BROWSABLE NONFICTION : More Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff by Stephanie Warren Drimmer & 101 Life Hacks by Aubre Andrus
ABOUT THE BOOK
Ever wonder how haunted houses got their spooky rep; where cheese originally came from; and when and where people decided hitting a tiny ball with a long stick (ahem, golf?) was their idea of fun? Prepare to be amazed by the surprising backstories behind the things you use or do every day! From familiar foods and common clothing items to bizarre beauty regimens and quirky products, this book covers all your burning questions: Who thought of that? Where did that come from? Why is that a thing?
This riveting little treasure is jam-packed with awesome facts, fun stories, and colorful visuals. Once you know all this cool stuff about the origins of everyday stuff, you can "wow" your friends and family.
REVIEW
Each of the chapters in More Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff looks at a category of commonly used items and gives a brief history of it's invention or development. Some of the categories include playtime, food, clothing, health & medicine, and devices & doodads. Each chapter describes the beginnings of inventions such as thermometer's tissues, silly putty, concrete, hoodies, films, remote controls and numerous other items used by people. Mixed in with the two page spreads on various individual items are miscellaneous topics that have several items briefly described on each page. These topics include lost secrets, camping out, strange remedies, killer clothing, and movie magic. Along with the fascinating information are great photographs and illustrations. There are also little side bubbles with "Bet You Didn't Know" tidbits. For readers both young and old who love trivia and surprising bits of information about all kinds of things this book is a winner.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Upcycle, recycle, and/or repurpose your stuff and engineer your way out of all kinds of sticky situations--all while learning about science and sustainability as you do it! Make cool lantern lights for your room, discover a tried-and-true brain freeze cure, learn how to boost your memory power, and more. In this easy-to-follow guide, kids get tips and tricks for upcycling and reusing old stuff, as well as hands-on activities, fun facts, and insights from professional-grade life hackers who use their problem-solving skills to change the world.
By the end, you'll be able to hack your way through all kinds of problems, from a messy backpack to stage fright, a drippy ice pop to smelly shoes!
REVIEW
The 'hacks' shared in this book provide all kinds of ideas for making life simpler and in many cases neater. In addition to the 101 ideas for simplifying your life there are stories of what the book calls 'hackers' who have used their inventing skills and ideas to make a difference. There are also tips for creating your own 'hacks'. Some of my favorite tips are the use of a cupcake liner to catch dripping ice cream and creating a table of contents at the front of your notebook so you can find where notes on different topics can be found. Other ideas include: using a sock to keep your water bottle cold, poring pancake batter out from a squeeze bottle, and getting rid of the hiccups by holding your breath for a couple of seconds and swallowing. The ideas shared in this book are more than worth the price of the book because of the usefulness of the tips. Fabulous for adults and children.
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