Science
When the sky glows
Nell Cross Beckerman
j551.565 Beckerman
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science
"Sunrises and lightning storms, rainbows and volcanoes, meteors and fireflies-these beautiful, and sometimes frightening, events that light up the sky might seem like magic. But there is a scientific explanation for each natural phenomenon. Find out the science behind the magic in this beautiful and enlightening nonfiction picture book"--
Mesozoic art : dinosaurs and other ancient animals in art
567.9 /Mesozoic
Art / Art History, Science
"Dinosaurs are endlessly fascinating to people of every age, from the youngest child who enjoys learning the tongue-twisting names to adults who grew up with Jurassic Park and Walking with Dinosaurs. As our knowledge of the prehistoric world continues to evolve and grow, so has the discipline of bringing these ancient worlds to life artistically. Paleoart puts flesh on the bones of long-extinct organisms, and illustrates they world they lived in. Mesozoic Art showcases twenty of the best artists working in this field, representing a broad spectrum of disciplines, from traditional painting to cutting-edge digital technology. Some provide the artwork for new scientific papers that demand high-end paleoart as part of their presentation to the world at large; they also work for the likes of National Geographic and provide art to museums around the world to illustrate their displays. Other artists are the new rising stars of paleoart in an ever-growing, ever-diversifying field." -- Amazon.com.
This book is full of really cool art depicting the ancient world. Also, you can leave it on your coffee table to spark a dinosaur chat with your friends. -Mykle
How to read a rock : our planet's hidden stories
J. A. Zalasiewicz
552 /Zalasiewicz
Nonfiction, Science
"Rocks are time machines and the keepers of our history. This guide is a geological field trip through Earth's incredible rock formations and the stories they hold"--
What a beautiful book! The cover lures you in and keeps its promise of providing detailed photos and illustrations. This is an example of excellent book design, IMHO. We had a rock-based advent calendar this last December and I enjoyed learning about the stones with my family. This book takes a deeper look into the science of rock formation. A top pick for geology lovers! -Melody
The universe in you : a microscopic journey
Chin, Jason, 1978- author.
ON ORDER BOOK
Nonfiction, Science
"A book exploring the world of the very small, delving deep into the microscopic spaces just beneath our skin"--
Added by Casey
The science spell book : magical experiments for kids
Florance, Cara, author, illustrator.
j507.8 Florance
Nonfiction, Science
"Have you ever wished you could cast a real spell with the wave of a magic wand? Have you ever wanted to mix a real color-changing potion? Now kids can perform magical feats with a few simple ingredients and a little help from science."--
Added by Casey
Imaginable : how to see the future coming and feel ready for anything--even things that seem impossible today
Jane McGonigal
303.49 /McGonigal
Nonfiction, Technology, Science, Self Help
"War in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, increasingly frequent climate disasters--events we might have called "unimaginable" or "unthinkable" in the past are now reality. Today it feels more challenging than ever to feel unafraid, hopeful, and equipped to face the future with optimism. How do we map out our lives when it seems impossible to predict what the world will be like next week, let alone next year or next decade? What we need now are strategies to help us recover our confidence and creativity in facing uncertain futures. In Imaginable, Jane McGonigal draws on the latest scientific research in psychology and neuroscience to show us how to train our minds to think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable. She invites us to play with the provocative thought experiments and future simulations she's designed exclusively for this book..." -- Inside front book jacket.
I started listening to the audiobook version of this on hoopla (https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/15013684) and wound up buying my own copy to switch back and forth. Some parts are better read so you can stop and ponder McGonigal's probing questions and go through her "creativity training." I mean, who doesn't love creativity training?! Now some of us ICPL staff are in an Imaginable book club where we imagine the future of libraries and the Iowa City community. It's been a fun discussion so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing which of our predictions comes true. -Melody
Book of Phobias and Manias : a history of obsession.
Summerscale, Kate
616.85225/Summerscale
Science, History
Edgar Award winner Summerscale (The Haunting of Alma Fielding) examines the fear of the number 13, the 17th-century Dutch tulip frenzy, and 97 other irrational turns of mind in this fascinating compendium. Acarophobic delusions, caused by the "extreme fear of tiny insects," can be transmitted from person to person and once caused Salvador Dalí to take a razor blade to his back to kill a flea that turned out to be a pimple. Triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13, may have its roots in the story of the Norse trickster god, Loki, who "cursed the earth with darkness" when he crashed a dinner party for 12 other gods at Valhalla and became the 13th at the table. Summerscale also makes the intriguing point that manias and phobias may actually preserve sanity by "crystallising our frights and fancies, and allowing us to proceed as if everything else makes sense," and links obsessions to historical and cultural developments, noting, for example, that arithmomania, or "a pathological desire to count," was first identified in the late 19th century and may be the product "of our era's reverence for mechanical processes." Exquisitely detailed and consistently insightful, this is an entertaining guide to humanity's compulsions. (Sept.) Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly.
The part of the review that says "and links obsessions to historical and cultural developments" was what got me hooked on this book. Luridly fascinating, and educational to boot! -Candice
Amazing but true! : fun facts about the LEGO® world--and our own!
Elizabeth Dowsett
CATALOGING /
Science
"From unbelievable space and nature facts, to mind-boggling inventions and technology trivia, discover amazing information about the world around us with the help of LEGO minifigures and bricks"--
Trivia AND Legos?! Yes please! -Anne W
Geo-graphics
Regina Giménez
j523.1 Gimenez
Science
""Our universe is brimming with secrets, and surprising curiosities. Here readers will learn the answers to all the questions they've asked themselves: What does the Sun look like from different planets in our galaxy? Why doesn't the Moon always appear the same? What is the largest river on Earth? And the highest mountain? In Geo-Graphics, our world becomes transformed by acclaimed artist Regina Gǐmnez, into 87 pages of gorgeous shapes and colors. Planets and stars, continents and islands, rivers and lakes, volcanos and hurricanes ... here they are presented as circles, polygons, lines, spirals, and accompanying facts that explain the world around us. This special and unusual atlas is a marriage of science and art like no other.""
Who doesn't love fun facts? This book is filled with unique, visually arresting, deceptively simple shapes and lines paired with bite-size facts that help a reader visualize the phases of the moon, the sizes of the Earth's rivers, the placement of islands, and more stunning scientific truths about our amazing Earth. -Anne W
Why Buddhism is true : the science and philosophy of meditation and enlightenment
Robert Wright
294.342 /Wright
Nonfiction, Self Help, Health, Science, Philosophy
Author Robert Wright shows how Buddhist meditative practice can loosen the grip of anxiety, regret, and hatred, and deepen your appreciation of beauty and other people. -- Adapted from book jacket.
A fantastic look at the scientific aspects of Buddhism, specifically mindfulness meditation. -Mykle
When the Sky Glows is gorgeously illustrated, is the perfect length, and has just the right amount of information for budding meteorologists. Add this to the rapidly growing shelf of fabulous nonfiction picture books. -Casey