Books About Levers for Children

Early Elementary

• In "Scoop, Seesaw, and Raise: A Book About Levers," author Michael Dahl uses descriptions, models and activities to teach kids how levers move objects. Chris Oxlade's "Levers (Very Useful Machines)" discusses levers that children often see, such as scissors and the seesaw. Kids learn how levers make it easier -- or even possible -- to accomplish certain jobs. "What Are Levers?" by Helen Frost is a fundamental examination of the machine, using everyday examples such as a shovel and broom. Each page has a limited amount of text. A diagram shows how force is applied to a lever in order to do work.

Middle Grades

• "Levers, Wheels, and Pulleys" by John Farndon provides background information on three types of simple machines. Kids can try easy activities that explore levers, wheels and pulleys using household objects. Sidebars relate interesting facts as well as real-life experiments. David Glover's "Levers" uses everyday examples of levers doing work, such as a kids' molars, bike brakes and can openers. The author explains how common levers make life less complicated. In "How Do You Lift a Lion?", author Robert E. Wells describes the work of levers, wheels and pulleys, then teaches kids how to use them in amusing ways, such as delivering bananas to an animal's party.

Later Elementary

• Authors Emily Sohn and Frederick Fellows focus on scientific inquiry in "Levers and Pulleys: Lift Anything!" The book describes common uses of the simple machines, such as a hammer prying a nail. Thought experiments and drawing activities ask kids to apply what they are learning. Readers are challenged to use information about force, energy and work to design a system to raise a 700 pound piano to the second floor. In "Put Levers to the Test," Sally M. Walker and Roseann Feldmann offer experiments that explore how the simple machine functions. The authors introduce complicated terms such as fulcrum, fixed pulley, third class lever and friction. Discussion questions are included.

Simple Machines

• Deborah Hodge's book "Simple Machines" explores the topic through activities. Kids assemble machines that actually function, such as a broom and a chair -- lever and fulcrum -- that move a person. In "Simple Machines" by Allan Fowler, photographs illustrate the lever, the inclined plane, the wheel and axle and the pulley. The text accompanying the pictures is short and simple. Author Anita Yasuda presents 25 projects using recycled materials in "Explore Simple Machines!" For example, kids learn how to make a crane and a drawbridge.