Greg's Microscope

I Can Read: Level 3

by Millicent E. Selsam, Arnold Lobel (Illustrations)

Greg makes fascinating discoveries about things he finds at home when he looks at them through his new microscope. ‘An accurate and entertaining book for beginning independent readers.' 'BL.

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Childrens, 2nd Grade, School, Realistic Fiction, Education

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Millicent Ellis Selsam was was a biologist and teacher who wrote natural science literature for children.

Reviews

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This classic reader has been around since the sixties and pairs two frequent contributors to this series, Selsam who specialized in science books and the unequalled author/illustrator Arnold Lobel. Originally this book and a slew of others were in a sub-series called "An I Can Read Science Book"; most of these being by Millicent as well. As you can imagine most of those are outdated and no longer in print, however "Greg's Microscope" is a treasure in that it remains relevant fifties years after publication. Selsam gives us a lovely story of a boy who asks his dad for a microscope because his best friend has one. Over the next week or so Greg, along with his mother, father and the occasional visit from Billy, discover the microscopic world. The science is kept to a basic level about cells and the illustrations show the views from the microscope. A charming, fun story that educates. A keeper for my collection.

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another oldie. (Squirt and I like these books from the 60's & 70's. Great illustrations and well-thought -out text.) This was especially fun because Squirt has a tiny microscope, so he was trying to predict what each thing would look like under the glass. Then he wanted to try out his own experiments. When a book sparks a kids' curiosity, that's the best.

[Momninja · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute enough book, but obviously it was published in the early 1960s. The sexism is rampant and eye-roll inducing.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure this book is the reason I went to college to become a scientist :)

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so want a microscope now!!!!..mom. Kids said it would be nice to look through once in a while but they wouldn't use it all the time.

[Cosette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pleasure to read.

[Anna Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a thing: I don't ask my kids to do anything I won't do. Except I 'never got around' to a lot of it. And I have to rectify that.

I'm putting away a lot of the children's books that my kids have read, but I'm not doing so without reading them. They're quick, they're fun... and they're recommended reading by the particular homeschool curricula that draw from.

I'm rating this particular one, because it was *SO* good. I even lent it out, once - but I never really gave it much thought. It wouldn't be recommended if it weren't cute, right? But it was more than cute - the drawings are amazing, the learning is there... it was a GOOD book.

Just had to state as much.

[Jacklyn (ReadingBliss) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I preread this for my kids. I must say, it was fantastically, and surprisingly, inspiring. It made me want to get a microscope right now and start examining things under the lens myself. This was a perfect read for boys and girls and families. It has great little illustrations of what things look like under a microscope that Greg explores and provides several examples of common tiny things families can examine themselves if they already have a microscope. Delightful and well done.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy wants a microscope and the whole family joins in the fun of exploring things at a more magnified level. In addition to being an engaging early reader book, this book also introduces the early scientific concepts and terminology of using a microscope. I thought it was a great book for my 6 year old son.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this as part of a Kingdoms and Classifications science unit, just after receiving microscopes for Christmas and experimenting with them. We enjoyed the book immensely because it so exactly captures our own experience. If you don’t already have a microscope, the book will certainly inspire an acquisition!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greg convinces his dad to purchase him a microscope. With his microscope Greg explores, and learns about crystals, cells, thread, hair, and several other items as he looks at them under the microscope.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great intro to the microscope. And it's just a fun book. The toddler boy doesn't even know what a microscope IS and he loves this book. We'll definitely be coming back to this one.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little book to inspire young readers about science.

[ឆន វណ្ណារ៉ា · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaving microscope

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous children's book that inspires natural curiosity and the exploration of one's own environment rather than just throwing a bunch of random facts at kids' eyeballs.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a science book, but also about the joy of learning and family. It’s heart-warming. Certainly worth specifically requesting from you library!

[Arif Ud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice book

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR 2.3

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am pretty sure this book is one of the reasons I am biologist.

[Sydney Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good.

