The story of Acaba, the first person of Puerto Rican heritage in space, will have kids looking at their teachers—and themselves—in a new light. After majoring in geology, spending two years in the Peace Corps, and becoming a teacher, Acaba applies for astronaut training. Five years later: blastoff. An engaging look at an ordinary guy who the fantastic.- Book Links, Diversity in Science Showcase, January 2018

From the depths of the Hoover Dam to space stations 240 miles above Earth, the latest entries in the Engineering Wonders series examine human-made marvels. Fusing vibrant full-page photos and educational diagrams with info-packed text, each installment explores an invention's origin, evolution, modern-day applications, and future. Elevators documents the pulleys and stone cylinders of ancient civilizations, Elisha Otis' 1854 steam-powered breakthrough, and the computer controlled creations of today. Maurer also stresses the role of the elevator in legendary landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building. In International Space Station, readers learn of the research facility's roots—a...

The eye-catching tome entertainingly addresses how waste, human and otherwise, can be converted into energy. Though the tone is lighthearted and the gross-out factor is undeniable, the author keeps the focus on clearly articulated concepts. Thoughtful page design, comprehensive discussions, and fairly unusual activities encourage critical thinking. - Book Links, November 2017 VIEW NOW

Red, white, and blue–themed guides for elementary schoolers curious about U.S. states. Each entry contains a photo and a short paragraph or two of general history. The photos are of high quality, but the information included is limited. For example, the entry for Nevada’s flag doesn’t explain its “Battle Born” motto. Historic Monuments is the most notable of the bunch for its coverage of a wide variety of landmarks that commemorate natural, Indigenous, and U.S. history. However, the text could be more specific in places; for instance, the entry for the Natchez National Historical Park only mentions “American Indians” instead...

The projects in STEM activity books often function solely as concept demonstrations and do not result in durable, useful, or fun creations. By contrast, the five projects in each volume of this series are attractive (LEGO monogram in Craft and Design), handy (DIY touch screen gloves in Circuitry), or undeniably cool (an airboat in Moving Machines). Not incidentally, they provide visual and kinetic demonstrations of key scientific principles, demystifying everyday magic like touch screens, electricity, and motion. The concepts build in complexity along with the projects—simple assembly jobs using LEGO lead to 3-D printing projects in Craft and Design 3-D,...