Books in Step Into Science series

Earle takes children on an undersea journey to explore an amazing "underwater city." She explains the formation of coral reefs and provides information about the conditions needed for survival. In addition, the author introduces other animals that live in and near the reef and stresses the importance of protecting corals from pollution. Matthews's ink-and-gouache paintings bring the colors and variety of this habitat to life. The book also includes a simple experiment that demonstrates how "filter feeders" strain food from the water.

What are stars made of? Where do they go in the daytime? How far away are they? A boy and his bike-riding dog take readers on a stellar journey to answer these and other intriguing questions. Along the way, children discover that our sun is a star and that stars of many sizes and colors twinkle throughout the universe. Simple text and whimsical art introduce the science of stars, explaining concepts such as brightness, distance, and why stars appear to move across the sky. Then patterns in the stars come to life dramatically in the form of lions, bulls, and people in the various constellations.

Step-by-Step Science provides a simple introduction to a wide range of scientific subjects. Each topic is explained with examples from everyday life, and through the use of activities and simple experiments makes science both fun and accessible. All the Step-by-Step titles are written in a direct and easy style. They are illustrated in full colour with a lively mix of artwork and photographs. Each title follows the Step-by-Step approach, gradually building up for children a wider picture of the world in which they live.