Usborne Books

Educational Development Corporation

I’ve selected only a few of the science-related titles and series to highlight here. The Usborne books present science topics in beautifully-illustrated formats that just beg to be looked at. The information is also good for the most part with the exception of evolutionary ideas. These books are so appealing that they can be given as gifts. Most children will not realize they are educational.

The Usborne Science Encyclopedia

$14.95 paberback or $22.95 hardcover

Suggested for ages 8 to 12, this 128-page encyclopedia uses numerous illustrations and limited text to cover selected topics. Topics are arranged according to themes. Not limited to information, articles also include experiments for children to try.

Finding Out About series: Wings, Wheels and Water

$4.95 - $12.95 each, combined books - $12.95-$14.95 each

Recommended for ages 7 to 9, this series is an introduction to many science topics, appropriate for the early to mid-elementary grades. Among titles in the series are Deserts,Where Food Comes From, Things That Fly, Rockets and Spaceflight, and Things Outdoors. Four different combined books—Everyday Things, Wild Places, Living Long Ago, and Wings, Wheels and Water—each contain three books, some of which are available as single books. For example Things that Fly is also a part of Wings, Wheels, and Water. However, most books within the combined books are not available in single book form. Illustrations combine with short paragraphs of information, so that children are not overwhelmed. These books include snippets of very specific, intriguing detail to pique children’s interest.

Usborne Famous Lives series

$8.95 paperback or $16.95 hardcover; combined edition - $19.95 paperback or $27.95 hardcover

There are at least four books in this series, but only one, titled Inventors, comes under science. Recommended for ages ten and up, it follows a historical progression. A little biographical information is intermixed with each story of invention or discovery. I particularly like this book because scientific ideas and their progression are much easier to follow when that is the only topic—unlike history books where we usually encounter tidbits on scientific advances thrown in from time to time as if such advances were spontaneously generated. There are plenty of the full-color illustrations for which Usborne is famous. The text in this book flows in regular columns with only occasional, brief picture descriptions and a few sidebars to interrupt the flow. That makes this a better reading book than many other Usborne books that are great for browsing and skipping around.

A combination volume, titled Famous Lives combines Inventors with four other books Scientists (not available as a single book) Explorers, Kings and Queens, and Famous Women. In the Scientists “book” you will have to deal with evolutionary assumptions. The attitude in that book s that scientists were struggling to make sense of things until they finally figured out the process of evolution. Now everything makes sense. You will encounter this at the end of the classification section, then through “The age of the earth” and “Evolution”—five pages. I suggest using this section for your own expanded lesson on critical thinking as well as a lesson upon the requirement of replication to prove scientific theories.

Usborne Science for Beginners series: Understanding Your Brain

$6.95 -$19.95 depending upon binding

Four titles comprise this series recommended for ages 8 and up: Understanding Your Brain, Understanding Your Body, Understanding Your Muscles and Bones, and Understanding Your Senses.

I reviewed only the first title. Children can read through this book on their own, skipping around rather than reading in order if they please. Mostly cartoon illustrations help children to visualize how the brain functions without “gross” pictures. For example, eleven small cartoons are shown with the larger brain to illustrate the varied brain functions. Comic strip illustrations also help to explain some concepts. A few quizzes, puzzles, and “try this” activities are for fun rather than grading.

There are a few subtle problems you might want to address such as the explanation that “...a complicated feeling such as jealousy is a series of electrical and chemical changes.” which implies that we are not accountable for or in control of our feelings. I was pleased to see that the book debunks the “science” of phrenology, popular a century ago, which taught that you could determine people’s characteristics and talents by measuring and analyzing the shape of their skulls. (Most people have never heard of phrenology, but it was the”scientific” rationalization for much racism.)

Brain and Senses books are available only in softcover editions, Body is available only in hardcover; while Muscles and Bones is available in both editions.

Essential Biology

0-7460-0743-4 $7.95 pb

Essential Chemistry

0-7460-0727-2 $7.95 pb

The 8” x 5” format of these little books is deceptive. These handbooks cover key facts of high school level science courses. They are crammed full with full-color charts, illustrations, and diagrams. The text is in very small typestyle, so I don’t recommend them for students with vision problems. Topics are arranged in logical fashion rather than alphabetically. An index makes it easy to locate information. These were designed to be used as study guides for exams, but they make excellent companions to science courses.