Build It!: Structures, Systems and You

Alison Mews is co-ordinator of the Centre for Instructional Services at
Memorial University of Newfoundland.

These introductory science books are nicely designed to appeal to
children and will tap into their curiosity about the world around them.
Meant to be first science books, they use simple language and everyday
terms to develop basic understandings. They are reinforced with
well-chosen and incredibly easy activities, which can be done at home
using marshmallows, straws, tissues, and other readily available
household items.

The large, cartoon illustrations include multicultural and
non-stereotypical representations of active children, with a liberal use
of friendly animals and speech balloons to augment the concepts covered.
The illustrator is a graphic designer who was formerly the art director
of Chickadee and Chirp magazines. The writer is an educator who not only
writes in a kid-friendly manner, but also provides explanatory notes
about each page for parents and teachers. These are found at the end of
each book, before the index.

Change It! focuses on the changing states of matter. The
characteristics of the three different forms are described in relation
to a child’s senses, which works particularly well for perceiving
invisible gases. Build It! deals with all sorts of structures from
buildings to bicycles to back-packs. It is a more difficult concept, as
it is so all-embracing, but the author/illustrator team make it
meaningful by carefully identifying the various types, functions, and
constructions of representative structures. Both books are highly
recommended.