[Shofam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The favorite ones Greg looked at were the salt crystals and the sugar crystals.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

Fifty years ago, long before Common Core and STEM became buzzwords amongst educators, librarians, and children's literature experts, there were the Science I Can Read books. These were books for early elementary readers written by Millicent Selsam and illustrated by Arnold Lobel, which used stories to illustrate and explain simple scientific concepts. At a recent used book sale, my husband found a copy of Greg's Microscope, which we decided to add to our family collection, mostly because I love Lobel, but also because we are fans of the classic I Can Read Books. It is the story of a boy named Greg who decides he wants a microscope after seeing one at a friend's house. His father agrees to get it for him, but tells him he needs to prepare his own slides using materials from around the house. Greg begins looking at everything - sugar, salt, dog hair, his own hair, and more - and soon his parents are as obsessed with the microscope as Greg is, prompting the family to question whether just one microscope is enough!

Because of continual scientific advances, not all science books can stand the test of time. This one, however, seems like it is still a decent introduction to microscopes for the early elementary audience. Lobel adds much to the book with his sketches of each item Greg views under the microscope, which give kids who don't have access to expensive scientific tools the opportunity to learn what each of these things looks like when magnified. Because of the level of detail in the illustrations, the book also makes a perfect companion to a classroom lesson or library program where kids look into the microscope and record what they see. Reading the book as a group and repeating Greg's actions seems like the ideal STEM activity.

Only one minor detail in this book bothered me. Greg's mother is portrayed as almost unbelievably clueless. She acts as though she has never heard the word "cell" before and just generally seems like she has no idea about the world outside of her home. While this is probably meant to empower the child reader - "Hey, I'm smarter than the grownups!" - it did make me roll my eyes, and it kept me from giving the book five stars. It won't, however, prevent me from adding it to my homeschool stash for when Miss Muffet is older.

[Kate Chazin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greg really, really wanted a microscope. His friend Billy had one—couldn’t he have one too (pretty please)? When Greg’s dad finally bites the bullet and brings home a microscope, Greg couldn’t be more pleased. He searches the house for tiny things to look at. First, he tries salt , then salt dissolved in water, and finally salt crystals after the water evaporates. He tries it with sugar too, with similar results. He goes around the house looking at everything he can find—it’s all fascinating! When Mrs. Broom brings over her dog, the dog hair gets the microscope treatment. When mom is cooking dinner, he borrows a slice of onion. Nothing in the house is safe from Greg and his microscope! Finally, he starts to look at animal and human cells, and even some one-celled organisms. Greg cheekily ends the book telling his family that they’d better get more microscopes, so they can all use them! This book could not be more perfect to set up the perfect science lesson—with a few microscopes on hand, the results of the book could be easily replicated. The book’s close-ups of microscopic salt, sugar, and more provide teachers with the opportunity to discuss hypotheses (e.g., “I hypothesize that the sugar will look like it does here. What’s your hypothesis? How might it look the same or different?”), and then to test hypotheses through some hands-on learning! Though the use of a microscope may be too abstract for early learners, this would be a no-less interesting read-and-experiment for children of a wide range of abilities. Further, as a “Science I Can Read” book, this book is a great introductory text for early readers. The book is a bit on the too-long side for early readers, but what young child wouldn’t be THRILLED to be able to read the word “microscope”?

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.3 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP

[Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

For kindergarten children, this is an excellent book to explain to children what a microscope is and the uses for a microscope. The children we go on an adventure with Greg as he looks it numerous things underneath his microscope.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to my daughter Sarah when my mother gave her a microscope and slides. She enjoyed the book very much and began to look at everything possible under the microscope. That was six years ago and we've since graduated to a more powerful microscope for high school.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful little book. Not only was it a great early reader that introduced some new vocabulary words, but it sparked an interest in our microscope and the types of things the kids could look at with it. I was impressed how well the illustrations matched real life.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great level 3 reader. A boys gets a microscope and looks at everything he can think of under it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

We brought back from MIL's house my husband's telescope and microscope. Ds is eager to use the microscope, so this book was a great introduction.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A celebration of scientific curiosity that makes me want to own a microscope.