Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science

Gr 6-9--Nye's middle grade science text covers a wide range of topics, including the human body, zoology, botany, evolution, laws of motion and thermodynamics, plate tectonics, and the solar system. Nye and coauthor Mone provide clear explanations and a springboard for further exploration. Photographs of Nye, colorful diagrams and graphics, and accessible and humorous language work in harmony to create an appealing and highly informative work. The inclusion of brief biographies (astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell and cartographer Marie Tharp), pop culture references (scrawny Steve Rogers's transformation into Captain America is described in the discussion of muscle development), and quick home experiments (use salt and food coloring to learn about water density and ocean currents) add additional layers of investigation. Pages are devoted to examining climate change and other forms of human impact as well as debunking common myths used by science deniers. Readers are empowered to explore and question the world around them. VERDICT A timely and eco-conscious children's science book. Combine the effervescent and enduring appeal of Bill Nye with solid science and the result is a winner.--Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State Univ., OH