How Loud Can You Burp?: More Extremely Important Questions (and Answers)
Grade 5–9—"Why does pollen give you hay fever?" "Why don't big metal ships just sink?" These are but a couple of the questions that Murphy received on the Web site he set up to solicit inquiries from kids. Written in an informal, question-and-answer format, he delivers serious scientific information in an easygoing, humorous manner, with several pages dedicated to each topic. Questions, both quirky and straightforward, are organized into general categories with clever chapter headings such as "Science of Me" (the human body), "Climate Chaos" (global warming), "On the Move" (transportation), and "Brain Teasers" (the brain and how it functions). A few line drawings break up the text and sidebars highlight interesting facts or are, at times, simply funny. Sources for information are not included. Nevertheless, this is an entertaining, accessible approach to science that's sure to appeal to science buffs and general browsers alike.—Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NYEND