and as a source of science fair or group projects for the class.

Janice VanCleave's Electricity: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn into Science Fair Projects. Janice VanCleave. (Illus.; from the Spectacular Science Projects Series.) NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1994. 89pp. $9.95 (paper). 93-40913. ISBN 0-471-31010-7. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This very understandable book demonstrates some basic electrical experiments to students. The author explains each experiment with clear illustrations, in a comprehensible format, and with a basic, no-nonsense, step-by-step approach. New terms and concepts are explained with good, practical sense in an informative glossary in the back of the book. These basic electrical experiments, combined with a good, structured approach, curiosity, and a bit of fun, make this book interesting for students to use, learn from, and enjoy.

Physical Science. (Illus.; from the Time Life Student Library Series.) Time-Life Books, 2000. 128pp. $24.95. 99-057136. ISBN 0783513593. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Each two-page spread of this attractive and colorful book covers a main topic, through a short introduction and four to seven panels; each of which contains a one-paragraph description and a photograph, diagram, or chart. The panels present the subtopics, as well as interesting applications, amazing facts, the achievements of important scientists, easy experiments, etc. Physical Science will spark the curiosity of young people and increase their understanding. Its broad coverage and index make the volume a good illustrative reference that will be valuable in the home, library, or classroom.

Physics Matters! Matter, Volume 1. John O. E. Clark. (Illus.; from the Physics Matters! Series.) Danbury, CT: Grolier, 2001. 64pp. $309.00 (set of 10). 00-055160. ISBN 0717255093 (set). Glossary; Index; C.I.P.

Mechanics, Volume 2.
Heat, Volume 3.
Light, Volume 4.
Sound, Volume 5.
Electric Charges, Volume 6.
Electric Current, Volume 7.
Magnetism, Volume 8.
Electronics, Volume 9.
Nuclear Physics, Volume 10.

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This set of 10 books covers all the usual topics that a full-year introductory physics course would. The reading level and the depth in each topic are appropriate for grades 8-10. The writing is clear and the explanations are usually very well done. An outstanding number of applications is discussed and illustrated; the many pictures and diagrams are helpful. These volumes are suitable for reference, as review material, or for anyone who wishes to get a broad, interesting introduction to the topics presented. Discovery for oneself is encouraged by short "projects" suggested and clearly described at the end of each volume.

Science Experiments With Color. Sally Nankivell-Aston and Dorothy Jackon. (Illus.; from the Science Experiments Series.) Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts, 2000. 32pp. $20.00. 99-088992. ISBN 0531145816. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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Science Experiments with Electricity. 99-086438. ISBN 0531145808. Order
Science Experiments with Forces. 99-054428. ISBN 0531145824. Order

The Science Experiments series is a winner for elementary school students seeking a progressive approach to science. Recent changes in pedagogy for teaching science to such students are reflected in the series: The students are challenged to think, make predictions, perform "fair tests" (one variable at a time), and experience their results with the use of different senses. The appealing, multicultural photographs stimulate activities, each of which illustrates important scientific concepts without extensive mathematical analyses. Whether for classroom use or science fair ideas, this series belongs in the elementary school classroom.

Science Fair Projects: Chemistry. Bob Bonnet and Dan Keen. (Illus. by Frances Zweifel; from the Science Fair Projects Series.) NY: Sterling Publishing Company Inc., 2001. 95pp. $9.95 (paper). ISBN 080697799X (paper). Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This is a marvelous start-up experience for the young scientist. The text is designed to introduce a question with an overview and a possible hypothesis that is tested following the experiment. The experimenter gives a result and a conclusion, thus teaching the elements of the scientific method. The text contains 47 simple chemistry experiments. This book is recommend as a resource for elementary and middle school students in their school and public libraries.

Science Fair Projects with Electricity and Electronics. Bob Bonnet and Dan Keen. (Illus. by Karen McKee.) NY: Sterling Publishing Company Inc., 1996. 96pp. $16.95. 95-51492. ISBN 0-8069-1300-2. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This book will help a student prepare a project for competition in a science fair. The book is targeted at sixth- through ninth-grade students. The projects are grouped into eight sections, on electromagnetic forces, static electricity, current flow, electromechanical devices, resistance and capacitance, electrical generators, solid-state electronics, and radio-frequency energy. An appendix contains the schematic symbols for common electronic components. A glossary describes most of the terms used in the book. This book is recommend for students considering a science fair project in electricity and electronics.

Science Fair Success in the Hardware Store. Salvatore Tocci. (Illus.; from the Science Fair Success Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2000. 112pp. $19.95. 99-35531. ISBN 0766012875. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This volume is one of six in a series featuring scientific phenomena that are practical to demonstrate or manipulate in the ordinary environment with ordinary materials from hardware stores. The book enables the student to conceive a project that is achievable without being a "cookbook" specification of any given science-fair project. The book discusses aspects of the scientific method and has a glossary, addresses of scientific supply houses, a list of Internet sites, and a guide to further reading. Students and their parents should find the volume a useful resource for averting science-fair crises.

Science Fair Success Using Household Products. Salvatore Tocci. (Illus.; from the Science Fair Success Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2002. 112pp. $20.95. 2001000305. ISBN 0-7660-1626-9. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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This interesting little book is designed to give students, primarily in middle school and high school, ideas and techniques for science fair projects, using materials easily found around the house. The emphasis is on testing the claims made about household products and on comparing their performance. In the process, the author has taken care to provide some good lessons in experimental objectivity, controlling variables, collecting and evaluating data, and displaying results. Most of the experiments have introductory sections presenting interesting background information on the composition and chemical behavior of the products; many also contain ideas for larger projects that extend the basic idea of the experiment.

Science Projects About Kitchen Chemistry, Revised Edition. Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Science Projects Ideas Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2002. 128pp. $20.95. 2001000704. ISBN 0-7660-1706-0. Glossary; Index; C.I.P.
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The purpose of this book is to experiment with substances usually found in the kitchen and to use the kitchen as a laboratory. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction to the units' experiments. Every experiment contains a list of supplies required and easy-to-follow directions. Many of the experiments have line drawings to show how to set up the equipment. The author asks numerous questions, but answers few. His purpose is to get the young scientist to think and explore. Experiments that can be modified and used as science fair projects are indicated.

Science Projects About Physics in the Home. Robert Gardner. (Illus.; from the Science Projects Series.) Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 1999. 112pp. $19.95. 98-6822. ISBN 0-89490-948-7. Index; C.I.P.
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This volume is well organized with lots of hands-on activities. The book is broken up into four sections related to locations in the home and one section that deals with the playground. Within each section are three to six different areas of focus. Each area lists a topic, things you will need, and suggestions for further exploration. The introduction briefly discusses both science fair projects and safety issues. The science content is good. This book is recommend to both students and beginning teachers as a good starting point in the understanding of the physics of objects and events in our daily life.

Vacuum Bazookas, Electric Rainbow Jelly and 27 other Saturday Science Projects. Neil A. Downie. (Illus. by Jim Wilkinson) Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2001. xvi+253pp. $39.50. 2001036258. ISBN 0-691-00985-6. Index; C.I.P.
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This book is an excellent source of fun, light-hearted projects for young adults. The demonstrations illustrate long-standing topics modernized to the appeal of today's youth. The author takes the experiments one step further by providing theoretical background and explanation, as well as more advanced demonstrations on the same topic. He accomplishes this by using easily understood terms and examples laid out in a well-organized manner while consistently maintaining a fun, learning environment. His style provides a clear understanding of what, why, and how things are happening.