How Things Work

by Time-Life Books

Questions and answers provide information about how cameras, elevators, car engines, tops, yo-yos, and other devices work. Includes charts, diagrams, and an activities section. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809448734
• ISBN13: 9780809448739
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Time Life Medical
• Length: 87 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Age Range: 3 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

Engaging introduction to "How things work"

Many years ago, I purchased this volume (and others in the "A Child's First Library of Learning" series) for my (then) young son. He relished this series (as well as the DK series, Eyewitness Books). The focus of this publication is "How Things Work." As with all works in the series, this is organized by a series of questions-and-answers. The first question? Why does a rubber ball bounce? The text (on page 4--each questions has two pages devoted to it) says: "When a rubber ball hits a hard surface it fattens the subber and squeezes the air inside the ball. Then the air inside tries to push the rubber back to its original position. The force of the air is what makes the ball bounce." There is other information on pages 4-5 regarding the question. Some more technical information for parents that they can share with their kids (also, making them seem like they know a lot!!). Different kinds of balls, including a basketball, football, rugby ball, volleyball, and soccer ball. Other questions that, I suspect, kids would find interesting: Why does a pinwheel turn? How does a water pistol shoot water (I love this one, since I was big into water pistols when I was a kid; my son liked the giant water rifles/cannons)? How does a copy machine work? How do thermometers tell us what a temperature is? How does a battery make electricity? How is a neon sign's color produced? How does a car engine work? How do brakes stop a train? The volume ends with somen active learning components, to engage kids (and maybe their parents). All in all, another useful entry in this series.

A Great Book For Curious Children!

Time Life's wonderful book "How Things Work" has many answers to satisfy the curiosity and stimulate the minds of inquiring children...and adults also. I bought this for a six year-old cousin and he is absolutely fascinated with it. The book is specifically for kids aged 4 to 8.Everyone knows that scissors cut. But what makes them cut? And what makes a battery work? Why do things appear backward in a mirror? Great color photographs, cartoons and diagrams explain and illustrate, in understandable and amusing terms, how the natural world works. The book includes notes to parents with detailed information for further discussion. There is also a question and answer section that allows young readers to test their knowledge or record their experiments - like making a pinwheel to understand windmills, or charging a plastic plate with static electricity.This is an excellent activity book for parents and children and reading it together is a wonderful way to spend quality time.JANA