Hands-down favorites for kids

about nature, science, and the world around them

When Allison Cagley talks about Explorit Science Center, her passion for children and education is palpable. As development director for the children’s science center in Davis, Cagley knows the impact that science can have on children. “Explorit is a great place for kids. The center beckons them to learn about the world around them while having fun. Being able to touch and explore things gets them excited about science and nature. When children have a variety of educational opportunities, it helps them become more productive and well-rounded adults.”
    Cagley’s focus this year is on Explorit’s capital campaign. “We’ve already raised $1.24 million towards our $2.4 million goal. In April we unveiled our donor wall. Because we’re a hands-on science center, we’re doing silver and gold hand plaques.” When Explorit supporters pledge $1,000, $2,500, or more, a hand plaque personalized with their name or message will be permanently displayed on the donor wall in the new building on Second Street. The plaques resemble the engraved donor bricks of many public buildings. “By giving Explorit a tax deductible ‘hand,’ donors help us reach the finish line of our capital campaign.”
    As the mother of three children, now teenagers, Cagley says she chose books that help children build an interest in a lot of different topics, especially science. “I also chose these books because they help children understand science through observation, appreciation and experimentation.” Here are her recommendations:

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Ages 4-8

Cagley says she loves On the Day You Were Born: Book and Musical CD (Harcourt Children’s Books, $17.95) by Debra Frasier. “I bought this book when my kids were little. It really celebrates the child as a person and where she fits in the cycle of nature and the world at large. The writing is very poetic with lovely language.” Frasier’s book has welcomed babies into the world for more than a decade, selling over a million copies. The text explains how the sun, moon, ocean tides, rain, trees, air, animals and people of the world come together to welcome a baby’s arrival. This classic now includes a musical CD featuring original music by Matthew Smith to accompany the book’s moving narrative.

The Tooth Book (Random House for Young Readers, $8.99) by Dr. Seuss, writing as Theo. Lesieg, and illustrated by Joseph Mathieu, is a fun classic about teeth in people and animals. Cagley says kids, especially toddlers, are very oral. “I like that the text is limited so you can make this a fun, quick page-turner for your toddler and the sing-song language makes listening fun. The book does a good job of explaining why each animal has certain kinds of teeth. You could use this book with a mirror so your toddler can compare their teeth to the animal teeth in illustrations. And Dr. Seuss books are always classic fun.” Here’s a book that’s educational and entertaining while it explains who has teeth, who doesn’t, and how to keep the ones you have.

Like most moms, Cagley knows that sometimes little kids have limited attention spans. That’s one reason why she likes Why? The Best Ever Question and Answer Book about Nature, Science, and the World Around You (Maple Tree Press, $19.95) by Catherine Ripley, illustrated by Scot Richie. “This book is fun to pick up for a few minutes to start a dialogue with your kids about almost any topic. You can open to any page to learn something fascinating. It’s also a good book to help you answer your child’s questions about the world, nature and science. The index helps you find your area of interest. As your kids get older, Why? can be helpful with class projects.” Bright, cartoon drawings and often hilarious illustrations help explain the answers without oversimplifying information. Ripley’s book provides easily understood explanations for many of life’s everyday mysteries.

Ages 9-12

If you’re looking for a book to occupy your kids on a hot summer day, Cagley recommends Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself (Nomad Press, $14.95) by Maxine Anderson. “This book will get your child busy building lots of fascinating things. The items you need to make some of the inventions are things you already have around the house, or you can pick them up at the local grocery or hardware store very inexpensively. The pictures and diagrams make instructions easy to follow and your child (or the child in you!) less apt to get frustrated.” Using common household objects (duct tape, foil, paper towel tubes), readers can make a parachute, hydrometer, invisible ink, walk-on-water shoes and more. Detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams and templates are interspersed with historical facts, anecdotes and trivia. This activity book invites your child to explore Leonardo’s life, times and endless imagination.

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