Juvenile Science Books About Matter

Physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy define matter as mass that has solid, liquid and gaseous states. Matter is the product of the Big Bang and exploded stars, and matter changes states during processes such as volcanic eruptions and the water cycle. Several books on matter have been written for children, and those reviewed here were selected based on criteria developed by the National Science Teachers Association and the U.S. Department of Education.

  1. Books about Matter in General

    • "What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases" introduces 4- to 8-year-olds to each state of matter through the use of amusing and colorful pen and ink drawings, short descriptions and age-appropriate experiments. "Matter Matters" covers atoms and elements, states of matter, chemical reactions and radioactivity. It contains suggestions for experiments, comic-style illustrations, and plenty of flaps, pull-tabs, and pop-ups to engage 7- to 10-year olds. "The Solid Truth About States of Matter With Max Axiom, Super Scientist" was written for 8- to 12-year-olds. It uses bright comic-book style illustrations, and a main character who looks like a super-hero, to explain the three states of matter and how they change.

    The Big Bang and Exploded Stars

    • In "You Are Stardust," Elin Kelsey uses prose and colorful diorams to explain how we are connected to the universe. The book is for 5- to 9-year-olds. "Pi in the Sky" is Wendy Mass' triple threat for 8- to 12-year-olds. It is a science fiction story, a tale of a teenager who discovers he too has many talents, and an age-appropriate discussion of the universe and our place in it. The book contains quotes from a variety of luminaries, but no colorful pictures. "Big Bang! The Tongue-Tickling Tale of a Speck that Became Spectacular" uses alliterative verse, and splashy illustrations and photographs to describe how our universe began from a "speck" smaller than a period. The book is for 9- to 12-year-olds. It outlines each stage of the Big Bang, provides a brief history of observational astronomy, and then describes how scientists discovered the universe is expanding.

    Volcanoes

    • "Gopher to the Rescue!: A Volcano Recovery Story" was written for 5- to 10-year-olds. It describes how a volcanic eruption affects land and animals, and how resilient animals such as gophers revitalize the land. The book's message is conveyed through water-color drawings, a four to six-page appendix "for creative minds," and cross-curricular teaching activities on the book's homepage. "The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth" is the seventh book in the series. This time, Ms. Frizzle and her class go on a field trip to the center of the Earth where they collect rocks until a volcanic eruption expels the kids. The book, intended for 8- to 10-year-olds, contains amusing and colorful pen and ink illustrations.

    The Water Cycle

    • The following three books were written for 4- to 8-year-olds. In "All the Water in the World," George Lyon lyrically explains how water goes from rain to rivers to the ocean to clouds and to rain again, and how this water cycle is needed for life. Blues, purples and greens convey wetness, while browns and beiges depict deserts. "The Magic School Bus Wet All Over" is another book about the water cycle. It ends with the kids and Ms. Frizzle going through the town waterworks, and seeing how water is purified. Franklyn Branley's book on the water cycle, "Down Comes the Rain," contains concise explanations, softly colored pen-and-ink drawings, and a variety of hands-on activities.

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