Technology

 

Armentrout, David. Farm machinery / David and Patricia Armentrout. Vero Beach, Fl. : Rourke Book Co., 1995. 1559161353. Ages 4-8. Grade: B.

Farm machinery discusses such heavy machinery as tractors, plows, combines, cotton stripper, windrower, and harvester. There is a glossary and an index.

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Bingham, Caroline. Tractor / [written and edited by Caroline Bingham]. New York, NY : DK Pub., c2004. [ Machines at work] ISBN: 0756602173. Ages 4-12. Grade: A.

Tractor would more accurately be entitled farm machines. Some of the machines described are seed drills, crop sprayers, various harvesters, bailers, hay tredders, ATVs, and monster tractors. The photographs are excellent. One shows a machine where seven people are carried along just over the soil weeding seedlings on an organic farm. The text is full of fun facts. There is a glossary and an index.

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Brady, Peter. Tractors / by Peter Brady. Mankato, Minn : Bridgestone Books, c1996. 1560653485. Ages 4-8. Grade: A.

Simply and clearly details the parts of a tractor and its uses. For example, "Tractor tires have deep grooves called lugs. Lugs help tires go through mud and water without getting stuck. Some tractors have duals for even more grip." Mentions such details as farmers tracking engine hours rather than miles, the power takeoff, and some kinds of machinery pulled by a tractor. There is a hands on activity that suggests how a child can do the work of a tractor when planting bean seeds. There is a short glossary, index, and bibliography.

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Goldberg, Jan. Earth imaging satellites / Jan Goldberg. New York : Rosen Pub. Group, 2003. ISBN: 0823938530. Grade: A

Goldberg's Earth Imaging Satellites is an enthralling, well written exposition on the history, current state, and future of satellites. The book has a clean design with excellent photographs. (Ages 8-14) KWR, MLIS. (January 2004)

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Mann, Elizabeth. Hoover Dam / by Elizabeth Mann ; with illustrations by Alan Witschonke.New York : Mikaya Press, 2001. 1931414025. Ages 9-14. 02-05. Grade: A

Building the Hoover Dam was hard, dangerous work and many people died constructing it. However, times were so tough, there was no shortage of people willing to work on it. Excellent photos and illustrations and interesting quotes from people who helped build the dam. There is a four-page fold-out diagram that shows how the dam was built. There are dam facts, a list of those who died, and an index at the end of the book. KWR (02-05)

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Price Hossell, Karen. Ciphers and codes / Karen Price Hossell. Chicago, Ill. : Heinemann Library, c2003. 1588104842 [Communication Series] (Ages 10+) Grade: A

"A person who is interested in this kind of job [cryptology] should study mathematics and computer science. It's never too early to start preparing for your future!" (27)

Very interesting look at the history and current state of cryptology. Includes lots of interesting facts and brief biographies of famous cryptologists and the people they served. Includes the Navajo Code Talkers, the Enigma, and quilt messages. The end of the book as activities like making invisible ink and messages to decipher. Extensive glossary and index and a six item bibliography. KWR(03-04)

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Rogers. Hal. Plows / by Hal Rogers. [Chanhassen, MN] : Child's World, c2001. 1567667554 (lib. bdg.). Ages 4-8. Grade: B-.

Rogers. Hal. Tractors / by Hal Rogers. [Chanhassen, MN] : Child's World, c2001. 156766752X (lib. bdg.). Ages 4-8. Grade: B-.

Easy reader that mentions a few uses of tractors and several main parts. For example, "A tractor can pull heavy machines, such as a plow. A plow helps get soil ready for planting." The photos are good. The best one shows up close what the cab of one tractor looks like. There is a glossary.