Learning | Abracadabra, Boom, Read!

It may look like magic, but it's all science!

To celebrate our 2014 Summer Reading theme, the Troke Branch library has arranged for Don O'Brien to perform his Xtreme Science Magic Show on Thursday, June 26, at 6:00 p.m.

Mr. O'Brien will show the whole family how much fun science can be, especially if there's some magic in the mixture. Those of us who have seen Mr. O'Brien's shows know there will be plenty of audience participation; will you be chosen to assist him?

After the show, you may wish to check out some books about science magic, to see if there are any activities you might want to try for yourself. 

Recently, I searched for books about magic using scientific principles. I was very happy to learn a new library catalog term in the process. If you put the words scientific recreations in the search box, and choose "subject" from the drop down menu, you will find more than fifty titles that will help you learn science in fun ways.

Learning | Science! It's what's for Summer Reading

Science is the word this summer! We have science-themed programs for adults, teens, and kids. The adult theme is "Literary Elements;" for teens, it is "Spark a Reaction," and, of course, for children, it is "Fizz, Boom, Read!"

This week, let's talk about "Literary Elements," the theme for adults. Most of us realize that the library has books full of scientific facts in the non-fiction and reference areas of the collection. But we have some fiction that's scientific, too.

Fiction

I cannot think of a better fiction series to link to the "Literary Elements" theme than Camille Minichino's Periodic Table Mystery series.  The main character, Gloria Lamerino, is a retired physicist, who has a second career as a science consultant for the police. (She also happens to be in love with a police detective.) She has an amazing scientific mind and her share of foibles, and interesting friends; what's not to like?

Each book in the Periodic Table series focuses on a particular element, which is central to the solution (no pun intended) to the mystery, for example, "The Nitrogen Murder." These are fun reads, and not too gruesome. Think of them as cozy science mysteries.  

Fun fact: Camille Minichino visited the Tracy Branch Library some years back. There was a library program about mystery writers, and she was on the panel.

Science Fiction

There is another fiction genre that dovetails nicely with this year's theme: science fiction.This genre is chock full of interesting stories and talented writers.  Science fiction stories are based on imagined and/or future worlds. They often feature scientific or technological advances. Some of these worlds portray dystopian societies, for example, Ray Bradbury's classic, Fahrenheit 451, in which books are burned. (Eek!)

Not fiction, but a really good story

Biographies are accounts of real people's lives. I find that reading a biography can be as engrossing as a fictional story.  

For example, read this book by Berkeley neurobiologist Sybil Lockhart: Mother in the middle: a biologist's story of caring for parent and child. 

Many of us have had the experience of caring for an elderly parent with dementia, and caring for our own children at the same time.  Lockhart's story is especially interesting, because her expertise in neurobiology allows her to alternatively marvel and cringe at the effects of the disease progression on her mother--and at the developmental biological effects occurring in her growing daughters. 

The Reader Digests | Science Experiments

Can we eat science experiments?  An exploding volcano model, maybe not - but science experiments made out of food, yes!  In honor of this year's summer reading program, Fizz! Boom! Read!, I present science experiments you can eat (and what we learn from them)!

Discuss the properties of proteins by making egg whites.  According to Vicki Cobb's Science Experiment's You Can Eat, this is a great way to discuss how

germanfood.about.com

the shape of protein molecules plays an important role in determining the reaction.  Egg whites' proteins are like "tiny balls of yarn" and dissolve in water because they are so compact. Beating them = unraveling the yarn. Whoa! Slowly beat in some sugar, which mixes with the water in the egg whites, drop them on a cookie sheet, and heat them in an oven at 175 degrees for 1 hour, then turn it off and leave them in overnight.  The meringues are dried, leaving hard egg whites and sugar.  Yummy!

www.npr.org

Another fun and easy experiment in the book discusses oxidation of fruit.  Take an apple, slice it in half, and place a sliced kiwi on the cut top of one side, leaving the other side of the apple bare (or put a sponge on top).  Which side ends up brown?  This is a great way to introduce the idea of oxidation, and the effects of vitamin C on the browning process.  Make a fruit salad using apples, peaches, and bananas, and mix pieces of one vitamin C tablet (or lemon) on one side and leave the other plain.  What happens? Does vitamin C slow down the oxidation process?  What if you leave part of it at room temperature and put the other in the fridge?

Oh, and could flying pies be a physics lesson?  Definitely!

Of course, the best part about food experiments is eating them afterwards! Visit the library for more books about science experiments with food and don't forget to sign up for our summer reading program beginning on June 1!

Learning | The Conquest of the Ocean

The Conquest of the Ocean: an Illustrated History of Seafaring

Author Brian Lavery tackles a vast subject in this new non-fiction Dorling-Kindersley book for adults. It examines the history of seafaring all over the world, including exploration, ship design, cultures, trade routes, slave ships, and much more.

The Dorling-Kindersley publishing company is well known for its beautifully illustrated children's books on all sorts of scientific and historical topics. I see children check them out to use in reports, but I also see them check them out just for fun. 

I'm glad to see that some of that fun is present in this title for grown-ups. There are beautiful, easy-to-read maps, drawings and photographs that enrich the impact of the informative text. It would be helpful to students doing reports on various subjects, but it's also entertaining for anybody interested in ships, the ocean, different cultures, and history.

Compasses

Mayan Codex

This book is recommended for readers from 8th grade and up.

The Spanish Armada

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Professor O | Scientific-y Comic Book Goodness!

A most belated , but excited hello, fellow fans of the graphic novel! 

Professor O has been touring space/time, here/there, back/forth and all points in between on my journey to bring you, the comic book reader, the best reads the SSJCPL has to offer. In this installment, I have a special treat: Graphic Novels about science and scientists.

The first GN we will be looking at is Evolution: The Story of Life On Earth by Jay Hosler with art by the wonderful duo of Kevin Cannon and Zander Cannon.  This graphic novel is a short, surprisingly concise look at evolution for those who normally shy away from such scientific reading. Lots of information here, a student of Professor O remarked that they understood more from this comic book than any course on evolution ever taught them! Now that is a comic book that transcends the genre! Of course, Professor O approves of learning in any capacity!

A good read for those without a time machine.

  

One more science themed graphic novel that Professor O really enjoyed is, Two-Fisted Science: Stories About Scientists by Jim Ottaviani (SSJCPL doesn't carry this title BUT you can request this title through an outside library with Link Plus....ask a librarian!). This graphic novel covers stories of male and female scientists and their important discoveries/contributions to science. The author did not see time travel as "science" leaving Professor O's name out of the list of lives covered in the comic. But a great graphic novels nevertheless!

There you have it, fellow adventurers. Two titles with nary a superhero in them! Two titles that (GASP) teach! Do not fear these, embrace these. Read them and see how easily it is to learn something new when it is presented in a graphic, exciting, and readable form! Science most definitely rocks! 

Until next time, adventurers, continue learning!

It is like a get-together with all of Professor O's BFFs!