The Book of Big Science Ideas

by Freya Hardy, Sara Mulvanny (Illustrator)

Ideas are important. They change things. A single idea can start a war, save billions of lives, even rearrange whole planetary systems, or simply make a person giggle until they pee a little bit. They can be totally wrong but widely believed, or undoubtedly right and completely ignored. What’s more, they’re free, and anyone can have one–including you! 

The Book of Big Science Ideas looks at 15 brilliant science ideas and more than 50 ingenious thinkers who have helped shape our understanding of the world – whether they were right or wrong!
 
Thinkers include, Wang Zhenyi, Louis Pasteur, Marie Curie, James Joule, Rosalind Franklin, Charles Darwin, Aristotle, Edith Clarke, Isaac Newton, Grace Hopper, Alan Turing, Ada Lovelace and many, many more!

From established ideas like atoms, electricity and the solar system, and ideas that are still evolving such as gravity, energy and classification, right up to recent discoveries like AI and genetics – this jam-packed book takes a fresh approach to science.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Middle Grade

80 pages, Hardcover

Published October 8, 2019

About the author

Freya Hardy is a freelance writer. She regularly contributes to a number of national and international magazines. She worked as an editor for several publishers for eight years before deciding to view the publishing world from an author’s point of view instead. Fascinated by history she has a particular interest in 20th century history and World War II. She lives with her husband and twin daughters in East Sussex.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well presented, interesting, engaging. Geared for upper elementary age, though my six-year-old did sit through the read-aloud with my oldest. We read one "big idea" and the corresponding "big thinkers" each day. Would have given five stars except there is no bibliography! Otherwise, great for overviews of some key scientific ideas and groundbreaking thinkers and inventors and a good springboard for deeper dive on each subject or individual. Especially good at showing how ideas evolve over time – even in science-- how what was believed at one point in time was later disproven, elaborated upon etc. – some of the thinkers go as far back as the ancient Greeks just trying to form ideas of how to make sense of the world in a somewhat scientific way – even shows how imagination (science fiction) contributed to ideas that became science fact later on.

[Erika Sarutobi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read especially with how it was organized. Each topic took a page explaining what it was then the next page would be about the scientists that helped start and develop the ideas. I really liked that the illustrations in each page was connected to the topic.

There were a bit of warning about technology (information wise) and environmental impacts of advancement.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sent to me to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book is such a great book for children who love science! It consists of 15 ideas and subjects and tells you so much information without being overloading for a childs brain. It is bright with great pictures and tells you about many different famous people related to each subject.
My favourite bit is the timelines at the back, I think its amazing to see them in such a fun colourful way that children will remember more due to this.

A great book for a gift or a christmas present idea.

[Leah Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fascinating 15 scientific ideas. What they mean. What has been done with them. Who was involved with them. Over 50 brilliant minds who took a thought and helped to revolutionize our world.

What amazed me was Democritus (460-370 BCE) was one of the first people to suggest that all matter is made up of individual particles called atomos. This is incredible. Way way way back in the day when modern scientific advancements were simply a dream and these ideas were already in place. The human mind is vast and full of Infinite brilliant potential.

This whole book shows how infinitely incredible ideas can be. Something you think about today, may in 200 years be proven to be true.

Keep on dreaming.

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book and breaks down complex topics into simple, beautiful descriptions. Plus great illustrations. There were a few gaps, like talking about alternative fuels without mentioning nuclear, and I also didn’t love the focus on identities (big focus on big thinkers overcoming gender discrimination etc.) - can’t my daughter just read about awesome women scientists without being told it’s a big scary field with lots of discrimination (which maybe, if she’s lucky, can be overcome)?

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book of Big Science Ideas is a must read!

The book of Big Science Ideas opens with 10 things you will learn. Readers learn what science is and how the scientific method works.

The information was five stars. The layout was too busy for me thus overwhelming me. I found it disturbing that there was almost no diversity shown.

[Jack Gabrielli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun little book with some cool science facts. I think kids would enjoy it quite a bit. I would keep this book in class for if I have to teach a science class.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun book for young curious minds who want to learn more about science and how stuff works. The illustrations are colourful and engaging and the text is broken up into easily readable portions. I absolutely love how the illustrations of the 'Big Ideas' directly link to the 'Big Thinkers'. For example, Big Idea 3 regarding the universe and the solar system, shows the Big Thinkers as star constellations. How awesome! Or idea 7 regarding evolution shows the Big Thinkers as fossils. So clever! I really appreciate the added effort and detail. Would recommend.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Book of Big Science Ideas: From Atoms to AI and from Gravity to Genes: How Science Shapes Our World' by Freya Hardy with illustrations by Sara Mulvanny is a science book for young readers looking at some big ideas and how they have formed over many, many years.

The 15 ideas in this book are each presented on 4 pages. The first two define and talk about the idea, then explain why it's important, so for atoms, we learn what an atom is and the structure of atoms. The next two pages talk about the big thinkers behind the ideas. These thinkers are taken from throughout time, and the reader can see how ideas evolved over time. The book ends with some ideas and thinkers who didn't make the book and a timeline for each of the 15 ideas.

I liked the structure of the book. The design is engaging. The concepts are explained very well. There is a lot of information given in just a few pages. There is even a glossary at the end for many of the words used.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Ivy Kids, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.