Reviews (4)

The Bee-siest Field Trip of All Time
"The Magic School Bus: Inside a Beehive" represents a slight departure for author, Joanna Cole, and illustrator, Bruce Degen.Written in 1996, this book could easily have been all about our friends, the insects.Because, as student Dorothy Ann explains in the opening pages, "There are more insect species on earth than all other animals put together!"Indeed, you need look no farther than your own backyard (or a few dusty corners of your home) to find bugs of all shapes and sizes crawling around, buzzing about, and foraging for food.
More Science!
My son is 4 years old and we read to him a lot.Now, before bed, he announces, "Mom, you know what kind of book to read....ONLY SCIENCE!"He loves science, and the Magic School Bus is a great, fun way to introduce it, even to a preschooler!

Beekeeper's Review
Kids (of all ages) ask the darndest things. When we work fairs or are identified as beekeepers in public, we are bomberded with basic questions regarding honeybees. This book was bought for my mother as much as for mybrother's son. He asks her questions difficult to answer without pictures,"How do bees make wax...?" This book goes into enough detail toanswer all the "How do...?'s" likely to come up regardinghoneybees. A fine book for any child interested in insects. Also a goodselection to temper the fears of those children that may fear bees. Thepages are a little busy, otherwise would have gotten 5 stars. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - InsectsSpidersetc.    3. Animals - Insects, Spiders, etc.    4. Beehives    5. Bees    6. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    7. Children: Grades 2-3    8. Honey    9. Honeybee    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Science & Technology    13. Juvenile Fiction / Science & Technology   

Reviews (3)

Animals in Winter
This is a very interesting book, written in simple text for the youngest reader or listener.It will really open up the dialog concerning hibernation with my students. The illustrations are beautifully done and illustrate all the interesting facts.

Animals in Winter - Worth Buying
I am a kindergarten teacher and I absolutely love this book. My students loved it too.I teach a unit on hibernation and this book was a great resource. It has great facts and is written for any age group.After I read it to them, my students have read it over and over.

Rabbits Squirrels and Chipmunks
Title;Rabbits Squirrels and Chipmunks Author; Bancroft I think that this book is good for children 7 and up,and has lots factual things about Rabbits Squirrels and Chipmunks ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Children's 4-8 - Nature    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Nature - General    9. Science & Nature - General    10. Science & Technology - General    11. Winter    12. Wintering    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Technology / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Concepts - Size & Shape    4. Juvenile Mathematics    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Mathematics - General    8. Measurement    9. Mensuration    10. Readers - Beginner    11. Science & Nature - Physics    12. Science & Technology - Mathematics    13. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Size & Shape   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Science    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Energy    5. Force and energy    6. Friction    7. Gravity    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile Physics    10. Juvenile Science (General)    11. Juvenile literature    12. Readers - Beginner    13. Science & Nature - Physics    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Technology / Physics   

Subjects:  1. Arctic regions    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Cold    5. Heat    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. School & Education    9. Science & Technology    10. Technology - How Things Work/Are Made    11. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Concepts - Size & Shape    4. Juvenile Mathematics    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Kites    8. Mathematics - General    9. Ratio and proportion    10. Science & Technology - Mathematics    11. Sports & Recreation - Miscellaneous    12. Symmetry    13. Fiction    14. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Size & Shape    15. Numbers & counting    16. Picture books   

Reviews (2)

All About Corn -- a review of Aliki's "Corn is Maize"
This is an interesting book and the second science book that we have looked at which was written and illustrated by Aliki.In this book she covers a wide variety of aspects of Corn.
A great informational book
Corn is Maize is a great book on corn.It not only shows how corn is grown and the many uses. It teaches the children about Indian culture and how they shared their corn with the prilgrams. A book of history, science,and social development. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Science    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Corn    5. Food    6. Indians    7. Juvenile literature    8. Science & Nature - General    9. Science & Technology - General    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Flowers & Plants   

Reviews (3)

Fun Story but Short on Facts
I would give this a three, only my son loves this book because he loves anything about ants.We read Ms Cole`s MAGIC SCHOOL BUS VISITS A BEEHIVE back to back with this.The comparison is too great.It would be terrific to see a layout of the ant colony`s system of tunnels and chambers.Also, no mention is made of the drones:in the story Phoebe says "Without the queen, there wouldn`t be eggs," but without drones, there wouldn`t be eggs, either.I don`t know if they showed them in the television show, but there were no pictures of the pupae, nor the interesting fact that the ants stroke them and receive a tasty secretion in return.The book was interesting, but short on information;more so than some of the others adapted from the TV series.If your child wants to find out about ants there are better books out there.

good teaching resource
In this book a class ventures into the busy world of an ant farm. They learn all about the different roles of the different types of ants in each colony. The story is interesting to children and a lot of information about ant communities is presented.

