Give It a Push! Give It a Pull!: A Look at Forces

You push a swing. Your brother pulls a wagon. Forces are at work all around you. But what exactly is a force? And how do forces act on different objects? Read this book to find out! Learn all about matter, energy, and forces in the Exploring Physical Science series—part of the Lightning Bolt Books™ collection. With high-energy designs, exciting photos, and fun text, Lightning Bolt Books™ bring nonfiction topics to life!

"Filled with large, engaging photos, each book is divided into subtopics that contain definitions, explanations, and several examples of the physical science principle. The end of each volume includes directions for completing an activity that illustrates the concept and prompts further thinking. Though content is slight, these books could serve as adequate introductions to their respective subjects." --The Horn Book Guide

"A primary teacher might reach for this book when introducing the physics of force and motion. The definitions are simple and supported by clear photographs. There is an explanation box consisting of one sentence, and an arrow indicates the part of the photo that is involved. This is just enough to catch a young student's interest if he or she is reading independently, or for a teacher to allow some student input at the turn of each page. The photographs reflect common experiences of young children in most communities. One of my favorites, the photo of the special olympics, may stretch their imaginations and sense of inclusion. Most children have access to media to catch some of these popular events. There is a wrap-up activity at the end of the text that will help students to understand the concept of force and how it works in their everyday life. The activity includes simple materials that are easy enough to obtain so that a few stations could be set up for small-group activity. The last page of the book contains two questions that students should answer after the activity. However, I did not feel that questions such as "Which ball needed the most force to move?" and "Which toss needed the most force?" were as clear as they might have been. The ideas are presented so simply that a second-grade teacher could use them easily. Students might try them out on the playground as well. This is a good book to use if you feel reluctant to start teaching young students physical science. What can be better than getting students outside, teaching science, and get students moving at the same time?" --NSTA

"Jellybean-bright backgrounds, large photographs, and brief texts will draw readers to this series. The use of questions and image choices help to make the topics relevant and interesting. Scientific terminology is accurate and understandable although at times the examples, such as 'Stepping on the gas makes a car give off pollution, ' are over-simplified. Occasional photos miss the mark. Attract and Repel implies that coins are magnetic. Captions closely follow the text, missing opportunities to extend content. The concluding activity is simple and clear, but the suggested websites are often too advanced for the audience." --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple

"With simplistic text accompanied by vivid photographs, each title explains an area of physical science, such as force, motion, and density. Using real life examples, the author explains the topic in a meaningful way for young readers. Each title is organized into five sections, followed by a hands-on activity that demonstrates the book's subject. This series would be a welcome addition to school libraries' science section as well as elementary science classrooms. Recommended." --Library Media Connection