The Wonders of Maths; The Secrets of Science; Mysteries of the Human Body; How Things Work

The breathless approach of 'Horrible Histories' is here applied to the world of science and maths, but if a child is attracted to the quiz format these neat ringbound stand-up flipbooks will offer a good way to learn and test facts - alone or with a friend. Cartoons, jokes and riddles rub shoulders with cut-out photos and annotated diagrams. The first three titles cover popular science topics, while a fourth on maths is a latecomer for Maths Year 2000. Some of the questions are bizarrely worded (for example 'What is the G that humans do when they change from babies to adults?' Answer: Grow), but as the answers appear alongside the questions (cover them up if you can't resist cheating) your mind is not boggled for too long. There are also a fair number of true or false questions, which always seem of dubious worth, as well as multiple choice and picture quizzes. The quiz books are a spin-off from a successful series called the 'Spark Files', featuring practical science experiments interwoven into the adventures of the eccentric Sparks family. Opt for the stories if you like your science hands-on.