________________ CM . . . . Volume VIII Number 1 . . . . September 7, 2001

cover The Sun. (Eye on the Universe).

Niki Walker. Illustrated by Bonna Rouse.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2001.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $7.16 (pbk.), $18.36 (cl.).
ISBN 0-86505-692-7 (pbk.), ISBN 0-86505-682-X (cl.).

Subject Heading:
Sun-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3-6 / Ages 8-11.

Review by Janice Foster.

*** /4

excerpt:

"It is impossible to ignore the sun. Without the Sun's light and heat, nothing could live on Earth."

Part of Bobbie Kalman's "Eye on the Universe" series, _The Sun_ entices young readers to explore the centre of their solar system. As they begin looking through the book, their curiosity will be aroused by the colorful photographs, the labeled pictures and the suggested investigations. Even headings such as "Troublemakers!" and "Trapping the Sun" will capture the inquisitive reader's interest. Niki Walker provides children with simple, clearly written yet comprehensive information on the sun and how it affects their lives.

     A challenge for authors of science books for young readers is to provide accurate information in a layout that can be managed by readers of varying reading levels. The Sun illustrates how this can be successfully achieved. The fourteen two-paged chapters cover topics such as "Why we need the Sun," "Using Solar Power" and "Fun with the Sun" and provide the reader with information that is brief but varied. The numerous photographs, captioned pictures and labeled diagrams add visual appeal to the book. Appropriate scientific language is used with keywords defined in the glossary.

     Walker's book arouses young readers' curiosity about the Sun and helps them gain an awareness of the importance of this familiar object to the existence of life on Earth. The Sun a useful resource for understanding and investigating topics such as the solar system, energy, photosynthesis, weather, light, the water cycle and other science concepts. Its presentation of many different aspects of the Sun can also serve as a springboard for further research into specific topics.

Recommended.

Janice Foster is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

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