My non fiction topics for this challenge are in themselves a challenge, but as luck would have it my local library had this standing out on what of the shelves. I'll be honest, having picked it only yesterday I looked at it as an easy read. Something I could get through quickly. I got a bit more than a bargained for as it was a lot more wordy than I first thought it would be.
This book quite simply attempts to answer some of the scientific questions that children from time to time might ask. Questions such as 'why are there holes in parachutes?' and 'what time is it at the north pole?' and my personal favourite 'why is poo brown and pee yellow?' I'm not sure I wanted to know the answer to that one but I do know it now!
Each question and answer takes up an a4 spread (so two joined a4 pages) allowing for a nice background illustration. The facts and information are boxed up neatly to allow you to read snippets that you choose rather than having to read an entire answer at once. Did you know for instance that the dead outnumber the living ten to one???
The questions are grouped into 6 strands which cover things like plants and animals, the earth and space, movement, human biology etc. The sections are clearly set out and the contents page lists every question just in case you wanted to look for a particular one.
The illustrations in it are beautiful and the text, whilst quite heavy doesn't tax you to the point where you feel you're being lectured which is great. It has 122 pages with a lovely detailed glossary at the very back. It's not one for young children, it might simply be too much for them. Instead I'd suggest it would be better suited to children above the age of 8, maybe those who are already showing a keen interest in the sciences.
I'd highly recommend this for anyone with a thirst for general scientific knowledge. A quick and relatively easy read and book number 28 of my list. My book about science.
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