100 Steps for Science: Why It Works and How It Happened

Gr 2–5—Broken down into 10 fields, this volume explains the progression of different concepts in science as they developed and changed, such as the evolution from simple machines and wheels to water mills and wind farms. The information is generic and does more to define vocabulary words than to provide an in-depth exploration. However, the work makes for a great introduction for elementary students to topics such as space, sound, numbers, and states of matter. Dui's mixed-media illustrations are colorful but muted—and offer endless opportunities for inspection. Occasionally the art overwhelms the text, which becomes difficult to follow, though this is more of a layout issue. Taking this into account, the book would be useful as a browsable selection for students to dip into as they cover the subjects in class.