Stuff You Need to Know! - Tapa dura

(review of UK edition) Inquisitive children who want to know 'why?' will love this book which is packed with facts presented in a clear, child-friendly way, with background information about our everyday world. An excellent way to encourage children to take an interest in science, which lies behind so many of the things we take for granted; as they enjoy the book they will come to appreciate and understand scientific principles in a way that will support their learning.-- (08/01/2016)

Packed with information, this book presents diagrams of the inner workings of 27 random gadgets, tools, and concepts that are a part of our daily lives, including electricity, sewage, a toaster, a vacuum cleaner, and a 3-D printer. Each spread depicts the process--often with cutaway drawings--with lots of tiny people running around to help make it work. Four spreads feature fold-out pages that offer extra content. Numbered paragraphs provide information, and dotted lines indicate the order in which the text should be read...Verdict An additional purchase for browsing.-- (12/01/2015)

(review of UK edition) A quirky, unusual and useful information book.--Andrea Reece"LoveReading4Kids" (10/01/2015)

Stuff You Need to Know virtually overflows with illustrations and information about 28 activities and objects from everyday life. In fact, the book is so jam-packed that eight gatefolds provide the extra room needed to explain complex activities.

Each item is on a double-page spread filled edge to edge with informative text in numbered sequence. Accurate, lighthearted illustrations reveal everything a step at a time.

The "stuff" ranges from taking out the garbage to launching a rocket. Here are some examples:

• Electricity -- Steam power, turbine, magnet, generator, current, transformer, mains, fuse, meter
• Making a Pizza (gatefold): How does a pizzeria deliver a pizza so quickly? Ingredients for the pizza base and topping, what they are, and where they come from.
• Microwave Oven -- Molecules, waves, cross-section of a microwave oven, protective layer, timer
• 3D Printer -- 3D model, CAD, programming in sections, nozzles, layers, spool, nozzle, acetone
• Setting Up a Satellite (gatefold) -- SatNet, geostationary, ACTS, transponder, thrusters, parabolic antennae
• Solar Panels -- Thermal energy, photo voltaic panels, pump, solar energy, solar power stations
• Toilet Tank -- Float, siphon tank, siphon ball, bowl, flow, suction, piston, valve, water supply pipe
• Weather Report -- Weather balloons, weather centers, satellites, GTS, supercomputer, chart, forecast.

Stuff You Need to Know! has the fascinating stories behind the everyday activities that we all take for granted. Readers of all ages will be surprised where the answers take them.