The Radio

Gr 2-4-These brief introductions begin by explaining what items were used before the featured invention was developed, such as telegrams (Telephone) and the abacus (Computer). Each title traces the process of discovery for its device, explains how it works, and discusses its impact on humanity. The books' pleasing layout will entice youngsters and help them gain information as they read the simple texts. Mostly black-and-white photographs and drawings show the individuals responsible for creating the inventions and their first use in society, while color photos highlight the more current usage. Each offering ends with a page of "Fast Facts" and an interesting activity (making a telephone with cups and string, using binary code to write a message, and making radio waves with a battery and coin). Joanne Mattern's Telephones (Enslow, 2002) and Josepha Sherman's The History of the Personal Computer (Watts, 2003) provide more in-depth coverage.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.