What Makes Popcorn Pop?: And Other Questions About the World Around Us [Paperback]

Jack Myers (Editor)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Questions and answers explore the scientific aspects of the world around us.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Colorful, cartoon-style illustrations dominate the pages of this entertaining book of miscellaneous food facts. Each two-page spread answers a question: Why do bananas have peels?, How are potato chips made?, Why does Swiss cheese have holes?, Can I still eat an apple that turns brown?, etc. Food production and storage are touched upon, although nutrition and proper diet are not. The information is concise and clear, but visual appeal is the volume's strong point. This is a livelier presentation than Ruth Belov Gross's What's on My Plate? (Macmillan, 1990), which answers similar questions in a similar format. Dorothy Hinshaw Patent's Where Food Comes From (Holiday, 1991) offers greater depth of information and a straightforward approach for slightly older readers. Ken Robbins's Make Me a Peanut Butter Sandwich and a Glass of Milk (Scholastic, 1992) presents the production of peanut butter, bread, and milk with large full-color photos. And for those needing greater depth of information on popcorn, there's always Tomie dePaola's delightful The Popcorn Book (Holiday, 1978).
Joyce Adams Burner, formerly at Spring Hill Middle School, KS
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Pr (August 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563974029
• ISBN-13: 978-1563974021
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #704,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help for Children and Adults Who Want to Know More!, July 25, 2000

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: What Makes Popcorn Pop?: And Other Questions About the World Around Us (Paperback)

The best way to engage anyone's interest is to connect information to something that has attracted their attention. In this enjoyable book, Highlights for Children Science Editor, Jack Myers, takes on children's questions about the everyday world around us. Each question and answer take a half to a full page, and are accompanied by lively drawings to improve the reader's interest.

Unless you are a scientist, you're bound to pick up some useful information here. In my case, I didn't know that while aluminum oxidizes it forms a protective coating that stops the oxidation from continuing.

It's challenging to know how technical or how simple to make the answers. For the most part, Myers created a very nice balance.

Here are some of my favorite questions from the book:

"What makes popcorn pop?"

"Since salt is not hot, how does it melt ice and snow?"

"If heat makes things expand and cold makes them contract, why does water expand when you freeze it?"

"If we have two eyes, how come we don't see double?"

"I pushed my finger into a soap bubble but it didn't pop. Why not?"

"How come if you go into the bathroom to sing it sounds better than when you are in the bedroom or anywhere else?"

"If the world is round, wouldn't the people in the southern part be upside down?"

"I've always wondered how the shape of a rainbow is formed."

One of the strengths of this book is that a child can find out an answer for her- or himself, or they can seek out an adult for more explanation. Now with the Internet, either one can go on and find out even more. Having uncovered how much there is to know, it is likely that many will develop a greater interest in science. I wish science were taught this way in schools. Also, a child with a limited imagination may find these questions helpful in stimulating new thoughts.

Overcome your disbelief stalls and the misconception stalls of your children with this helpful book. Discover the irresistible appeal of imaginative questions and their fascinating answers!

Donald Mitchell

Coauthor of The Irresistible Growth Enterprise...