'Bell and the Science of the Telephone' written by Brian Williams and uniquely illustrated by David Antram, makes a concept as complex as the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell, interesting and understandable. This book is one in the series called 'The Explosion Zone' which highlights an important scientist along with his/her discovery. This series of books takes major advancements in science or chemistry and explains them in a unique and lively style. It provides the reader with a clear and sequential understanding of a scientific principal and how the science evolved. This is an excellent book and series for the budding scientist.

Similar authors: Brian Williams

Similar books: Curie and the Science of Radioactivity by Ian Graham; Faraday, Pioneer of Electricity by Brian Williams; Los hermanos Wright y la ciencia de la aviacion by Ian Graham

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/3/2010

ISBN-10: 0764159720

ISBN-13: 9780764159725

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Bessie Coleman was born in Texas in the late 1800's. As a member of a big African-American family, she had to pick cotton which she really disliked a lot. Bessie did many daring things during her life which began in her childhood. She loved math and would dare to speak to the white overseer when he would try to cheat her family of the money they were due at the end of a day of picking cotton. Learning how to fly was her main ambition as an adult. Being a woman and an African-American in the United States kept her from her dream. She went to France where she was treated as an equal and learned to fly. Bessie wanted to open a flying school for women, but needed money. She performed many stunt flying shows to earn the money. She died in a tragic air crash in Florida before she opened her school.

Reviewed by: cj

Date read: 2/8/2010

ISBN-10: 0876149190

ISBN-13: 9780876149195

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Nat Love was born in 1854 as a slave. After the Civil War ended, he worked hard to help support his family. After he won a contest for breaking horses, he decided to head out west and try to make his way on his own. Nat became a cowboy, and was so skilled at roping steer and shooting a gun that he won the Great Cowboy Games in Deadwood, South Dakota. After that, he was known as Deadwood Dick. Nat spent twenty years risking his life out in the west, facing torrential storms, stampeding buffalo, and vicious gunfights with bandits and various Indian tribes. This graphic novel is based on Nat Love's autobiography and the dramatic and colorful artwork skillfully reveals the exciting and dangerous events in his life. Nat Love was one of the few African American cowboys to gain notoriety, and this book does a great job of telling his story.

Similar books: Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes; Saloons, Shootouts, and Spurs: The Wild West in the 1800s by Kenneth McIntosh

Reviewed by: lauraf

Date read: 9/28/2012

ISBN-10: 0811857492

ISBN-13: 9780811857499

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Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster grew up during the Depression reading about their heroes Flash Gordon and Tarzan. Jerry also wrote stories of his own, and Joe loved to draw. Comic books were new back then, and they wanted to write and illustrate their own. When they were 24, they created the first and best superhero of all time.

Awards nominated: Bluestem Award 2011

Reviewed by: donna

Date read: 6/7/2010

ISBN-10: 0375938028

ISBN-13: 9780375938023

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Bright Path: Young Jim Thorpe by Don Brown is a picture book biography of, 'the greatest athlete in the world,' Jim Thorpe. Born in Oklahoma in 1888, Jim's real name was Wa-tho-huck meaning Bright Path. Each day, he worked hard tending the crops, feeding the livestock, and taming wild horses. He loved his life until he was sent away to a school that taught Indian children how to live in the white man's world. Jim hated being kept in a schoolroom instead of being able to run free in the open fields. Many times, Jim would run away only to be caught and brought right back to school. One day, Jim Thorpe's life changed dramatically. After watching many of the school athletes fail at making a high jump, he asked to try. Jim cleared the bar with room to spare. With the help of his school coach, Jim joined the school team and learned to play different types of sports. This eventually earned him a spot in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. At the Olympics, Jim Thorpe won the decathlon event and set a world's record that wasn't broken for 16 years. Read this amazing story of how Thorpe's life started down a rocky path but eventually led him to greatness.

Similar authors: Ron Knapp; Jack Kavanagh: Glen Macnow; George Sullivan

Similar books: Thorpe!: The Sports Career of James Thorpe by James Hahn; Jim Thorpe: Orginal All-American by Joseph Bruchac; Jim Thorpe's Bright Path by Joseph Bruchac; Sports Great by Nolan Ryan; Great Lives: Sports by George Sullivan

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/12/2010

ISBN-10: 1596430419

ISBN-13: 9781596430419

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