SCIENCE PROJECTS: 3; SCIENCE PROJECTS: 4

These two belong to a series by W. E. Moore that attempts to grade place appropriate science activities and readings about plants and animals. Although the activities are eminently appropriate for the grade levels suggested (3--5 and 4--6 respectively), the readings are sometimes optimistically placed in the lower range of the grades. Teachers and mothers will have to help. The basic arrangement for each topic is to provide information, pose questions, suggest ways to find answers, and spur readers to develop the questions and answers into full-fledged science projects. The success varies greatly from topic to topic (e.g. under ""Finding Answers to Your Questions,"" would you believe answer # ""Ask your parents and friends""). But the basic notion of helping children to organize their explorations and, more importantly, to lead them further than the superficial answer, is sound. Nevertheless, the tremendously varying caliber of the work makes it difficult to recommend.