Eyewitness: Light

From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up-- This series uses the familiar ``Eyewitness'' format to trace scientific developments and discoveries. Arrangement is roughly chronological, with douboned illustrations and photos on each spread, a wealth of information is provided, ranging from explanations of processes to historical tidbits and trivia. Descriptions of solar cells and interference colors ( Light) and the telegraphle-page treatments focusing on general areas of interest. Light covers such topics as shadows, refraction, lasers, and holograms, while Electriticy includes conduction, magnetism, communication, and more. With six to eight captiic receiver (Electricity) are brief, but clear and concise. Despite these strengths, the format limits the books' usefulness. Readers with little background will be overwhelmed by the deluge of information. Solid explanations of electricity and light are there, but it is hard to follow them systematically with all of the sidebars and related factual fragments. Photographs are of excellent quality and are effective in illustrating the concepts discussed, but many require prior knowledge to understand and appreciate them. Although they cannot match the broad appeal of McCarthy & Arnold's Reptile (1991) or the Natural History Museum staff's Rocks & Minerals (1988, both Knopf), these titles will be useful and attractive supplements to science collections. --Steven Engelfried, Alameda County Library, CACopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.


The New York Times
...a mini museum between the covers of a book. [Eyewitness series]


School Library Journal
These books' striking visual impact will draw in even the most casual readers. [Eyewitness series]


Book Description
Discover the amazing world of light -- from ancient myths to the optic discoveries that have revolutionized modern life. Here is a spectacular, thought-provoking, and highly informative guide to the fascinating story of light. Superb full-color photography of original equipment, intricate scientific instruments, revealing experiments, and 3-D models offers a unique "eyewitness" view to the incredible discoveries that have transformed our world. See why ancient peoples worshipped the Sun as a god, how light rays bend, why things glow when they are very hot, what creates a color television picture, how microscopes and telescopes were invented, and why a leaf looks green. Learn how fiber optics can transmit light, what happens during an eclipse, why images are reversed in mirrors, how a liquid crystal display works, and what makes a hologram. Discover what causes the eerie "Will o' the wisp", how some animals can make their own light, what creates a mirage, why we burn in strong sunlight, what a polarizing filter does, why we see rainbows, what a quantum is, how X-rays penetrate our bodies, and much, much more!


Card catalog description
A guide to the origins, principles, and historical study of light.


Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

Superb full-color photography of original equipment, intricate scientific instruments, revealing experiments, and 3-D models offers a unique view to the incredible discoveries that have transformed our world.


Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices