Quantum Physics for Babies

Baby University

by Chris Ferrie

Simple explanations of complex ideas for your future genius!

Written by an expert, Quantum Physics for Babies is a colorfully simple introduction to the principle that gives quantum physics its name. Babies (and grownups!) will discover that the wild world of atoms never comes to a standstill. With a tongue-in-cheek approach that adults will love, this installment of the Baby University board book series is the perfect way to introduce basic concepts to even the youngest scientists. After all, it's never too early to become a quantum physicist!

Baby University: It only takes a small spark to ignite a child's mind.

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, Physics, Stem, Kids

24 pages, Board Book

First published September 3, 2013

About the author

I am Chris Ferrie, father of four and happy husband. My day job is academic research where I follow my curiosity through the word of quantum physics. My passion for communicating science has led from the most esoteric topics of mathematical physics to more recently writing children’s books.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book on the subject that I can really say I understood - watch out Sheldon Cooper! But for children (much smarter than I am) this is a fantastic first book on quantum physics. A very good very early STEM book that is a wonderful way to help to introduce this often 'spooky' subject!

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five stars to the title: this is absolutely the best title on my kid's shelf. One star to the pages: I'm more confused about quantum physics now than I was before I read it, and I was pretty fucking confused before. My toddler is incurably bored by the whole thing.

[April · Rating 1 out of 5]

These are novelty books. For the scientist who is having a baby, or something like that. As a librarian who purchases for our board book collection, I simply do not see the value that the Baby University adds to our library. The concepts, while explained in a very simple manner, are still too difficult for a baby or toddler to understand. The only thing I can see going for these books is that the vocabulary is new and unusual, which can be looked at as a positive. However, the books are not interesting and will not capture the attention of babies and toddlers, which are the audience board books are made for. If Chris Ferrie had made this a hardcover series called ____ for Kids, I think I would be writing a very different review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering I had no idea what a "quantum" was, this book taught me something. Seriously, why aren't all difficult subjects taught in this manner? The basics at least. I might have done better in school in those subjects at least.

4 stars because I learned something. Cute concept for children and if it helps them, all the better. I don't think it could hurt.

[Emily Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

I am a high school chemistry teacher and I use this to teach about quanta and the Bohr model of the atom.

[Ward · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ik moet me inhouden niet teveel te gaan typen over dit babyboek. Het komt er op neer dat als ik dit boek als baby/peuter had voorgelezen gekregen ik waarschijnlijk gewoon was weggelopen. Dit is overigens een hele serie (ik heb ook Quantum Entanglement for Babies gelezen, ook niet goed), terwijl het lijkt toch het meest op een uit de hand gelopen grap. Is ook gewoon in het Nederlands vertaald. Terwijl het is echt saai, niet interessant en ook niet echt een uitleg, meer een opsomming van feiten.

Shit, ik heb toch teveel getypt.

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got four of these books for my baby friend's birthday. Her parents were SO excited! It's hilarious trying to teach science to someone who can't wear clothes when they eat. We all imagine baby-friend running around kindergarten talking about physics and newton's laws!

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, Canadian quantum physicist and university professor Chris Ferrie (who like me received his PhD from the University of Waterloo) in his 2013 (2017 for the second edition) board book Quantum Physics for Babies (and with no help from coauthors in Quantum Physics for Babies either) textually and illustratively provides (not to and for actual infants, not to and for actual babies as the rather gimmicky book titles of the entire Baby University series of board books claim and imply but certainly geared towards young children from about two to five years of age) an accessible (read understandable) introduction to quantum physics through the use of a ball model and then exploring atoms, neutrons, electrons and where they all fit in and around that ball (which is obviously meant to represent an atom). And indeed, this is all basically and nicely simply shown both with and by Ferrie's printed words and equally his accompanying illustrations (with different colours representing protons, neutrons and electrons), although I do have to wonder a bit whether Chris Ferrie should even be using a Bohr model (for a board book published in the 21st century), since the Bohr model is actually considered to be rather obsolete and dated and that we also now know there are not just protons, neutrons and electrons but in fact other and even smaller particles contained in and around an atom and that Quantum Theory for Babies should in my humble opinion thus at least show these particles, even if Ferrie will be focussing not on them but on where electrons are located around the nucleus of an atom.

