What Are Light Waves? (Light & Sound Waves Close-Up). Robin Johnson. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2014. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-0523-9 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-0519-2 (RLB.), ISBN 978-1-4271-9012-3 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-9008-6 (html). Subject Headings: Light-Wave length-Juvenile literature. Wave theory of light-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Daphne Hamilton Nagorsen. *** /4
	What Are Shadows and Reflections? (Light & Sound Waves Close-Up). Robin Johnson. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2014. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-0525-3 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-0521-5 (RLB.), ISBN 978-1-4271-9014-7 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-9010-9 (html). Subject Headings: Light-Juvenile literature. Reflection (Optics)-Juvenile literature. Shades and shadows-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Daphne Hamilton Nagorsen. *** /4
	What Are Sound Waves? (Light & Sound Waves Close-Up). Robin Johnson. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2014. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-0526-0 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-0522-2 (RLB.), ISBN 978-1-4271-9015-4 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-9011-6 (html). Subject Heading: Sound-waves-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Daphne Hamilton Nagorsen. *** /4
	How Does Sound Change? (Light & Sound Waves Close-Up). Robin Johnson. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2014. 24 pp., pbk., hc., pdf & html, $8.95 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-0524-6 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-0520-8 (RLB.), ISBN 978-1-4271-9013-0 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4271-9009-3 (html). Subject Headings: Sound-waves-Juvenile literature. Sound-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-3 / Ages 7-8. Review by Daphne Hamilton Nagorsen. *** /4

excerpt:

A mirror reflects your smiling face! It can also be used to change the path of light. When a beam of light hits the shiny surface of a mirror, the light reflects off it. When you move the mirror, it changes the direction in which the light beam travels. (From What Are Shadows and Reflections?)

The “Light & Sound Waves Close up” series has four books designed to introduce light and sound to younger readers. Each book presents one topic in simple and well written text that clearly explains the concepts and ideas. The titles clearly identify the topic of each book (light waves, shadows and reflections, sound waves, how sound waves change).

     The books all have good illustrations that help to demonstrate the concepts presented. The presentation is further enhanced by “What do you think?” boxes that ask readers to apply the concepts to their life. The questions are very easy to understand but will get readers involved with, and thinking about, the ideas being presented. An example is a question that asks readers to name loud sounds and soft sounds, and then asks readers to think about why different sounds have different volumes. In addition to the “What do you think?” boxes, there is an easy project at the end of each book that applies the concepts learned in the book. Each project has a related “What do you think?” box that takes the concept further.

     At the end of each book is an excellent resources page, with both a good selection of age appropriate books and several websites listed. The books each have an index, which is short, but contains the main ideas that readers will look for. Above the index is an excellent glossary which defines words that have been bolded throughout the book. Each definition states how to pronounce the word and whether the word is a noun, a verb, or an adjective. At the bottom, the glossary has a box which defines ‘noun’, ‘verb’ and ‘adjective’. This will be very useful for young readers who are still learning grammatical terminology.

     Presenting complex science concepts to young readers can be difficult, but Robin Johnson has succeeded with the “Light & Sound Waves Close up” series. These well written books provide a good introduction to light and sound waves to young readers and will be an excellent resource to encourage young readers to learn more about the world around them.

Recommended

Daphne Hamilton Nagorsen is a graduate of the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

 

CM Home | Next Review | (Table of Contents for This Issue - March 6, 2015.) | Back Issues | Search | CM Archive | Profiles Archive

Updated: October 17, 2014 (hsd)