Stephen Biesty's Incredible Explosions: Exploded Views of Astonishing Things [Hardcover]

Richard Platt (Author), Stephen Biesty (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Twelve novel subjects--including the Grand Canyon and a city block--are presented from different points of view, in exploded illustrations, in detailed cross-sections, and even turned inside out, all complete with intriguing anecdotes.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Don't let the title mislead you--this book isn't about things that blow up like volcanoes or chemistry experiments gone awry. Instead, illustrator Stephen Biesty and author Richard Platt (Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Castle, Stephen Beisty's Incredible Body) have once again blown the cover off places as big as Venice and as off-limits as a Space Station so that young ones can see what's inside. This talented duo knows exactly what interests children. For example, at the Space Station young readers get to see cool stuff like cockpit controls and the module where space experiments are performed, as well as gross stuff like what happens to an astronaut with space sickness. Looking inside a movie studio, kids can peek at the makeup and hairstyling rooms (where glamour gals and demon monsters come to life) as well as an ocean liner in a huge water tank that's being attacked by a remote-control giant squid. With so much of the big world remaining hidden or inaccessible to children, fact-filled books such as these are instantly fascinating, fun, and even (sneakily) educational. (Ages 7 and older) --Gail Hudson

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7?Fascinating bits and pieces of information supplied by text and cutaway illustrations on every page make this book a browser's delight. Subjects range from a 19th-century steam tractor to an Antarctica base to a futuristic space station to the inner workings of a windmill. Some of the pictures are almost breathtaking in their detail and beauty. Especially notable is the fold-out spread of a city, which goes all the way down to the formation of the earth at the bottom. Some of the illustrations, such as the view of Venice or the "exploded" human body, are so packed with detail that they are almost overwhelming. An extremely minor complaint: the text of the double-page spread on London's Tower Bridge explains the hydraulic system that was used to lift it, but doesn't explain that this system is no longer in use. Otherwise, the book lives up to its "incredible" billing.?Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN; 1st American ed edition (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789410249
• ISBN-13: 978-0789410245
• Product Dimensions: 13.9 x 10.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing educational tool, August 8, 2007

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Stephen Biesty's Incredible Explosions: Exploded Views of Astonishing Things (Hardcover)

This book is an amazing educational tool. Biesty has created some incredibly detailed diagrams of machines, living creatures and structures. The word explosion in the diagram refers to the structure of the diagrams. Each one is an expansion of the object, showing all of the major pieces separately with lines directing you back to its' location in the object. It is as if the object exploded out with all the components intact. The objects deconstructed are:

*) A steam tractor
*) Fire in an urban high-rise building
*) The international space station
*) An airport
*) A windmill
*) A cross-section of a city which starts with the Big Bang and progresses to a modern city
*) A base in the Antarctic
*) A movie studio
*) Venice, Italy
*) A tower bridge
*) The human body
*) The Grand Canyon

If you have ever wondered how any of these objects are constructed, then this book is the primary reference you should consult.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exploding heads, September 9, 2005

By 

Monika Plume (Cincinnati OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stephen Biesty's Incredible Explosions: Exploded Views of Astonishing Things (Hardcover)

Wow! Did you know that was what was inside things? I didn't but now I do! And so do my kids. This was a gift for my 4 year old boy and he loves it.