The Handy Answer Book for Kids (And Parents), Second Edition
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Synopsis:
Written with a child’s imagination in mind, this easy-to-understand book permits kids to help themselves because it’s organized by simple topical chapters: Outer Space; Planet Earth and Our Moon; Creatures Big and Small; Plant Life; People around the World; Politics and Government; How Things Work; Math, Measurement, and Time; All about My Body; and Daily Life. Each question posed is given a complete and satisfying answer, going beyond “because” and “it just is” and “I don’t know.”
• Why do dogs bark?
• Why is the sky blue?
• Why do people have to grow old?
• Why do people speak different languages?
• How does my body know to wake up when morning comes?
• Why do women in some countries wear veils?
• How did my life begin?
• How does a vacuum cleaner pick up dirt?
"The biggest problem for parents with inquisitive children is not knowing the answers. For those times, consider [this book]." —Boston Globe
"Parents . . . can reach for [this resource] when their kids throw a doozy of a question their way."
Book Excerpt:
What are “dog days”?
"Dog days” are the hot, humid days of summer that usually take place in the Northern Hemisphere in July and August—typically between July 3 and August 11. The days get their name from the dog star Sirius of the constellation Canis Major. At this time of year, Sirius, the brightest visible star, rises in the east at the same time as the Sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. Ancient Egyptians believed that the heat of this brilliant star added to the Sun’s heat to create this hot weather—and they blamed the star for everything from withering droughts to sickness.
Can astronauts drink soda in space?
Yes! U.S. astronauts aboard Challenger’s 1985 flight drank Coke and Pepsi from special cans. Other astronauts have enjoyed corned beef sandwiches, hot dogs, graham crackers, and Life Savers. At Mir station in 1988, French cosmonaut Jean-Loup Chretien treated fellow cosmonauts to 23 gourmet foods from a French chef, including compote of pigeon with dates and dried raisins, duck with artichokes, oxtail fondue with tomatoes and pickles, and beef bourguignon. Now that’s fine dining!
Is there such a thing as a funny bone?
The funny bone exists in your body, but it’s not a bone at all! The funny bone is a part of the ulnar nerve located at the back of the elbow. If you accidentally bump this area it can cause a tingling sensation toward the front of your forearm. This tingling or dull pain is caused by the ulnar nerve bumping up against the humerus, the long bone that starts at your elbow and goes up to your shoulder. Although it might feel weird, tapping your funny bone doesn't do any damage to your elbow, arm, or ulnar nerve.
How much blood is inside my body?
The human body contains approximately 6 quarts (or 5.6 liters) of blood. Blood acts as your body’s transportation system—in one day, your blood travels nearly 12,000 miles. Pumped along by your heart, blood brings oxygen from the air you breathe and nutrients from the food you eat to all the cells of your body. (Your heart pumps 1 million barrels of blood during your lifetime—enough to fill three supertankers.) Blood also keeps cells clean and healthy by taking waste products away after the nutrients and oxygen have been used for processes like growth and repair. In addition, blood transports hormones—chemicals made in glands that control a variety of processes—throughout your body. Blood also carries heat throughout your body.
How is steel used in skyscrapers?
Tall, multistory structures called skyscrapers are made of steel, which is sturdier and lighter in weight than other building materials, such as brick and stone. In the late 1800s, when steel production became common, architects experimented with steel, forming it into long, thin pieces called girders. The first skyscrapers, built in the United States in the 1880s, were constructed using vertical columns and horizontal beams made from steel girders. This supporting skeleton allowed buildings to rise to ten or more stories. Skyscrapers grew taller when designers began using bundled steel tubes instead of heavy girders. Tube buildings, like Chicago’s Sears Tower, get most of their support from a stiff grid of steel columns and beams in their outer walls. The lighter weight pieces need less support, and so architects can add more height. Additional beams can be placed diagonally for additional support while adding little extra weight. The girders and beams are bolted together and welded on all sides so that the building way from side to side as a unit when the winds come.
How does a refrigerator work?
In the 1870s the German engineer Carl von Linde invented a continuous process of liquefying gases in large quantities, which led to his invention of the first efficient compressed-ammonia refrigerator. His revolutionary machine paved the way for the modern technology of refrigeration. Modern refrigerators run on ammonia gas, which liquefies when it is under high pressure using thermodynamics—a scientific law that says when two different temperatures of things touch or are near each other, the hotter surface cools and the colder surface warms up. Through the use of a compressor, small valves, and a coil, the liquid ammonia hits a low pressure, boils, and changes to a vaporizing gas. The coils go through the coldest part of the fridge, the freezer, as well as the main body of the refrigerator. The colder ammonia in the coil absorbs the heat out of the freezer and fridge, keeping the whole appliance cold. The compressor then takes back the ammonia gas and recycles it continuously. The thermometer inside the fridge regulates the temperature to make sure it is always the same.
What is stress?
Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. These chemicals give people more energy and strength, which can be a good thing if their stress is caused by physical danger—such as steering a bike out of a driveway if a car is approaching. But stress can also be a bad thing, if your is in response to something emotional and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength. Young people experience stress at a high rate, and females more than males, an extensive Associated Press/MTV survey showed in 2007. People under large amounts of stress can become tired, sick, irritable, and unable to concentrate or sleep, so it’s important to identify when you might be “feeling stressed” and take steps to lessen your stress level.
My grandmother has a lump on her chin that looks like cauliflower and spouts hair. What is this?
Changes are, your grandmother has a mole, a spot on the skin that is usually round or oval in shape. Moles can be small or large, smooth or lumpy, and range in color from pink, brown, red, or black. Skin moles can occur on any area of the body and even sprout hair. Moles are melanocytes—or cell factories that make pigments to give skin its color—that have grown in clusters rather than spreading throughout the skin. Moles can appear at any time or at any age; even babies are born with them occasionally. In fact, if you look carefully enough, you may find between 10 and 50 moles on your own body!
Why is it important to volunteer?
In 2007, many Americans—about 60 million people, or about 26 percent of Americans age 16 or older—volunteered, or performed unpaid work for a nonprofit organization (or charity), according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. They understood that volunteering is an important part of life. It provides an opportunity for us to see our world from a different perspective, gain exposure to new people, places, and situations, and make a difference in someone’s life. Volunteering provides us with a chance to interact with people from different backgrounds, who come together to support a common cause. Whether you serve in the arts, music, parks and recreation, sports, technology, or education, your neighborhood schools and nonprofit organizations always appreciate reliable and dedicated volunteers. Your reward is the feeling you get inside when you give your time and energy to help a person less fortunate than you.
Why is the bald eagle the official national symbol of the United States?
In 1782, six years after the end of the Revolutionary War, leaders of the newly independent United States were designing a national seal, an image that would appear on official documents and elsewhere. Eventually these men settled on the bald eagle for the Great Seal of the United States. The bald eagle was chosen in part because it was believed to be found only in North America. The bald eagle was also admired for its strength, its noble appearance, and the freedom of its life spent soaring through the sky. While the eagle became an important American symbol when it was adopted for the U.S. seal in 1782, it wasn’t until 1787 that it officially became the national emblem. The bald eagle has been used for the official seals of many states, and it has appeared on stamps, currency (or paper money), and several coins, including the quarter.
Topics/Categories:
Children's Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Parenting, Question and Answer
Genre:
Children's Nonfiction, General Culture, Parenting
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Original Publish Date:
October 1, 2009
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