Originally published in 1917, "The Story Book of
Science" is a detailed children's story book about
nature. "Uncle Paul" teaches his niece and nephews about
nature with a passion and zeal rarely seen in science
books. Each of the 80 chapters in the book illustrates
some new truth about nature from a godly perspective,
and serves as a launching pad for interesting
discussions. "Uncle Paul" relates things in ways that
are easy to picture. Children will learn how many balls
the size of the earth it would take to fill the sun (if
it were hollow), that volcanic orifices have safety
valves which help to prevent disastrous earthquakes, and
how ants milk their own cows. They will also learn how
to tell some poisonous mushrooms from others, how pearls
are made, how to remove venom from bites, and much more.
The units of measure in this book are a little
antiquated, and the vocabulary can be challenging at
times. However, the context of "The Story Book of
Science" always makes the lessons so clear that younger
children can still enjoy it. The story form of the book,
with the children asking questions and marveling
alongside Uncle Paul, combined with interesting
information make "The Story Book of Science" accessible
to a wide range of ages. The science itself is amazingly
accurate. There is even a discussion about relative
motion on trains, which actually didn't have a "theory"
until Einstein. "The Story Book of Science" was written
by Jean Henri Fabre, whose infectious enthusiasm and
animated, genuine interest in nature as made by God,
makes it well worth the reading. The literary charm of
the book, coupled with stories of the ants' subterranean
city, the spider's suspension bridge, the mystery behind
thunder and lightning, the year and its seasons, and
much more, make "The Story Book of Science" a classic
that will be enjoyed by children for years to
come.
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