(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Catherine Leary. A lively tone, second-person voice, and lots of hands-on experiments and activities engage readers in understanding the human brain and nervous system, including reflexes, optical function, and creativity. Each double-page spread includes factual information, easy-to-follow directions for activities, small illustrations, sidebars, pronunciation guides, and plenty of white space. Ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Planets, constellations, and black holes are some of the topics covered in this introduction to space. A humorous writing style and colorful cartoony illustrations supplemented with photos and charts add kid appeal, while instructions for activities such as making a sundial, model solar system, and a dish antenna from a wok provide an intriguing hands-on component. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Illustrated with cartoonlike color illustrations, this book is a compilation of crafts, trivia quizzes, and puzzles relating to dinosaurs. Information about the prehistoric creatures is presented (often in a scattershot, jokey manner) within the instructions for activities such as making flipbooks, plaster casts, and mobiles. Those seeking a just-the-facts presentation will have to look elsewhere. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Cartoon illustrations enliven a broad, breezy introduction to weather and climate. Thirty-seven aspects of weather, including forecasting, wind, humidity, major storms, and natural weather signs are covered briefly in successive double-page spreads. Many of the topics are accompanied by simple but well-thought-out science experiments. Ind.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Derek Toye. Almost half of these pages concern "The Basics": how to select a good project and advice on scientific methodology. The remainder presents more typical ideas for projects, such as getting electricity from a lemon. These pages list materials, procedure, results, warnings, further ideas, and key terms, using consistent graphics and supplemented by cartoons. Information is sound and reliable, though the tone is occasionally patronizing. Ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Frances Zweifel. Scientific concepts behind tricks that play with our perception of motion, depth, shape, and size are revealed in this well-organized experimental guide. Although the layout is cramped and gray, with dark line drawings and diagrams, the book contains complete directions for making a wide variety of optical illusions, each matched with concise explanations of how particular illusions occur. Ind.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(3) 4-6 Page after page of visual images demonstrate how the eye and brain can be confused by tricky perspectives, varicolored patterns, and comparative lines and shapes. Most of the illusions can be appreciated at first glance, though some--including a zootrope and flip book--require the reader to do some photocopying, cutting, and pasting. Scientific explanations for the illusions are provided in this browsable volume. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Catherine Leary. DiSpezio provides a useful and interesting collection of experiments demonstrating inertia, buoyancy, center of gravity examples, molecular forces (surface tension, etc.), and air pressure. Safety-conscious cautions are carefully detailed, and simple, cartoonlike sketches accompany each experiment. Occasional ambiguities in the instructions or explanations do not present major problems. Ind.

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs