Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Projects for Kids, a new book from Storey Publishing by Michael J. Caduto, will catch your eye if you are interested in hands-on projects covering environmental and science topics. You will be surprised, however, to find it is also chock full of history, current events, and even a few jokes, as well.
Renewable energy is currently a hot topic and this book is definitely a well-rounded overview, exploring from many different angles. The activities range from relatively fast and straightforward, to those requiring more time and skill.
The illustrations, running the gamut from color photographs to cartoons, clearly show how to complete each project and are very child-friendly.
The activities are original and the book has a great deal of depth compared to many other hands-on science books. Depending on your outlook on renewable energy and environmental issues, however, some people might find parts of the text a bit heavy handed, especially for a book targeted for young children. Personally, I found the addition of jokes and cartoons were a nice counter balance to the more serious aspects of the book.
The book trailer will give you a better idea what it is all about:
You may also see an extensive excerpt of the book at Google Books:
Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Projects for Kids might be just the ticket to get children excited about renewable energy. Who knows where it may lead them in the future.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this book.
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (April 30, 2011)
ISBN-10: 9781603427944
ISBN-13: 978-1603427944
Be sure to look for more information about children’s books at today’s Book Talk Tuesday.
Book provided for review electronically at NetGalley.