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Friday, September 10, 2021

Book review: 'The Coolest Stuff on Earth: A Closer Look at the Weird, Wild, and Wonderful' is a science trivia treasure

When I was a kid, I didn't like science. But the more I review these books from National Geographic, the more I'm convinced that I would have loved science, if I'd had these kinds of books in my home. The Coolest Stuff on Earth: A Closer Look at the Weird, Wild, and Wonderful, lives up to its name. This book is full of all things science and they're unique and amazing. 

Image from Amazon
This large volume is divided into nine chapters and each hits a different science topic. Readers will learn about animals, history, the planet, man-made objects, and the science behind them. 

Image from Amazon
I particularly enjoyed chapter 2, which focuses on the science of travel. This chapter talks about museums throughout the world, like the toilet museum in India and the more difficult to reach underwater museum in Mexico. The migration of the monarch butterflies, how high the draco lizard can fly, and the current quest to live on Mars are also highlighted. As always, the photographs really help readers understand and embrace what they're reading about.

Image from Amazon
When I at first saw that chapter 8 was dedicated to money, I questioned how editor Brenda Scott Royce would tie currency into science. But she did! This chapter talks about how much people spend on their pets, priceless ancient artifacts, and explains the intricacies of printing money. 

Image from Amazon
While The Coolest Stuff on Earth doesn't give a lot of detail about any of the subjects it focuses on, it is a fun book of trivia that doesn't need to be read in any particular order and can be picked up and put down at any time. I feel like this volume can also be a good one to help teach kids how science touches them every day and teach them that learning about the things around them can be fun and easy. 

This is a clean book with nothing offensive in it.

Image from Amazon


Book Breakdown:

192 pages with amazing full-color photography

Best for ages: 8-adult

Educational factor: Medium

Moral content: This secular book doesn't touch on morals at all

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