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librarianlizreads's review against another edition
3.0
Please note that this review is written for my use as a librarian and may not appeal directly to readers. Please review at your own risk.
Accelerated Reader has this book listed as being for lower grades, or readers in Kindergarten to 3rd grade. They also have listed that this read is worth 0.5 AR point.
Super cute book about weather science and the history of discovery of weather science!
Caution Notes*:
Potentially conflicting views with religion vs. science, very slight
Recommended for:
Small children or families who love science or weather!
Summary:
-Do not read past this point if you would like to avoid spoilers-
This book walks through the history of scientific discoveries in meteorology from the days of ancient Greece to today.
*Caution notes are not to say, don’t read the book. I only include these so that those individuals who have particular themes they do not like to read about or are not ready for their kids to read about are aware. I do not support censoring. :)
Accelerated Reader has this book listed as being for lower grades, or readers in Kindergarten to 3rd grade. They also have listed that this read is worth 0.5 AR point.
Super cute book about weather science and the history of discovery of weather science!
Caution Notes*:
Potentially conflicting views with religion vs. science, very slight
Recommended for:
Small children or families who love science or weather!
Summary:
-Do not read past this point if you would like to avoid spoilers-
This book walks through the history of scientific discoveries in meteorology from the days of ancient Greece to today.
*Caution notes are not to say, don’t read the book. I only include these so that those individuals who have particular themes they do not like to read about or are not ready for their kids to read about are aware. I do not support censoring. :)
kovvy's review against another edition
4.0
Who doesn't love dinosaurs? This book is a wonderful first look into the world of our extinct friends. What is particularly great about this book is how it demonstrates that science is not foolproof, but can change when new evidence is brought to light. Fields that refuse to change are fields that never have a chance to improve, so the fact that this book goes through some of the debunked theories that some scientists proposed about dinosaurs really drives that fact home. Science isn't about upholding past traditions, it is an ever-changing quest for the truth. The illustrations of the past and present suppositions of what dinosaurs looked like are detailed and realistic. Recommended for grades 1-3.
showell's review against another edition
4.0
I like this book because it shows how the theory of evolution applies to science itself. Strong hypotheses survive and multiply; weak ones die off. A scientist finds clues (in this case fossils), develops a hypothesis based on those clues, and as more information comes in scientists either confirm the earlier view or change it to account for the new information. Every generation of scientists tests the theories of the ones that came before as new information, new technology, and new methods for interpreting that information comes in. Nowhere is this more true than in paleontology, which -- as loyal readers will remember -- is my daughter's current favorite branch of the sciences.
That early theory that sauropods must have lived underwater because they were too large and clumsy to live on land? A better understanding of anatomy (and water pressure on oxygen-breathing creatures) moved those dinosaurs on land. And Iguanodon's nose spike? When a complete fossil of Iguanodon was found, scientists realized that what they had thought was a solitary nose spike was in fact a bone from the creature's hand.
This book does an excellent job of conveying to a young prospective scientist how exciting the scientific process can be, and the potential for her to take part in testing, adapting, and settling some of science's open questions. Were dinosaurs cold-blooded, warm-blooded, or something in between? Is the current asteroid extinction theory really the correct one? Which dinosaurs had bumps, which had scales, and which had feathers on their skin, and why? There are plenty of questions left to explore, which is a pretty exciting thought for both of us.
In spite of this insight into meta-inquiry, here's the bottom line: we first found this book a few months ago in our local library. We love it so much that we have checked it out several times since (in fact, it's sitting on our couch right now).
(Review originally published on my blog, Caterpickles - Scientific & Linguistic Engagement with a 4 Year Old Mind, caterpickles.com)
That early theory that sauropods must have lived underwater because they were too large and clumsy to live on land? A better understanding of anatomy (and water pressure on oxygen-breathing creatures) moved those dinosaurs on land. And Iguanodon's nose spike? When a complete fossil of Iguanodon was found, scientists realized that what they had thought was a solitary nose spike was in fact a bone from the creature's hand.
This book does an excellent job of conveying to a young prospective scientist how exciting the scientific process can be, and the potential for her to take part in testing, adapting, and settling some of science's open questions. Were dinosaurs cold-blooded, warm-blooded, or something in between? Is the current asteroid extinction theory really the correct one? Which dinosaurs had bumps, which had scales, and which had feathers on their skin, and why? There are plenty of questions left to explore, which is a pretty exciting thought for both of us.
