How Come? Every Science Question Explained

by Kathy Wollard, Debra Solomon (Illustrator)

Go ahead, ask your best question.
Goose bumps and the Cheerios effect. Why we don't fall off the spinning earth, and how fireflies glow. And the reason the sky is blue. Fact-filled, fun-filled, whimsically illustrated throughout, How Come? explains the enduring mysteries of the world around us through over 175 questions and answers. It answers questions about tricks of light and sound, like X-rays and the whistling wind. About unseen forces--what makes popcorn pop and water dance across a hot frying pan. About the great beyond--why Mars is red and Saturn has rings. And about everyday conundrums, like why cats purr and stomachs growl, how snakes move without hands or feet, why yawns are contagious, and why your tongue sticks to freezing cold metal.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Childrens, Reference

406 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 1993

Reviews

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of fun miscellaneous facts that science loving kids will enjoy. It's not really a book to read cover to cover as I did though. It's more of a look for what interests you, and read it. I'll add it to my classroom bookshelf.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some of the best explanations of natural phenomena I’ve ever encountered. Take the simple question, “why is the sky blue?” I have googled this and come up with many many hits, but none really made sense to me. This book, however, explains it in a way that gives you an “aha” moment. Even the questions she poses are great: Why, for example, does a mirror reverse images from side to side but not top to bottom? What do you really hear when you put a seashell to your ear? How do fish breathe underwater? Why do songs get stuck in your head? How does arm hair know to stop growing? Why does scratching make an itch feel better? Why can’t we tickle ourselves?

All of the questions in the book were submitted by real kids all over the world to Newsday’s “How Come” newspaper column.

Kids and parents alike will love the fun and plentiful cartoon-like color illustrations by Debra Solomon.

Evaluation: This is a terrific resource both for curious kids and for the parents who get posed all the questions from curious kids. Additionally, it will be a great help for kids who don't get full answers in school. Originally published in 1993, this is an updated version with more precise answers and twenty new questions.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was a kid, it explained all those questions you would ask your parents and they would give you some watered down explanation that left you with more questions. I admit I had a lot of questions as a kid, I wanted to know everything. This may have been a prelude to why I became a biology major in college, go figure. Great book for kids, although some explanations are lengthy and confusing it gives you a taste of real science and understanding the world.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my kids, but I have enjoyed it just as much if not more than they have! I LOVE learning how things work and why things are the way they are!!!! I would recommend this book to anyone that loves to learn about how the world, science, animals and our human bodies work.

[Kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea of this book is wonderful, but the explanations are disappointingly simplistic. I'd like to find a similar book with my scientifically educational explanations, but still for curious children (and their parents!)

[Hira · Rating 5 out of 5]

science-questioning

[Anggun P.W · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fave book when i was child

[Aprilita Kusumaningrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saya suka ilustrasinya di setiap bab . membuat saya tertawa. bahasanya mudah dipahami :D

[onysha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite fun and easy to read. Basic science, with some things you won't learn in school textbooks. I loved most of the cartoons.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be a great book to read to my kids because I know when I was young I asked similar questions. If I had a very curious and scientific child I might introduce them to this book.

[Lane Crawford Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little collection of answers to questions that I (and I'm sure others) found myself constantly asking when I was little

[Alexwheeler]

Did you know "How Come? Planet Earth" had a prequel? I didn't. Just as charming and informative as the original.

[Josie Michelle]

it has a lot of very cool stuff in it!

funny stuff too ! i am reading where moon came from now