In my pants 200
This is a great book for kids to learn a great deal about life. Every parent should buy this for his or her child. Well worth the asking price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ants    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. General    5. Juvenile literature    6. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Reviews (2)

ANSWERSto gross questions that adults couldn't answer!!!
As a child I was curious and I asked questions that most adults could not answer. I am an adult and I enjoyed the fact that there were true answers to silly questions-Boogers, bugs, farts, stinky breath, crusty eyes,etc... Animal Grossology
This is a very intertaining book for kids of all ages. It includes photos and cartoons to fit the discriptions. It is a perfect companion to Grossology: The science of really gross stuff! You'll love it. Buy it today ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animal behavior    2. Animals    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Science    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. General    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Miscellanea    9. Science & Nature - Zoology    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (1)

Very useful
Living things eat, drink, sleep and grow- a simple explanation with examples that will appeal to most small children (e.g. cats, dogs, birds).Living things also die, and this is touched upon very briefly. I am always looking for books to assist me in homeschooling my 5 yr old son, and it's difficult to find educational books that don't bore or beat a topic into the ground.This was a satisfying choice. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Biology    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Preschool    5. Juvenile literature    6. Life (Biology)    7. Science & Nature - Biology    8. Biology, life sciences    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Technology / Biology    10. Natural history & pets   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Nature    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile Science (General)    7. Juvenile literature    8. Life Sciences - Horticulture    9. Life cycles    10. Plants - General    11. Preschool Informational Books    12. Pumpkin    13. Pumpkins    14. Science & Nature - Flowers & Plants    15. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Flowers & Plants   

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Elementary    4. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    5. Teaching Methods & Materials - Mathematics    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - Workbooks   

Reviews (2)

Perfect for 2nd-5th grade!
This is the best book I could find about making change and learning about money for elementary students. It worked perfectly for a lesson I did with second graders. I let them work with partners with fake coins learning to add and subtract money. Buy this book! It is impossible for find good books on money and this is a good one.

Reading Practice while Learning to Count Coins!
This book was a great way to help children learn about different ways to make the same amount of money, in this case, the fifty cents needed to go to the face painting booth. The story offered several opportunities topractice counting coins, while using repeated, predictable text that iswonderful for early elementary readers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Coins    4. Concepts - Counting & Numbers    5. Counting    6. Juvenile Mathematics    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Mathematics - General    10. School & Education    11. Science & Technology - Mathematics    12. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Counting    13. Numbers & counting   

Reviews (2)

How Many Teeth?
This book is an excellent educational tool.I am a public health dental hygienist and I use this book in grades K-2.The bright pictures and clever rhymes make it very entertaining for children.It is a great way to teach kids about their mouths and oral health!

Humours,rhymming, informative
When my 5 year old lost his first tooth, he was asking all sorts of questions: WHY did I lose a tooth, WHEN will I lose more....Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. General    4. Juvenile literature    5. Teeth    6. Human biology    7. Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Technology / General    8. Physiology   

Reviews (2)

Terrific way to learn and explain electricity!
When I first opened the book, I thought it would be too young for my nine year old. To my surprise, it caught our attention and explained the puzzling mystery of electricity and currentsin such a way that we both understood how it works. Reading this turned on the light of comprehension. I highly recommend this book to explain the process.

A good introduction to electricity for children.
I pulled this book out when my 5 year old asked me to explain how a light bulb works. The book addresses this subject and also goes on to explain, in simplist form, what electricity is, where it comes from and how we use itin our daily lives. It includes an easy experiement that shows howelectricity is created.While my child was able to understand most of whatwas addressed, the introduction to atoms, electrons... was probably morethan he needed right now. But the introduction of generators, wires,circuits and how electricity reaches our home was great. The story format,starting with turning on a light switch, kept him interested. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Electricity    4. Juvenile literature    5. Readers - Beginner    6. Technology - Electricity & Electronics    7. Technology - How Things Work/Are Made    8. Electricity & magnets    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Technology / Electricity & Electronics   

Reviews (1)

Great Activities
I run a math club at my children's school.I am always in search of activities to use.This book has great activities, especially for first through fourth grades.It would be a wonderful book to use at home, especially if your child doesn't like math.This would be a great way to show them that math is fun! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Education / Teaching    3. Recreations & Games    4. Teaching Methods & Materials - Workbooks   

Reviews (4)

'The Magic School Bus Gets Baked' is questionable
I don't think children's books should glorify these sorts of "trips".But the colors are vivid and I think most of the unsuitable references will go over the heads of its younger readers.

