Quite handy for the right girl.
Girls seeking to spend time outdoors will find information, inspiration, and planning tips in this guide.
Part 1, “So, You Want To Go Outside,” begins with the big picture. A chapter on “Places Near and Far” lists national parks, natural wonders, and World Heritage Sites that might inspire long-term trip planning. Chapter 2 encourages readers to find group opportunities, with a list of useful organizations, and Chapter 3 describes various outdoor sports and activities. Part 2, “The Basics,” contains packing lists for day and overnight trips, instructions for setting up a comfortable campsite, recipes for snacks and camp meals, and “Girl Stuff” such as body care in the wild. Part 3 covers “Advanced Skills” like recognizing weather clues, map reading, safety, and nature observation. Throughout the book are instructions for related activities as well as profiles of women who pioneered various outdoor skills, with clean, full-page black-and-white illustrations. Girls new to the outdoors may find the deluge of information a bit overwhelming; with its simple layout, this isn’t the book to draw in girls who aren’t already interested in the topic. This guide is most useful as a reference book for girls who have access to the outdoors and some basic experience and want to take on more responsibility. A useful list of resources—websites and books—follows the text.
Quite handy for the right girl. (index) (Nonfiction. 9-14)Pub Date: April 23, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-63217-171-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Little Bigfoot/Sasquatch
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
Bardhan-Quallen’s latest collection (Last-Minute Science Fair Projects, 2006, etc.) includes 18 demonstrations and experiments. They range from simple cell observation to growing bacteria and fungi and using kitchen materials to demonstrate scientific principles, nicely graduated to encourage learning about experimental procedures and simple chemistry. Many experiments require the use of a simple microscope, and some call for bacterial culture plates, made at home with chicken broth and powdered agar. Adult supervision is suggested for cooking, cutting and handling strong chemicals and microwaved marshmallows. Clear step-by-step instructions call for readily available materials, include illustrations of the materials, equipment and some processes and usually fit on a single page. There are suggestions for extension activities. A "What's going on?" section explains potential results. These intriguing projects range from watching osmosis in action and testing plants for antibacterial properties to making a mummy from a fresh fish, dissolving eggshells and softening bones. Making ice cream demonstrates the phases of matter. Printed on glossy paper, this useful and interesting book will stand up to repeated handling in the kitchen lab. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 9-13)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4027-2413-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An intriguing collection of invention, engineering and scientific advances and potential developments for readers who like...
From Velcro fastenings to man-made marshes for wastewater processing, many modern innovations have sprung from observation and imitation of the natural world.
In topically organized double-page spreads, Lee describes shapes and structures, materials and designs, as well as systems for exploration, communication, rescue and delivery. Each spread offers a general introduction to its subject, set on a painted background, usually a natural scene. The canvas base of these acrylic paintings provides an interesting texture. Three or four specific examples, each with illustrative vignettes, follow or sometimes precede the general explanation. These topics range widely and include medical marvels, new power sources, biological computers and robots. Although this has the shape and look of a picture book, the relatively extensive text is clearly aimed at upper-elementary-school readers. It offers fewer specific examples than Phil Gates’ Nature Got There First (2010), but its explanations are clearer and it includes a strong ecological message: The most important natural model is the sustainable ecosystem. Through biomimicry, humans can learn to live in balance on the Earth as well. The author provides no sources or suggestions for further exploration, though her short descriptions are sure to lead readers to want to know more.
An intriguing collection of invention, engineering and scientific advances and potential developments for readers who like to know a little bit about a lot of things. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-55453-467-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: July 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2011
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
