IT'S FUN TO KNOW WHY

This happy combination of fact and experiment should find a cordial welcome with children and teachers alike. Dealing with the science of everyday materials -- paper, cloth, glass, bread and dozens of others -- this book is anything but everyday in its freshness of approach and soundness of organization. Each substance is introduced with a bit of historical information, followed by directions for several safe, clearly illustrated experiments that highlight the substance's characteristic properties and uses. There isn't a rocket ship or uranium atom in the entire book, yet we'll wager that youngsters of nine will find it as absorbing as any piece of science fiction and lots more informative.