MAgic school bus "cake"
I liked this book, it was interrasting and it had made me read more and omre till i got through it all.I like the part when the shrunk and the guy was chaseing them and the flew into the cake and went into the oven i didn't think there would make it out.

Kitchen Chemistry Fizzes
When their inimitable school bus goes on the fritz (or should I say, "frizz"?,) the students get worried:this is one field trip they don`t want to miss.They`re trying to give their unique teacher a surprise birthday party and need to get to the bakery for the cake.When they finally reach their destination, the unstable bus suddenly shrinks, with everyone in it, to the size of a moth.They dodge the baker`s fly swatter and Ms Frizzle while using kitchen chemistry to get the job done.My boys and I miss the volume of information and mini "reports" of the original series, but they still learn and have fun at the same time.They have a new respect for cooking, as edible chemistry.And the baking soda experiment at the back of the book is a rainy day standby in our household:we love the fizz from the Frizz! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Baking    4. Cake    5. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    6. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    7. Children: Grades 1-2    8. Cooking & Food    9. Degen, Bruce,    10. Juvenile literature    11. School & Education    12. Science & Technology    13. ill    14. Degen, Bruce    15. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Reviews (1)

Excellent book and series
As a mother, teacher, and naturalist, I have been very impressed with this book (as well as the other Let's-Read-and-Find-Out series). It is incredible how so much information is packed into a book for kids and is also full of colorful artwork engaging to the eye. This book about worms covers how worms help the earth, how they eat, make waste, reproduce (tastefully written of course), where they go in the winter, why you find them out when it's raining, how they sense things around them, how their bodies are designed to help them move, all the while explaining things with proper terms, yet simple to understand. This book, as well as the others in the series, has an activity or two in the back of the book for hands-on learning. Excellent resource for any nature/science library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Insects, Spiders, etc.    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Earthworms    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile Science (General)    7. Juvenile literature    8. Science & Nature - Zoology    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (4)

A major disappointment
Love Mitsumasa Anno's other books,but the wonderful intricate drawings are missing from this book, and the story is easily 60% too long, especially for children.

Creative Math Lesson
Anno's books are great for teaching fun math lessons.I readthe book to my sixth graders and had them figure the answers to thequestions as we went.They loved it!They really have to listen carefully, so it makes a great lesson in listening skills as well.

Using Math in the real world
Anno's Magic Seeds is yet another book written by Mitsumasa Anno that integrates literature with mathematics.This book is a useful tool for teachers attempting to provide a connection of math in the real world for their students.The storyis enchanting and it certainly proved to be acreative way for beginning a math lesson- atleast it was for my 4thgraders!I highly recommend this or any of Anno's books to stimulatechildren's interest in mathematics! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arithmetic    2. Arithmetic series    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Concepts - Counting & Numbers    6. Concepts - General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Mathematical recreations    10. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / General   

Reviews (3)

Excellent Book!
Delightful!"How Mountains Are Made" makes an excellent supplement to any elementary-school earth science unit.Its good-humored, user-friendly pages engage classes' attention and stimulate the students to ask questions.A clear, accurate, and accessible introduction to a complex subject - this will certainly put budding young geologists on firm footing.A wonderful addition to the venerable "Let's Read and Find Out Science" series!

Accurately presents current theory
This book pretty accurately presents a simplified version of the current theory on mountain formation. According to the UC Berkeley department of Geology, the asthenosphere is fluid: "These observations, along with many otherstudies of our planet, support the theory that underneath the Earth's crust(the lithosphere: a solid array of plates) is a malleable layer of heatedrock known as the asthenosphere which is heated by radioactive decay ofelements such as Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium. Because the radioactivesource of heat is deep within the mantle, the fluid asthenospherecirculates as convection currents underneath the solid lithosphere."

Fictitious Geophysics
Unfortunately, and unusually for this series, thisbook is complete fiction. We got it for our daughter, and had to throw it away. The geophysics presentedin this book is completely imaginary (and I shouldknow, I'm an earth scientist). The basic premise is that the plates of theEarth's crust ride on a layer of magma. That is false. The plates move ontop of the aesthenosphere, which is quite solid. The enormous stresses overlarge distances allow it to flow, so that the plates move a few cm/year.Magma does exist here and there in small pockets. From the erroneous notionof a magma layer, a complete, and entirely fictional geophysics isconstructed to explain various things about mountains -- much as theAristotelian/Ptolemaic systems explained the cosmos from the false premiseof geocentrism. There are numerous other errors also, and the volcano bookin the series uses the same magma layer fiction.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Geology    4. Juvenile literature    5. Mountains    6. Orogeny    7. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Science & Technology / General