Everything Robotics by Jennifer Swanson with Shah Selbe
National Geographic Kids, 2016
Everything Robotics is about the history and purpose of robots. From robots that can play ping pong to robots used as prosthetic limbs, robots are everywhere. Some can help us in many ways while others exist mainly for our amusement. Robots are fascinating and they are always doing something useful. Everything Robots gives a detailed explanation on how these robots work and why they do what they do. This book offers fascinating descriptions of the robots that we can see in our everyday lives. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the science and many purposes of robots.
Bugged by Sarah Albee
Walker Books for Young Readers, 2014
Did you know that bugs have helped change history? Without bugs, America might have not won the Revolutionary War because mosquitoes spread yellow fever, which killed many British soldiers. Bugged is the story of the many ways in which bugs have contributed to history and changed it by spreading diseases and bacteria. Bugged also gives a detailed history of the world from the beginning. Bugs, no matter how hard we try to eradicate them, are some of the most resilient creatures on our planet and there is much that you can learn from them. If not for bugs, our planet would not be as advanced and knowledgeable about it’s various species of inhabitants. I would recommend this book because it gives a detailed and unusual perspective on history that many people do not realize exists.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015
William Kamkwamba was a boy who lived in the small town of Wimbe in the country of Malawi, Africa. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the story of William’s life. One year a horrible famine struck Malawi, and William’s family nearly starved to death. After the famine was over, William, who couldn’t go to school because his father ran out of money, was in his town’s new library when he found a book entitled Explaining Physics. William found the book fascinating and from it, he learned how to make his own windmill. William built the windmill from parts he found in a junkyard and his family became one of the only families in their town who had electricity. William soon became famous and went to a conference where he got to meet many of his fellow African innovators. I would recommend this book because it is a true story about a boy who had very little, but he believed in himself and was able to succeed and help his family and his village.
The Roman News by Andrew Langley
Candlewick Press, 2009
The Roman Empire was one of the greatest and largest empires in the history of the world. The Roman News is the history of Rome presented in newspaper clippings, put together into a book. The book gives a detailed and interesting history of Rome while still seeming “newspaper-like” because of the various advertisements and articles that make up the book. The newspaper articles have fascinating topics including what it is like to join the Roman army, how to throw an awesome party and a comical but still interesting advice column. This book can fascinate a reader but will not bore him even for a second. I recommend his book because it is an informative yet funny book that the reader will learn so much from.
By Josh Stiefel
Josh Stiefel is a fourth grader at Yeshivat Noam. He has been known to devour books. He also likes salad.
