The Science Book for Girls: and Other Intelligent Beings

by Valerie Wyatt, Pat Cupples (Illustrator), Pat Cuppies (Illustrator)

Studies show that many girls' interest in science falls off during the preteen years. In an effort to keep girls tuned in to science, this book demonstrates that science is fun --- and that it is for girls.

In this title in the Books for Girls series, lively text and illustrations help kids investigate what makes their toast turn brown in the morning and why their stomachs rumble. They'll find out how to collect and compare snowflakes, discover how genetics relates to family traits and much more. With brain teasers, puzzles and experiments in astronomy, physics, zoology, botany, geology and chemistry, The Science Book for Girls will help build science skills and confidence, as well as introduce readers to women who have exciting careers in science.

With a distinctly female slant, this stimulating book gives girls a positive and non-threatening look at science and science careers --- although there's nothing stopping ?other intelligent beings? from taking a peek, too!

80 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1993

About the author

Valerie Wyatt is an award-winning editor and author of more than 14 non-fiction books, many of them about science. She also writes on historical topics. Asked if she has a favorite book, she says it’s always the one she’s just finished.

She began her career at OWL magazine in 1978. It was her job to answer readers’ questions. Kids would write in and ask, Do fish sleep? or Why can’t you sneeze with your eyes open? To track down the answers, she would interview scientists. From there she branched out into books.

She is also a children’s book editor and has edited more than a hundred children’s books. In 2004 she received the Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence.

She loves writing and editing for children because it’s not just about words. “You have to think about the photographs and illustrations as well and make sure they fit together,” she says. “It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.”

She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her husband and dog, MacPherson MacDonald.

Reviews

[Elfdart · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is directed towards girls aged… maybe 6-10 and is a good book to introduce an interest in and passion for science. the first part is arranged like a story as the reader follows a girl through a normal day and this fairy like science woman named nora tells us the science behind that part of the day. there are experiments the reader can try for each part of the day nora describes that allows the reader to interact with the information and better understand it.
the second part introduces different kinds of sciences, with more fun experiments of course. one of my favourite experiments was the ‘invisible glue’ experiment, which was helping to describe physics and a person’s centre of gravity, so you would get a friend to get into a certain position against the wall and watch as they try to move but can’t, or you can hold down a friend with a finger, same concept.
and the third part is basically just more experiments.
so as i say, great introduction to science, a fun way to get into the subject. and this book is by no means just for girls. both of my brothers enjoyed trying out the experiments just as much as i did. i found that this book got me more interested in science than school did because it made it fun and connected it to every day life. it is by no means in depth or lengthy, which i now have some issues with, but as intro books go, this one isn’t that bad.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. I received it as a gift from my Mom when I was a pre-teen. I remember, even at that age, thinking that the title was a tad corny. From the second I opened it, however, I couldn't put it down. It instilled in me an insatiable sense of curiosity and (unbeknownst to me) cultivated confidence—both in the sciences, a field often dominated by males; and more broadly, in myself, through the development of problem-solving skills. If nothing else, the activities outlined in this book are relatable, challenging, and FUN... to boys and girls alike.

[Kena Kump · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great female twist! I can see a girl picking it up because of that. Probably not for my classroom because of the gender bias, but I’d get it for a daughter especially since there are lots of experiements and fun mysteries to solve.