Oh No They Aren't: Science by Eric Huang

Today's read comes from a collection of Oh No They Aren't books. I haven't had the chance to pick up any of them, yet, and wanted to hit the science one, first. My family is all about science...not sure why, but my husband and each and every one of my children are doing, studying, or planning on having their carriers in some sort of mechanical or science direction.

I studied International Politics and Economics, so I feel a bit left out in the cold. You'd think one of my kids would lean my direction, right?

Anyway, I'm excited to see what this book is all about and hope it's exciting, while teaching some fun facts along the way. 

OH NO THEY AREN'T

SCIENCE

by Eric Huang

Illustrated by Sam Caldwell

words & pictures

Children's Nonfiction

ages 7 to 9

COMING...

AUGUST 25th!!!

Science is all about figuring out how things work. It means asking questions and conducting experiments to discover and test possible answers. Science affects every aspect of life, from what you’re wearing and what you had for breakfast, to the weather outside.

Through science, you can examine the smallest atoms to the largest galaxies—and get to know the universe just a little bit better. But how much do you really know about science?

For example, we all know that . . . 

Moons are smaller than their planetSummer is caused by Earth being closer to the SunWater is an element Tectonic plates don't move that much anymore AND that engineers are people who fix things Do we . . . ? Because . . . OH NO THEY AREN'T!

Misconceptions about our world are everywhere, but none of them are true! In Oh No They Aren' Science myths are busted about science from chemistry to geology, engineering, astronomy and even technology.

In this fresh and funny guide learn about how our world works from atoms and molecules to volcanoes and solar systems, or even artificially intelligent robots. Stylishly designed and humorously illustrated by Sam Caldwell, Oh No They Aren' Science brings important STEM topics to life for kids, uncovering how our world works and making science FUN accessible for everyone. 

In the Oh No They Aren't . . . series popular misconceptions in science and nature are dispelled. Check out the Oh No They Didn't . . . companion series for hilarious history and popular culture myth-busting. 

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

These pages hit a huge span of scientifical fields and topics, exposing the vast array the term 'science' covers while heading through all sorts of general facts along the way.

To start things off, there's a two-page spread explaining what science is and it's importance. The book is, then, divided up into several chapters, each one presenting a different area of science (geology, space, and more). Various topics in each category are addressed to give a solid foundation of what is covered, but it also allows a large amount of basic information from the various fields to flow in. On each page (at least, it seemed it was once per page), a question or statement, which isn't quite right, slides between the other information. The phrase 'Oh no they aren't' then follows (bold and in special font) to quickly disperse the misconception and steer readers in the right direction. So, readers come out knowing more.

This felt like an avalanche of science information. Some topics such as plate tectonics, fossils, the solar system, and more will be familiar to most readers, while other facts will be relatively new. There are a few exact facts and numbers, but many things are described in a more general context—fast and furious. Some of these info onslaughts, also, seemed to be hit upon too lightly, leaving more questions than answers. But maybe that's the point, since it leaves the reader curious to know exactly what is going on, leading them to search for answers later on their own. It's definitely quick-paced and keeps boredom at bay. That also means that this isn't really the type of book to be read in one sitting. Rather, it invites readers to discover one thing after then next as they learn more about the realm of science. The illustrations are bright, add lightness, and keep things upbeat. They also help clarify information, when necessary, and even add humor. 

Science opens up in a general way as the book shows the reader how vast it really is, while erasing some misconceptions about various topics along the way. It's not really about the details and facts, but rather, brings on a more general impression with the more exact tidbits. It's a nice read for science fans or for those, who would like to learn a little more about the field, and that while having some fun along the way.

And here they are...

Eric Huang is a podcaster, writer, start-up mentor and university lecturer. He reads a lot, loves museums, nature, and art history. He worked as an editor and book publisher for 20 years with roles at Disney Publishing, Penguin Australia, Penguin UK, and LEGO Books—then joined digital agency Made in Me and became a children’s media consultant, and now a children's author.

Sam Caldwell is an illustrator who lives in Glasgow with his wife and two cats, Tonks and Luna. He grew up in the north of England and studied painting at the Edinburgh College of Art. He loves inventing characters and creating images packed full of detail, texture, and color. He is passionate about animals and nature and, when not drawing, can often be found exploring the Scottish Highlands.

Up Close and Incredible: Dinosaurs by Eric Huang

I'm staying in nonfiction mode and hitting a fun looking read with a bit of interactive activity. I don't know about you, but I adored books which offered information AND more than just reading facts. Something like today's read would have hit 'instant grab' category for me, and my kids weren't any different. 

Today's read is the 2nd in the series and involves a magnifying glass. I get the feeling from the cover that this one will head a little more in the archaeologic direction, but I could be wrong. 

Let's grab our adventurer hats and those glasses, and take a look!

UP CLOSE & INCREDIBLE

DINOSAURS

A Prehistoric Adventure with a 3x Magnifying Glass

by Eric Huang

Illustrated by Facundo Aguirre

Wide Eyed Press

Nonfiction Children's Book

48 pages

ages 6 to 8

COMING JUNE 29th!!!

Grab your 3× magnifying glass and go on a fantastic voyage through the ins and outs of dino-anatomy with Up Close and Incredible: Dinosaurs.

In this scientific search-and-find adventure, you’ll join a team of tiny paleontologists as they explore an array of dinosaurs, living and fossilised,inside and out, from T. rex's teeth to Velociraptor's terrible toes. You’ll learn along the way how, where and when these dinosaurs lived, what they ate, who had feathers and who had scales—and of course, what it would be like to see dinosaurs UP CLOSE!

Looking through the magnifying glass, you'll also find scientists spinning plates on Stegosaurus's back, enjoying a spot of fishing with Spinosaurus, and even a paleo-wizard inside Dracorex hogwartsia! You'll reveal new gags again and again among the scrapes, mishaps and wacky experiments of the miniature palaeontologists, where every tiny detail tells a story, and every story reveals more incredible facts about prehistoric creatures.

The larger-than-life dinos you'll explore include T. rex, Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, and Diplodocus, as well as lesser known but just as incredible species like Therizinosaurus, Parasaurolophus, and the bird-like Archaeopteryx. With 14 scenes and 10 things to spot on each one, plus extra detail hidden on every page, Up Close and Incredible: Dinosaurs has literally hundreds of facts and jokes to discover. A timeline at the back puts everything in context, while a size comparison feature lets you see every dino together.

This thrilling scientific journey of a book will have you gasping and laughing as you discover new shocking and hilarious facts about your favorite dinosaurs. The zany drawings are packed full of comedic details to spot, keeping your read fresh each time. So, what are you waiting for? Your magnified adventure into prehistory awaits!

GOODREADS   /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Dino fans are in for a treat as they not only learn more about their favorite creatures but also go along on a hunt for small things with their magnifying glass.

These pages take a slightly different spin into the world of dinosaurs and head more in an archaeological direction with the first pages showing a dig site of sorts and the dinosaur bones. As the book goes on, the bones (partial and whole) as well as the usual dinosaurs in their full gloray are illustrated, and the reader is told what type of dinosaur it is. This already adds a new direction to the dinosaur fun with well-known and lesser known beasts as it includes recognizing the basic bone structure. But the information doesn't stop their. Various details and attributes of each dino are given as well as other interesting information surrounding them. While some of this comes in the usual paragraph form, it's mostly broken down into little tidbits in a search section.

This remembers to add lots of fun to the information. Not only is the text age appropriate and written in a way to keep it interesting, but the search items each carry a fact along with the picture. To make the searching more interesting, there are tons of little people, animals, and activities going on around the dinosaurs. This not only makes the searching more difficult and gives other things to discover while peering through the magnifying glass, but the illustrator adds humor too. 

This is a cute and engaging way to learn more about dinosaurs and archaeology, and is sure to grab the attention of more than just dino fans.

And here they are...

Eric Huang is a podcaster, writer, start-up mentor and university lecturer. He reads a lot, loves museums, nature, and art history. He worked as an editor and book publisher for 20 years with roles at Disney Publishing, Penguin Australia, Penguin UK, and LEGO Books—then joined digital agency Made in Me and became a children’s media consultant, and now a children's author. 

Facundo Aguirre is an illustrator from Quilmes, Argentina. He originally earned his degree in public accounting and spent time in Buenos Aires in the world of economics. After four years as a credit analyst, Facundo made the life-changing decision to move to New Zealand in search of new experiences. This is when he first discovered his passion for drawing. It became his sanctuary and his source of calmness. Facundo finds great joy in sketching with black ink and creating intricate illustrations with an abundance of details. His illustration influences include Martín Hanford, Sole Otero, Thé Tjong-Khing, and Mattias Adolfsson, among many others. Facundo currently lives and works in Brussels, where he also collaborates with a fellow illustrator to organize weekly gatherings for artists called “Artist Coworking”.