Synopsis "The Story Book of Science (in English)"
Originally published in 1917, "The Story Book of Science" is a detailed children's story book about nature. "Uncle Paul" teaches his niece and nephews about nature with a passion and zeal rarely seen in science books. Each of the 80 chapters in the book illustrates some new truth about nature from a godly perspective, and serves as a launching pad for interesting discussions. "Uncle Paul" relates things in ways that are easy to picture. Children will learn how many balls the size of the earth it would take to fill the sun (if it were hollow), that volcanic orifices have safety valves which help to prevent disastrous earthquakes, and how ants milk their own cows. They will also learn how to tell some poisonous mushrooms from others, how pearls are made, how to remove venom from bites, and much more. The units of measure in this book are a little antiquated, and the vocabulary can be challenging at times. However, the context of "The Story Book of Science" always makes the lessons so clear that younger children can still enjoy it. The story form of the book, with the children asking questions and marveling alongside Uncle Paul, combined with interesting information make "The Story Book of Science" accessible to a wide range of ages. The science itself is amazingly accurate. There is even a discussion about relative motion on trains, which actually didn't have a "theory" until Einstein. "The Story Book of Science" was written by Jean Henri Fabre, whose infectious enthusiasm and animated, genuine interest in nature as made by God, makes it well worth the reading. The literary charm of the book, coupled with stories of the ants' subterranean city, the spider's suspension bridge, the mystery behind thunder and lightning, the year and its seasons, and much more, make "The Story Book of Science" a classic that will be enjoyed by children for years to come.
