How Come?

I was only five when this book was published, and it must have found its way into our house soon after. I definitely remember devouring it in first and second grade. It was chock full of information that I could understand and use, but it didn't talk down to me, either, and the illustrations were memorable and hilarious. Any child with an interest in science will enjoy this book, and adults can enjoy it, too. It's too bad there isn't a more recent edition, but this version is still useful even over a decade and a half later. The articles are all entertaining to read multiple times and focus on a variety of topics. Definitely a must-have if your kids are always wondering why the world is the way it is!

I love science and read a lot of adult science books. My son, 7, is really into science too - so we run through a lot of kid's science books. I've never encountered a better one than this one. "How Come?" never condescends and it never cuts corners in its explanations. It focuses in with razor sharpness on the questions and issues kids (and childlike minds) have and then answers them with clear and rational explanations that really inform and educate. I find myself reading this book and learning things - even on topics I'd covered many times before. I'd say that the age this book is pitched for is 8-14, but even smaller kids get something out of it - and few adults can resist it either.

This is the book to have whether science was a weak subject in school or none of the scientific knowledge was retained once out of school. Parents would find this book useful in quelling the barrage of questions from their inquisitive children while satisfying their own curiosity in the field of science. Do you know why people have different blood types? Different types of proteins found in red blood cells and the plasma they float in determine the type of blood a person has. What causes hiccups? They are caused by the diaphragm going into spasms. These are some of the interesting subjects explained in this book accompanied by funny and amusing illustrations. Parents and children will repeatedly reach for this book as a reference for their questions in the field of science.

This is a really cool book! I always wondered why drops of water cling to the inside of a glass when you turn it over, and this book finally answered my question. I also found out that pandas aren't really bears (they're more like oversized raccoons) and whether it rains on other planets. I would recommend this book for any kid or adult who really wants to know. The drawings are funny, too. (like the radioactive toupee and the black widow spider wedding, where she promises to love, honor, and DIGEST).

This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. It seems like everything you've ever wondered about science or nature is explained here, everything from where zebras got their stripes to where lightning comes from. Although the publisher classifies this as a "young person's book," it contains far more detail in its explanations than you find in some science books aimed at adults. Each answer, in fact, is an essay on the subject, long enough to really explain the answer. I also think that the tone of the answers is just right -- it's just like having someone who knows all about science and nature and also has a great sense of humor come to your house and answer all the questions you've wondered about for years. And the drawings are GREAT -- this is the only science book I've ever seen that actually made me laugh out loud.