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The Greatest Stuff on Earth: The Amazing Science of Sunlight, Smartphones, Microphones, Mushrooms & Everything In-Between
The amazing science of sunlight, smartphones, microphones, mushrooms and everything in-between
Have you ever stopped to think about all the stuff you encounter every day? There’s the stuff you breathe, the stuff you eat, the stuff you wear, the stuff you read, the stuff you walk on, the stuff you ride in, the stuff your body is made of… plus water, trees, sunlight, soap, electricity, vaccines, smartphones, and so much more. In The Greatest Stuff on Earth, Steve Tomecek and John Devolle show us how this stuff works, including the miracle of transforming energy into matter and matter into energy.
With contagiously enthusiastic and chatty explanatory text; fast facts; and clever, stylish and sometimes funny photos, illustrations, and diagrams, this fantastically browse-able book offers hundreds of entry points for knowledge-hungry kids.
Have you ever stopped to think about all the stuff you encounter every day? There’s the stuff you breathe, the stuff you eat, the stuff you wear, the stuff you read, the stuff you walk on, the stuff you ride in, the stuff your body is made of… plus water, trees, sunlight, soap, electricity, vaccines, smartphones, and so much more. In The Greatest Stuff on Earth, Steve Tomecek and John Devolle show us how this stuff works, including the miracle of transforming energy into matter and matter into energy.
With contagiously enthusiastic and chatty explanatory text; fast facts; and clever, stylish and sometimes funny photos, illustrations, and diagrams, this fantastically browse-able book offers hundreds of entry points for knowledge-hungry kids.
- GenresChildrens
128 pages, Hardcover
Published March 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 12, 2025
Starting with atoms, molecules, and energy, this book explains where all the "stuff" in the universe comes from and then takes us through various common objects and tells how they are made and what materials they are made of. We learn about paper, food, DNA, magnets, light waves, dirt, ovens, fabrics, and building materials like concrete.
It bothers me that this book talks about the Big Bang Theory, but never says that it's a theory. It states the theory as if it were fact. How can I trust a scientific book, if they don't clearly state what is fact and what is theory? Seems like very sloppy writing and it's misleading.
It seems like a lot of the information in this book doesn't have very solid scientific research as proof. Things like climate change, the theory of evolution, and solar and wind energy are not sufficiently explained to support the conclusions in this book. I'm disappointed in the lack of proper information.
To see details of the way this book talks about the Big Bang Theory, the theory of evolution, climate change, and "clean" energy, you can check it out on the Screen It First website. https://screenitfirst.com/book/the-gr...
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
It bothers me that this book talks about the Big Bang Theory, but never says that it's a theory. It states the theory as if it were fact. How can I trust a scientific book, if they don't clearly state what is fact and what is theory? Seems like very sloppy writing and it's misleading.
It seems like a lot of the information in this book doesn't have very solid scientific research as proof. Things like climate change, the theory of evolution, and solar and wind energy are not sufficiently explained to support the conclusions in this book. I'm disappointed in the lack of proper information.
To see details of the way this book talks about the Big Bang Theory, the theory of evolution, climate change, and "clean" energy, you can check it out on the Screen It First website. https://screenitfirst.com/book/the-gr...
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
November 28, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Steve Tomecek’s The Greatest Stuff on Earth is a delightful and enlightening journey through the everyday wonders that make up our world. Aimed at middle-grade readers, this book is a treasure trove of fascinating facts and engaging explanations that will captivate young minds and spark a lifelong interest in science.
The book covers a wide array of topics, from the fundamental building blocks of matter like atoms and elements to the more complex systems such as smartphones and ecosystems. Tomecek takes readers on a tour of the natural and technological marvels that surround us, explaining how sunlight powers life on Earth, how microphones capture sound, and even how mushrooms contribute to the environment.
Tomecek’s writing is both accessible and engaging, making complex scientific concepts easy to understand without ever talking down to his audience. His enthusiasm for the subject matter is infectious, and his ability to explain intricate details in a clear and entertaining way is one of the book’s greatest strengths.
Tomecek encourages readers to look at the world around them with a sense of wonder and to ask questions about how things work.
This book is an excellent resource for young readers who are eager to learn more about science. It covers a broad range of topics in a way that is both comprehensive and easy to digest.
The Greatest Stuff on Earth is a must-read for curious kids and a fantastic addition to any young reader’s bookshelf. Steve Tomecek has created a book that is not only informative but also incredibly fun to read. Whether you’re a budding scientist or just someone who loves to learn new things, this book will leave you with a greater appreciation for the amazing world we live in.
Steve Tomecek’s The Greatest Stuff on Earth is a delightful and enlightening journey through the everyday wonders that make up our world. Aimed at middle-grade readers, this book is a treasure trove of fascinating facts and engaging explanations that will captivate young minds and spark a lifelong interest in science.
The book covers a wide array of topics, from the fundamental building blocks of matter like atoms and elements to the more complex systems such as smartphones and ecosystems. Tomecek takes readers on a tour of the natural and technological marvels that surround us, explaining how sunlight powers life on Earth, how microphones capture sound, and even how mushrooms contribute to the environment.
Tomecek’s writing is both accessible and engaging, making complex scientific concepts easy to understand without ever talking down to his audience. His enthusiasm for the subject matter is infectious, and his ability to explain intricate details in a clear and entertaining way is one of the book’s greatest strengths.
Tomecek encourages readers to look at the world around them with a sense of wonder and to ask questions about how things work.
This book is an excellent resource for young readers who are eager to learn more about science. It covers a broad range of topics in a way that is both comprehensive and easy to digest.
The Greatest Stuff on Earth is a must-read for curious kids and a fantastic addition to any young reader’s bookshelf. Steve Tomecek has created a book that is not only informative but also incredibly fun to read. Whether you’re a budding scientist or just someone who loves to learn new things, this book will leave you with a greater appreciation for the amazing world we live in.
February 7, 2025
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Do you have a young reader who is constantly asking "Why"? This is a great book to hand to such an inquiring mind, since it covers a lot of "stuff" in a way that is both amusing and informative.
Starting with the building blocks of "stuff", atoms and elements, this book lays out how variety of matter and energy comes to be. I know that our sixth grade science classes talk a little about different kinds of energy, so seeing a graphic about radiant, thermal, motion, etc. types of energy, along with explanations about the differences, will be a great support for young learners. The chapters on "Nature Stuff" cover things like dirt, air, and water, but also magnets and stars.
The list of "stuff" that is made by humans starts with food, which is always appealing to kids. How many people think about if they are eating seeds, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or fruit when they look at their daily fruits and vegetables? Not only does this talk about nutrients, but also about the different ways that food can be cooked. There are also overviews of materials that make up different things like clothing and paper, and an interesting exploration of health concerns like disinfectants, pain killers, and replacement body parts.
There's a great 1980s vibe to this book, with a font reminiscent of old dot matrix print, and purple, teal, coral backgrounds that make the words really pop. There's a helpful index in the back, and I found the tables of contents to be particulary helpful.
Readers who enjoy "how stuff works" books like the National Geographic 5,000 Awesome Facts, Edge's Quantum! The Strange Science of the Smallest Stuff in the Universe, or Davidson and Smith's Epic FACTopia!: Follow the trail of 400 extreme facts will be enthralled with this look at the nitty gritty of the things that make up our universe.
Do you have a young reader who is constantly asking "Why"? This is a great book to hand to such an inquiring mind, since it covers a lot of "stuff" in a way that is both amusing and informative.
Starting with the building blocks of "stuff", atoms and elements, this book lays out how variety of matter and energy comes to be. I know that our sixth grade science classes talk a little about different kinds of energy, so seeing a graphic about radiant, thermal, motion, etc. types of energy, along with explanations about the differences, will be a great support for young learners. The chapters on "Nature Stuff" cover things like dirt, air, and water, but also magnets and stars.
The list of "stuff" that is made by humans starts with food, which is always appealing to kids. How many people think about if they are eating seeds, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or fruit when they look at their daily fruits and vegetables? Not only does this talk about nutrients, but also about the different ways that food can be cooked. There are also overviews of materials that make up different things like clothing and paper, and an interesting exploration of health concerns like disinfectants, pain killers, and replacement body parts.
There's a great 1980s vibe to this book, with a font reminiscent of old dot matrix print, and purple, teal, coral backgrounds that make the words really pop. There's a helpful index in the back, and I found the tables of contents to be particulary helpful.
Readers who enjoy "how stuff works" books like the National Geographic 5,000 Awesome Facts, Edge's Quantum! The Strange Science of the Smallest Stuff in the Universe, or Davidson and Smith's Epic FACTopia!: Follow the trail of 400 extreme facts will be enthralled with this look at the nitty gritty of the things that make up our universe.
January 12, 2025
In this chatty and appealing compendium, popular author and geologist Steve Tomeck presents a compressed story of all the stuff on Earth in 115 pages. He starts with the basics (everything is either matter or energy) and then progresses through “Nature Stuff”, including rocks, dirt, water, air, and life. Then it’s on to “Stuff Humans Make and Use”, which covers (my incomplete list) food, fuel, paper, disinfectants, and various machines. A chapter on clothes, for example, opens with background about their history and why we need them before showing us (with clear photos) more about linen, cotton, wool, and silk. The book looks great and the short sections make for a breezy reading experience. Color-coded bars on the right hand edge help locate where we are in the narrative, while the plentiful, coordinated graphics and diagrams provide visual support for Tomacek's easy-to-understand explanations. Readers will see people of various ages, body types, skin colors, and ethnicities using stuff, all over the world and across human history. A short concluding chapter illuminates the problems with so much stuff (garbage, nuclear waste, climate change, etc.). Backmatter includes a glossary, selected sources, and an index. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
March 16, 2025
This book is peddled as full of scientific fact but is in fact a mix of facts and opinions. Some of the facts are also only one half of the fact, which could result in a certain view of things if that was all you knew of what was being discussed. The book starts with an explanation of matter and energy, how nothing is gone, it turns into something else, and you can not create something from nothing it was always something else before. Then there is a whole page about how our universe came from nothing, my son found this rather contradictory. There is a whole page on c*vid, climate change is a main theme, alternative energy is heavily pushed. There are also n ked cartoon characters, nothing is shown and they are vague in the depiction but I am still puzzled as to why they are n ked in a book geared for kids.
I did really enjoy the writting style and how the information was presented. I found the information informative and engaging, the facts that were facts anyway.
I recived this book from the publisher. My opinions, as always, are my own.
I did really enjoy the writting style and how the information was presented. I found the information informative and engaging, the facts that were facts anyway.
I recived this book from the publisher. My opinions, as always, are my own.
April 6, 2025
The Greatest Stuff On Earth by @johndevolle is a mind-blowing, educational, captivating, and enlightening read! This book has so many fun facts! It highlights the science behind various things old and new. I love that this book overviews basic science, highlights the power of nature, and features various things humans have made/used. It is truly an epic nonfiction read!
November 30, 2025
Give little ones access to information about all the greatest stuff on earth from atoms to electricity, stars to food preservation, nutrients to germ fighters. Delightfully engaging graphics feel nostalgic and fresh with bold pops of color in all their pixelated splendor.
October 11, 2025
Good information!
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December 19, 2025Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews