MONSTER MACHINES by Caroline Bingham (Dorling Kindersley)
This book describes 12 different types of the “biggest, heaviest, chunkiest machines on the move”. These include a Boeing 747, a giant mining shovel with a mass of 240 tonnes and an enormous mobile crane with 18 wheels. The text is very simple and quite devoid of technical jargon. For example, the dump truck “can carry up to 150 tonnes of earth – that’s as much as 30 elephants”. This is a book which will appeal to nine- to 11-year-old boys who are awed by the achievements of mechanical engineering.
ROCK POOL by Christiane Gunzi and photographed by Frank Greenaway (DK Look Closer series)
The main attraction of this little book is its exceptional photography. Each species described is illustrated with a beautiful, larger-than-life photograph and one or two smaller pictures showing interesting or unusual bodyparts. At the beginning of the book there is a section showing all the species mentioned with their actual sizes, their scientific names and the parts of the world where they are found. Unfortunately, except for the common mussel, none of them are found along the South African coast. We do, in many cases, have similar species.
THE YOUNG BASEBALL PLAYER by Ian Smyth (Dorling Kindersley)
A very good book for children who are just starting to play baseball, it explains how the game is played, what equipment is needed, and different techniques used. Each of these is shown by a series of photographs. Since this is a book for beginners, only the basic skills are covered, but they are shown clearly and in language which a 10-year-old could manage.
PSYCHIC POWERS by Colin Wilson (DK Unexplained series)
This book describes an amazing variety of experiences of people with supernatural powers. Some relate to particular religions or cultures, others to present-day people with strange powers, like Uri Geller. The book is well illustrated with numerous photographs and the writing is simple and factual. The power of the mind is emphasised and occasionally logical explanations are offered. A book to dip into from time to time rather than to sit down and read. It will appeal to children of 11 up.
IS ANYBODY OUT THERE? THE SEARCH FOR LIFE BEYOND OUR PLANET by Heather Cooper and Nigel Henbest (Dorling Kindersly)
In spite of its large format and many illustrations, this is not a book for young children. It assumes that its readers have a basic knowledge of the solar system and understand concepts like atom, molecule, cell and nucleus. For a teenager interested in astronomy, this is a delightful book. It begins with a description of the beginnings of life on Earth and goes on to discuss the possibilities of life in other parts of the solar system and beyond. A mixture of scientific facts and educated guesses, the book ends with the authors’ rather amusing depiction of the way different groups might react to the first scientifically verified message from outer space.
WORLD EXPLORER ATLAS by Martin Oliver; illustrated by Tim Oliver (Dorling Kindersly)
This illustrated atlas is intended to be the vehicle for a puzzle: the reader has to follow a trail across the maps in order to catch up with a mysterious creature. But the instructions are not clear enough and the villain seems to have no purpose. The maps themselves showing a wonderful mixture of geographic features, wildlife, types of dwellings and landmarks, making them particularly suitable for children not yet completely au fait with the concept of a map. A child interested in books could spend hours looking at these maps. The drawings, however, could be confusing to a young child.
GHOSTS AND THE SUPERNATURAL by Colin Wilson from The Unexplained Series R74,96
This book deals with several different types of supernatural beings, from ghosts of ordinary, as well as famous people, to vampires, poltergeists and werewolves.The author briefly describes many sightings of these beings quite simply, without offering possible logical explanations.The numerous illustrations include some fascinating photographs.The text is suitable for a ten year old, but older children will also find the book absorbing reading. It is in reading a book like this that children pick up the titbits of general knowledge which adults take for granted, but which do not form part of a school curriculum. In this book he will read about the pilgrimages to Lourdes, the legend of the Flying Dutchman, the real Dracula, and find out exactly what a zombie is.