BEA'S BOOK NOOK "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C. S. Lewis “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Bea Reviews ABCs of Physics And ABCs of Mathematics by Chris Ferrie

Bea's Book Nook, Review, ABCs of Physics, Chris Ferrie
Series: Baby University
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 3rd, 2017

Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

The ABC's of Physics introduces a new physics concept for every letter of the alphabet, all the way from Atom to Zero-point energy.


Bea's Book Nook, Review, ABCS of Mathematics, Chris Ferrie
Series: Baby University

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 3rd, 2017

Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Simple explanations of complex ideas for your future genius!

Written by an expert, The ABCs of Mathematics is a colorfully simple introduction for babies (and grownups!) to a new math concept for every letter of the alphabet--from addition all the way to zero. Each page in this mathematical primer features multiple levels of text so the book grows along with your little mathematician--read just one line of text per page to start or linger on the longer descriptions as baby's vocabulary expands. This alphabetical installment of the Baby University board book series is the perfect way to introduce basic concepts to even the youngest mathematician.

Baby University: It only takes a small spark to ignite a child's mind!

My Thoughts:

STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, is a big buzzword in education right now. It's reached all the way down to preschool. As a toddler teacher I am always looking for new ways to incorporate these curricula in my classroom so I was both excited and doubtful when I saw these books on Edelweiss. I was doubtful because I was unsure how the material could be presented n such a way that young children could understand, but figured they were worth a try.

Both books were disappointing. They claim to be for children ages birth on up but realistically, they would be best for children 6 years old on up, maybe some 5 year olds. Just because a book has pictures and is in board book format doesn't mean it's suitable for young children. The author forgot one very important matter: the cognitive development of  infants and toddlers. The concepts are beyond the cognitive abilities of infants and toddlers. Yes, Ferrie has simplified the concepts, but they are still beyond the abilities of infants and toddlers. The pictures are okay, they do seem to adequately illustrate the concepts but they are not particularly eye-catching. As alphabet books, they are adequate, but as science books for young children, they fail. For children in elementary school, I think they would work, and could lead to some good science and maths discussions.

2 comments:

  1. It's too bad they tried to aim these books at babies and toddlers, because that was my instant reaction: that most of the concepts are well beyond the cognitive abilities of those age groups.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They really are. So many people don't understand child development and think they can just water down concepts.

      Delete

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