Forces of the Day

Find out all about the forces that surround us every day in this enjoyable hardback looking at the physics we encounter from when we start the day to fall asleep! I liked the way the book is organized in an original way. There is a spread for each section of time, so it starts off with Wakey Wakey (pp.8-9) and goes all the way through the day until Story Time (pp.40-41).

The author breaks down the information for the reader into paragraphs which clearly explain the scientific principles behind each phenomenon. I enjoyed learning how William Herschel used a glass prism to ‘split white light into the rainbow colours and measured their temperatures’ (p.11). Historical details of the discoveries made by scientists are included in the text and the modern illustrations and diagrams clarify the facts throughout the book.

One of my favourite parts of the publication is how Catch-up Ketchup is explained on page 32. I never knew that ‘it’s a sauce with a sneaky secret’! The reader learns that it is a non-Newtonian liquid regarding its runniness! To improve its flow the user needs to give the bottle a good shake with the lid on so that the sauce runs more easily onto the plate. This is just one example of the kind of information found in this science book.

I am sure young people will enjoy getting engrossed in this amazing handbook, and it may even encourage some of them to take up science as a career. Although aimed at age seven years upwards I am sure readers at secondary school will also find the book appealing. It will make a great addition to a home, school or local library, and would make a fabulous Christmas present for a youngster you know. Well done to the team behind this colourful hardback which has lots of original features.