In spite of this insight into meta-inquiry, here's the bottom line: we first found this book a few months ago in our local library. We love it so much that we have checked it out several times since (in fact, it's sitting on our couch right now).
(Review originally published on my blog, Caterpickles - Scientific & Linguistic Engagement with a 4 Year Old Mind, caterpickles.com)
librariandest's review against another edition
3.0
I think the message of this book is really important for young people to pick up on. Basically, that message is that science can be wrong and that our understanding of the world evolves over time.
That beings said, the illustrations and writing are a touch on the lame side. But for content it gets the big thumbs-up.
That beings said, the illustrations and writing are a touch on the lame side. But for content it gets the big thumbs-up.
turrean's review against another edition
4.0
Great book, for many reasons. First, this will appeal to the young I-only-read-dinosaur-books crowd. The pictures are amusingly cartoonish, but not babyish. Secondly, the book should be part of any primary school unit on "the scientific method," as the book's focus is on the fact that scientific knowledge grows and changes. Things scientists thought to be inviolable truth were later proved wrong. Lastly, this is a good book to share when talking about the reliability of information sources. Since dinosaur theories have changed so dramatically over the years, kids need to be wary about the information in older sources.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
I love this series about how our learning is always changing.
The newest book to the series is no exception. Seeing as how weather is included in science units, this book is a great addition for your classroom or library.
The newest book to the series is no exception. Seeing as how weather is included in science units, this book is a great addition for your classroom or library.
heisereads's review against another edition
4.0
Especially appreciate how this book addresses the historical beliefs about the weather, and how science has evolved our understandings.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Non-fiction
For K-3rd grade
In picture book format, this shows many of the ways scientists have been wrong about dinosaurs, and suggests things that we might still have gotten wrong.
Rather than focusing on a particular time period or type of dinosaur, this book sets out to explain different ways humans have misinterpreted dinosaur fossils in general. While it contains plenty of fun facts, and the full-page illustrations do a great job of bringing the text to life, the most remarkable aspect of this structure is that it reminds readers that the natural world is constantly open to interpretation. Scientists gradually uncover information about dinosaurs, theories are disproved, and the field is constantly changing as more and more new information is discovered. Information from other fields, like physics and geology, can inform the work of paleontologists, and kids can grow up to be one of those scientists who makes us realize, "boy, were we wrong about dinosaurs!" This focus makes the book ideal for younger children who want to grow up to study dinosaurs. The format, with clear paragraphs of text in a fairly large font, along with copious illustrations, is an added appeal for more confident early readers, and would also make this a good read-aloud for slightly younger children. A brief timeline and list of additional sources of information complete the book.
School Library Journal's review provides a good overview of the content and comments that it would make a good "take-off point for a discussion on the scientific method." Booklist gave it a starred review and captures the appeal of the book by saying, "What could be more heartening to children than the unabashed admission that grown-ups make mistakes?" The review also highlights the way mistakes are depicted in one picture, and then shown corrected in the next.
For K-3rd grade
In picture book format, this shows many of the ways scientists have been wrong about dinosaurs, and suggests things that we might still have gotten wrong.
Rather than focusing on a particular time period or type of dinosaur, this book sets out to explain different ways humans have misinterpreted dinosaur fossils in general. While it contains plenty of fun facts, and the full-page illustrations do a great job of bringing the text to life, the most remarkable aspect of this structure is that it reminds readers that the natural world is constantly open to interpretation. Scientists gradually uncover information about dinosaurs, theories are disproved, and the field is constantly changing as more and more new information is discovered. Information from other fields, like physics and geology, can inform the work of paleontologists, and kids can grow up to be one of those scientists who makes us realize, "boy, were we wrong about dinosaurs!" This focus makes the book ideal for younger children who want to grow up to study dinosaurs. The format, with clear paragraphs of text in a fairly large font, along with copious illustrations, is an added appeal for more confident early readers, and would also make this a good read-aloud for slightly younger children. A brief timeline and list of additional sources of information complete the book.
School Library Journal's review provides a good overview of the content and comments that it would make a good "take-off point for a discussion on the scientific method." Booklist gave it a starred review and captures the appeal of the book by saying, "What could be more heartening to children than the unabashed admission that grown-ups make mistakes?" The review also highlights the way mistakes are depicted in one picture, and then shown corrected in the next.
mw_bookgraph's review against another edition
Someone in the house is loving dinosaurs.