But while the beginning of Quantum Physics for Babies is as already mentioned above generally appreciatively simple (albeit it did take me a moment to realise and recall that only electrons are located above the nucleus of an atom, that both protons and neutrons make up the nucleus and not just neutrons, for well, the last time I was confronted with what makes up an atom was in the early 1980s during high school physics), I really do NOT understand what quantised means and I wonder why Chris Ferrie would put that word into the text of Quantum Physics for Babies without in my opinion then adequately explaining it. Because while this board book, while Quantum Physics for Babies starts out great and age appropriately basic, by the end, I certainly am as someone who has never been good regarding physics rather confused and would likely also have trouble explaining the energy and quantum parts of Quantum Physics for Babies to the intended audience, to very young children (who would likely or who could likely be as confused and as befuddled as I have been). Therfore, as Quantum Physics for Babies is obviously supposed to be a board book that parents are to be sharing with their young children, well, if I as an older and university educated adult am having trouble understanding that a quantum is the amount of energy an electron uses to move, how can I then adequately explain this to a child or to a group of children with and to whom I am reading Quantum Physics for Babies, so that for a star rating for Quantum Physics for Babies, I can and will only consider a low three stars and to point out that at the beginning of Quantum Physics for Babies, Chris Ferrie does really well but that he becomes increasingly and annoyingly more confusing and textually frustrating as his text progresses (and that I do most definitely find only the beginning parts of Quantum Physics for Babies decently amd suitably simple and basic for an intended board book audience).

[John of Canada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was never very good at science,but after reading this I can honestly say that it was all my teacher's faults. Next up is string theory and organic chemistry.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

The material in this book was always my favourite part (those active electrons!) when we discussed atoms and their various bits in school.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to buy this for ever baby ever.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good grief...everything I know about quantum physics I learned from a board book. Very cool.

[Satvika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple and fastest way to make your babies (and mommies too ) as smart as Sheldon Cooper..love it! hahaha

[Merhan Fouad · Rating 5 out of 5]

the cutest thing I have seen in my entire life

[Kristin R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for babies and parents who want early exposure to STEM topics.

[Piret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and simple explanation of the basics of quantum physics for babies.

[Vira]

I liked it but I am not target audience, and I wonder: do babies like it?

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Ferrie has written an entire set of STEM books for babies. It's simultaneously hilarious and informative. Can you imagine reading to your 4 month old about quantum physics or Newtonian physics? How about quantum entanglement? There's a book for you in this series! Honestly, I'd read these for myself because it simplifies even the most complicated of sciences. You can actually begin to understand it. It's never too early to read these for your child.

[Megababy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mom review: Not very deep, but pretty good for a baby book. And even I learned something. Baby really seemed to like the simple pictures and bright shapes. Dad approves because it's more educational than the calculus book (which baby and I haven't read yet, but he has).
4/2/16

[Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for babies! Never too early to get kids started on quantum mechanical principles.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my one month old during her morning feeding. She seemed to be so into it she wasn't even drinking her milk.

[Kika · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter's very first book - get on her level, scrubs.

I want all of these. They are incredibly wonderful.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the best gift I ever got. <3

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME BOARD BOOK. STEM Storytime material for a silly baby lapsit.

[Vonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik heb dit boek gekregen van mijn natuurkunde docent, omdat ik me verveelde in de les. Daarom heb ik dit boek in 1 sessie uitgelezen. Echt een top boek.

[Vi's Reviews in One Line · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
this one makes two overly large leaps—I’m still a little unclear exactly what quantized means

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

truly one of the best books ive ever read.

[Birkir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doing a bit of prep work for my modern physics class

[Annika Unterberger]

Man kann nicht früh genug anfangen, seine Kinder spielerisch für Wissenschaft zu interessieren.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

was so excited to find this and will eventually buy the whole set. so cute!