Ruth Spiro is the author of the How to Explain Science to a Grown-Up series, the Made by Maxine series, and the best-selling Baby Loves Science series, which has been praised by NPR, Today, Popular Science, the Los Angeles Times, and more. Ruth speaks regularly at STEM and early-childhood conferences across the country.
A baby explores heat and energy through a sunny day and a bite of
an apple. A white, onesie- and hat-wearing baby greets a smiling
sun as Spiro's text, one or two sentences per double-page spread,
discusses how the sunshine gives us warmth and helps trees grow. In
this case, it is an apple tree. Baby eats one of the fruits, and it
gives the little one energy to play and grow. The coda states: "All
living things get their energy from the sun." Chan's paintings in
cheerful colors adroitly capture the young child's wonder and joy
in exploration. While adults may understand that the sun's energy
is fueling the growth of the apple tree and, in turn, providing the
energy needed for the babe to develop into a toddler, most
board-book readers will not begin to grasp the conservation of
energy and thermodynamics as the title promises. The companion
title, Baby Loves Quantum Physics! tackles an even more abstract
concept: Schrödinger's cat and quantum physics. A different tyke,
with a slightly tanner complexion and brown hair, plays with a
kitten. When Cat hides in the box, the child imagines the
possibility that the feline is either awake or asleep (not, thank
goodness, living or dead). As a game of hide-and-seek, the project
is delightfully developmentally appropriate, but it takes a leap of
huge proportions for this book to successfully explain to a toddler
a concept most adults are hard-pressed to understand. While
children may enjoy the inviting art in these pages, the concepts,
like sun shining in the sky, will be way, way over their
heads.
—Kirkus Reviews
When you break down science into simple concepts, they actually do
make interesting and wonderful books to read to young
children. Baby Loves Thermodynamics! is accurate enough to
satisfy an expert, yet simple enough for baby, this clever board
book explores the transfer of energy as it flows from the sun to an
apple to baby. Beautiful, visually stimulating illustrations
complement age-appropriate language to encourage baby’s sense of
wonder. Parents and caregivers may learn a thing or two, as
well! If you love this title, be sure to check out the
follow-up books in the Baby Loves Science series, Baby Loves
Aerospace Engineering! and Baby Loves Quantum Physics!
—Momma's Bacon
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
