Let's Try It Out with Towers and Bridges : Hands-On Early-Learning Activities [Hardcover]

Seymour Simon (Author), Nicole Fauteux (Author), Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Let's Try It Out Series

What keeps trees from falling over?
How do skyscrapers stand so tall?
What makes a bridge strong?

Let's try it out!

Let's Try It Out with Towers and Bridges contains fun-filled activities that encourage young children to use familiar and safe objects found in their homes or classrooms to make observations about how things work. Whether building a sturdy tower of blocks, creating a solid foundation with clay, or making a paper bridge span short and long distances without falling down, children will have fun while they begin to learn important and basic science concepts.

In this innovative series for young children, acclaimed science writer Seymour Simon and Nicole Fauteux encourage children to explore the world around them as they play. Each book contains tips for parents and caregivers on how to create positive learning experiences for even the littlest of scientists.

Charming and lively illustrations by New York Times best-selling illustrator Doug Cushman ensure that the LET'S TRY IT OUT series is as much fun to look at as it is to try out!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. From the series that began with Let's Try It Out in the Air (2001) and Let's Try It Out in the Water (2001), this cheerful picture book encourages children to learn some basic principles of science and engineering through play. The short introductory note to parents, child-care providers, and teachers lists the concepts to be explored and required materials, such as modeling clay, building blocks, corrugated cardboard, tape, and plastic drinking straws. Lively illustrations in pen-and-ink, watercolor, and gouache show children experimenting with those building materials and having fun, an element that will encourage youngsters to try out the activities suggested in the simply written text. The closing page addresses adults again with practical suggestions for allowing children to discover the principles for themselves, even if they sometimes make mistakes. Not every child is headed for a career in civil engineering, but plenty of kids will enjoy the activities and, along the way, learn something about what makes buildings and bridges strong. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Award-winning author Seymour Simon has written more than two hundred science and nature books for children. He was inspired to collaborate on this series with his daughter-in-law, Nicole Fauteux, when she began searching for books that could provide hands-on activities to satisfy the curiosity of her oldest son, Seymour's grandson. He lives with his wife in New York State.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068982923X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689829239
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #571,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association). His free, educational children's app, SCIENCE FUN TO GO, debuted in the Top 10 of all free children's apps in the Amazon App store, and features in app purchase of original Seymour Simon eBooks, as well as a multitude of free content.

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York. You can follow his daily nature walks and see his photographs from the field on Twitter (@seymoursimon) or on his Facebook group page. He also regularly hosts Q&As and sponsors book giveaways on GoodReads.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Science, February 20, 2008

By 

Sri's Mom (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let's Try It Out with Towers and Bridges : Hands-On Early-Learning Activities (Hardcover)

If you are looking for Science Series Books for kids, I would definitely recommend Let's Try It Out with Towers and Bridges. The concepts are explained using simple experiments. Anyone can do them at home using carboard boxes/blocks, plastic straws, some paper and play dough.

Now I understand why a corrugated cardboard is designed the way it is.