Cool Nature: 50 Fantastic Facts for Kids of All Ages

Gr 4–7—Nature enthusiasts who enjoy learning about the life cycle of the guinea worm or understanding basic scientific principles such as photosynthesis will enjoy this colorful and informative book. Beer uses a clear, humorous writing style that complements the cartoonish artwork (the illustration recommending the addition of human urine to a compost pile will definitely appeal to kids). Topics are introduced in descriptive spreads that are interspersed with fun facts in colored stars. There is a table of contents, but the lack of an index and the way the subjects jump from one broad area to another make this title more suitable for browsing. There are a few simple experiments scattered throughout, ranging from the classic baking soda and vinegar volcano to the more complex cloud in a bottle. One major downside for U.S. readers is that the book is clearly intended for a European audience, since it includes only metric measurements and temperatures in Celsius. Briticisms such as "bicarbonate of soda" (instead of "baking powder") and "cling film" (instead of "plastic wrap") may also confuse U.S. readers.