Forces Make Things Move (Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science: Stage 2

Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2

by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

This title in the ALA Booklist Top Ten Nonfiction series explains one of the most fundamental concepts of physics in simple terms, exploring such forces as momentum, velocity, and gravity. Full color.

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Physics, Nonfiction, Childrens, Stem

Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's next book, The Night War, will be published April 9, 2024. She is the author of nineteen previous books, including the Newbery Honor winners Fighting Words and The War that Saved My Life. The sequel to the latter, The War I Finally Won, appeared on many state-award and best-books lists and was described as “stunning” by The Washington Post and “honest” and “daring” by The New York Times. She is also the acclaimed author of She Persisted: Rosalind Franklin. Kimberly and her husband have two grown children and live with their dogs, two highly opinionated mares, and a surplus of cats on a fifty-two-acre farm in Bristol, Tennessee. Visit her at kimberlybrubakerbradley.com.

Reviews

[Julian Franklin]

There are many forces around us. This book describe many of the forces around us in a realistic way. It provides information that is easily understood. I would use the vocabulary in the book to draw literacy connections. I would also have students label the different places around school where there is a force acting. I would talk about how it is important that students are able to identify and explain the forces around them.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

From such a simple, basic book manages to give a detailed explanation of just what force is and consequently gravity. This book will have children moving, pushing and pulling as they read or hear the text. It is a very kinetic text and the sometimes difficult science topic is explained effortlessly with detail and humour. One note on the humour: big brother is frequently used as the nemesis in the book as the force or opposition to the force which could cause some problems if your kids get as mobile as this book may get them. Now this is funny, but I suggest you either switch it up. ie big sister, little sister, little brother, or change it to someone not actually present when reading the book, ie Uncle Fred. The humour will remain but the chance of someone getting carried away is a lot less likely LOL. A great book in the series.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like this series of science books for kids because they are so approachable for young children. Forces Make Things Move is no different. Short and simple enough not to be intimidating, but informative enough to be worthwhile to read and to pique curiosity.

I do not like the illustrator for this one. I do not like the cartoon-y looks of the images, so that took away from my enjoyment of the book. I also don't like all the "jokes" about big brother. Children will find the book interesting without those asides, I promise. In fact, they're distracting. I'm frustrated they're included because otherwise the book is very well done.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this thinking I'd probably read it once or twice with the kids and then re-sell it. No. I'm keeping it. This was an excellent introduction/explanation to forces and work. Solid examples, clear text, nice illustrations. My older boys (age 12) listened to this as well. I thought this 'little kid book' did an even better job explaining force than their textbook had!

A solid resource. We'll definitely use again.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book to teach about force. The book provides information that is easy for students to understand. It uses everyday examples to teach friction, force and gravity. I also like how the end of the book provides some pictures and information about what would happen if there was no gravity on Earth.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to teach kids about push, pull, gravity, forces & friction. While it is slightly wordy for a picture book, my kids(3 & 5 yo) hung in there and listened to the entire book. They learned a lot added some great words to their vocabulary and have a great understanding of forces after only reading it one time!

[Kellee Hao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade: 3rd

If you push this item, you are experiencing force. If you do anything, you are experiencing something. This book gives some really great examples of forces in your daily activities. Whether they are on Earth or out in space, you’re experiencing force somehow. This would be a good addition to your science portion of your classroom library.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps repetition helps the learning process... but, we found it a little repetitive and not all that informative or interesting. A force is a push or a pull. All forces have an equal and opposite force. Gravity is a constant force pulling everything and all of us down. Friction makes things slow down. I hope my kids got it - I don't think I can read it again.

[Shira Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explains forces to young children by explaining that everthing they do is either a push or pull. This text does contain science vocabulary pertaining to the concept. I would use this book as a means to engage students into a science lesson about push and pull.

[Amelia Halgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the text to picture ratio a little dense and expected my kids might find the explanations a little dry and unclear. That being said my three year old has asked for this book twice and my five year old seems to be getting the concepts.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe too much text for a read aloud, but lots of great examples of gravity, friction, and things moving. Love the hockey example and the different interactions between the diverse sets of brothers and sisters.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2nd graders love finding new examples of friction and gravity after reading this book.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good non-fiction book that simplified the concepts of motion in ways kids could understand. My 7 and 5-year-old enjoyed it and wanted to talk about it again later.

[Elanor]

All by herself!

[Lindsey Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great supplementary book for our physics unit in science

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lot's of fun talking about friction and gravity.
Kids attempted to pull me across the carpet and then successfully pulled me across the hard wood floor. We had a good laugh and learned something!

[Cala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six year old son loved this picture book that teaches about forces. I read it aloud to him in one sitting. It makes the concepts of invisible forces incredibly easy for a child to grasp.

[Timothy Morrison]

🐒When the objects of an inquiry, in any department, have principles, conditions, or elements, it is through acquaintance with these that knowledge, that is to say scientific knowledge, is attained. For we do not think that we know a thing until we are acquainted with its primary conditions or first principles, and have carried our analysis as far as its simplest elements. Plainly therefore in the science of Nature, as in other branches of study, our first task will be to try to determine what relates to its principles.

The natural way of doing this is to start from the things which are more knowable and obvious to us and proceed towards those which are clearer and more knowable by nature; for the same things are not 'knowable relatively to us' and 'knowable' without qualification. So in the present inquiry we must follow this method and advance from what is more obscure by nature, but clearer to us, towards what is more clear and more knowable by nature

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book that explains what forces are, gives examples of them, and explains friction and gravity.

The former science teacher in me was quite pleased with how this picture book broke down explaining forces, gravity, and friction. A useful book for Elementary classes studying these things.

[Tweller83 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2/28/23: This was good. Great info on forces. I think students will like this.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Force, friction, and gravity are explained in easy to understand explanations, illustrations, and everyday examples.

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2/28/23: This was good. Great info on forces. I think students will like this.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tells about push/pull, friction, and gravity.