How To Be a Scientist

Gr 2–5—A collection of science history facts and related projects for elementary schoolers. The content is divided into six categories: nature, the body, chemistry, Earth, physics, and space. Each section introduces scientists and their discoveries along with simple tests that can be conducted at home. Most of the activities presented are very basic, with only a few experiments involving the use of control groups. The majority of items needed are easily found in the home: food, rulers, craft sticks, water bottles, soap, and paper plates. The only piece that might be hard to obtain is a fizzy vitamin tablet. Most youngsters can complete these tasks without supervision, and only a few projects require adult help. The illustrations are cartoonish; the people all have rounded features (hands, feet, heads), wide eyes, and square bodies. Notable scientists are drawn with identifiable traits in mind: Albert Einstein's white mop of hair, Marie Curie's bun, and Galileo's beard. The photographs are clear, sized appropriately, and well laid out on the page, and the use of variously sized fonts helps to break up the text, resulting in an eye-catching volume. Only the first few pages explain how to use the book to think like a scientist; the majority of the work centers on science concepts.