From its title, Do You Know Rocket Science? could be confused with something from the What Is or Who Was from the Who HQ authored series of books. While that series is awesome, they’re for older readers, which is somewhat ironic given the subject matter of rocket science. Instead, Do You Know Rocket Science? is actually a book about rocket science, that’s presented on a level that pre-k through first, as well as, their parents, will understand and enjoy. It’s from Chris Ferrie, an author who we’ve written about on a couple of occasions that has a knack for turning science and STEM into something that kids want to know about.
The curious nature of science will make kids want to know things. Those pre-k kids know what an airplane is, but they do not know how it’s able to fly. I would question if most adults, without looking it up, could explain to a child how an airplane is able to break the steely confines of gravity. We would stumble about something like a big engine and velocity, but those kids would still questioningly look out of the corner of their eyes as if we were making it all up.
Do You Know Rocket Science? doesn’t waste any time in introducing thrust and lift, they’re the peanut butter and jelly of things being able to get off of the ground. Readers are quickly introduced to Kathryn Johnson, but she’s not the narrator of the book. It’s just an illustration of her holding a space shuttle and pointing to a blackboard that’s probably showing the formula for rocket science. I say probably because I don’t know rocket science, I’ve just read this Level 1 book that’s meant for kids aged four through six.
Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 are the building blocks of books that parents and young readers have come to love. Level 3 readers are able to read alone and most of those books have short chapters in paragraphs, as well as, more complex sentences. Level 2 books are designed for K through second grade and introduce contractions and compound sentences. Level 1 consists of easy vocabulary, short sentences, word repetition and simple content.
Do You Know Rocket Science? is a Level 1 book, and true to its description, the text is complete, with simple sentences or questions that point out the fundamental things. Most of the illustrations have human attributes, like a smile on the space shuttle or airplane, that allow those pre-k kids to identify with the book from the get-go.
This is approachable magic that is demystified for pre-k kids. They’ll pick up sticks outside and pretend that they’re airplanes, it’s only logical that they’ll be able to handle the basic concepts of how things are able to do so. If anything, it’s more likely that adults would scoff at the notion of a four or five-year-old being able to understand lift and thrust. Ferrie’s board books like Quantum Physics for Babies, Rocket Science for Babies, or General Relativity for Babies, to mention a few of them, introduce these and more concepts to one-year-old children.
However, those are board books that are meant for babies. Do You Know Rocket Science? ain’t no stinking baby book and those pre-k kids will understand that. This is a smart book that they’ll enjoy and just might stoke the STEM fire that will feed their curiosity, make a difference in the future, and provide them with a stable, well-paid career.
Do You Know Rocket Science? is by Chris Ferrie, with illustrations by him and Lindsay Dale-Scott and is available on Sourcebooks eXplore, an imprint of Sourcebooks Kids.
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