Why?: The Best Ever Question and Answer Book About Nature, Science, and the World Around You [Hardcover]

Catherine Ripley (Author), Scot Ritchie (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Everyday activities such as taking a trip to the park, splashing in the bathtub, or fixing a snack prompt many questions from young children. Why is the sky blue? Why is soap so slippery? Why do cows moo? Curious kids want to know, and adults never seem to have the answers. Why? provides easily understood explanations of dozens of everyday mysteries. This delightful book takes readers to the supermarket and the park, around the home and onto the farm, and from bath time to bedtime. Bright, playful illustrations are a perfect complement to the text, adding a further level of explanation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Catherine Ripley quenches kids' thirst for knowledge in Why? The Best Ever Question and Answer Book About Nature, Science, and the World Around You illus. by Scot Ritchie. Under the category "Supermarket Questions" comes an explanation of why some eggs are brown and some white ("It depends on the type of chickens that laid them"). "Outdoor," "Bathtime" and "Farm Animal" questions sections are also included. Bright, cartoonish and often humorous illustrations help demonstrate the answers.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-What child hasn't wondered about how the fizz gets in soda, why the sky is blue, and innumerable other questions adults cannot always answer? Ripley responds to some of these everyday inquiries without patronizing readers or oversimplifying information. Six sections divide the queries into types: supermarket, nighttime, outdoor, kitchen, etc. Each category is introduced with a picture of a family doing something that might stimulate the questions addressed within the chapter. For example, they go to the fair, buy groceries, cook dinner, and engage in other activities to which most children will relate. The double-page spreads that follow feature a large-print question and its boxed answer superimposed over a colorful illustration. Cartoon drawings portray young, lively children of diverse ethnicities. While some of this material has appeared in Ripley's Why Is Soap So Slippery? (1995), Do the Doors Open by Magic? (1995), Why Do Stars Twinkle? (1996), and Why Do Cows Moo? (1998, all Owl), additional questions have been added and the pictures are new. A useful, interesting, and enjoyable read.

Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Maple Tree Press (August 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897066171
• ISBN-13: 978-1897066171
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, except not as complete (big)as I would have liked, November 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Why?: The best ever question and answer book about nature, science and the world around you (Questions and Answers Storybook) (Hardcover)

My 3 year old has already asked me many questions in this book,
so it hits the mark on being full of real questions that a real child would ask. The explanantions are short (about 1 paragraph)
and easy to understand - although I found the vocabulary sometimes a bit tough for my 3 year old. I often used simpler words while reading to her. I expect therefore that the rated age range beginning with 4 years is probably accurate from the point of view of understanding the explanations completely. The questions are arranged in groups such as "bathtime questions" and in a "story" order revolving around a child in that particular situation (ie. the child is getting a bath and is asking questions that start with "how does hot and cold water run out of the same tap" and ending with "why do my hands get all wrinkly after I've been in the bath a long time"). Each question and it's associated exaplanation and illustration cover a full two-page spread of the book. My only complaint is that the book does not actually contain as much detailed "science" content as I had hoped to find - since it is based on questions that children ask, not on concepts someone wanted to include purely for the sake of completeness. I would guess that 8 year olds might be left wanting more information that is given in the answers (which could be considered a good thing, spurning them on to further research). Certainly for the younger ages though, this is a great book. (More questions from the book: "Do the doors at the grocery store open by magic?" "Why do stars Twinkle?" "Why does it smell so good outside after it rains?" "Why do I have to use the toilet and where does it go when I flush?")

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars pleased, March 8, 2007

By 

Clark Miller (Calhoun, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Why?: The Best Ever Question and Answer Book About Nature, Science, and the World Around You (Hardcover)

I would have given 5 stars but it isn't what we expected,we thought it would be more like a textbook. However,our daughter just turned six and is learning to read- she really likes to read the questions so daddy can answer it- for this reason we appreciate the time together and she learns how to read in question format. I was a little surprised at how infomative it is while easy enough for our four year old son to comprehend. (he sits and listens too). We love the book and would buy again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, June 5, 2008

By 

V.A. "A reader in California" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Why?: The Best Ever Question and Answer Book About Nature, Science, and the World Around You (Hardcover)

My five and seven-yr old daughters both really enjoy this book. The younger one even took it to school for show-and-tell. It answers the most interesting questions, and does it with just the right amount of simplification. Highly recommended.