First Big Book of How: How do polar bears keep warm? How do keys open locks? How to spacesuits work? The ultimate book of answers for kids who need to know HOW!

by Sally Symes, Slater (Illustrator), Saranne Taylor

Overview

A compendious and stunningly illustrated fact-filled book for children who have endless questions about how the world works.

How do scientists see into space? How do polar bears keep warm? How do keys open locks? How do fireworks explode? Featuring more than 150 compelling questions about space, Earth, machines, buildings, animals, and the human body, this magnificent book by the author-and-illustrator team behind the bestselling First Big Book of Why provides answers for every inquisitive child. And these are answers you can trust, as they have all been thoroughly fact-checked and reviewed by subject experts, who are proudly profiled in the book.

By encouraging children to question how things are happening in the world around them First Big Book of How supports STEAM learning and nurtures curious minds. The warm and playful text is accompanied by stunning real-life photography as well as gorgeous original illustrations and helpful, friendly diagrams. This book is the ultimate gift for kids who need to know everything—and now!

Includes a contents page, glossary, index and source notes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781804661192
Publisher:	What on Earth Publishing
Publication date:	10/15/2024
Series:	First Big Book
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	IG970L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Sally Symes worked for many years as a designer of children’s books before turning her skills to writing them. Her collaborations with Nick Sharratt have won several awards, including The Educational Writers’ Award for The Gooey, Chewy, Rumble, Plop, and she is the author of the bestselling Britannica First Big Book of Why. She works from a shed in Sussex, UK, accompanied by her grumpy cat.

Kate Slater grew up on a beautiful farm in deepest Staffordshire, and studied illustration at Kingston University. Her children’s books include: Britannica First Big Book of Why, A is for Ant, The Birthday Crown, The Little Red Hen, Magpie’s Treasure, and Make Your Own Flying Machines.

Saranne Taylor is a writer of children’s books, primarily on STEAM and other nonfiction topics. When she qualified as a teacher, she became passionate about inspiring school children and young readers. Since then, it has been her aim to excite children’s natural enthusiasm for learning by combining intriguing content with entertaining visuals. When she’s not writing, she loves hiking with her family and dog in the Italian countryside where she lives.

Editorial Reviews

"Rewarding childhood curiosity, the reference text First Big Book of How makes scientific inquiry fun, explaining diverse topics with an engaging visual style."Jeff Fleischer

Selected as a 2025 Foreword INDIES Finalist. Foreword INDIES

"The book looks great and the short sections make for a breezy reading experience." - YA Books Central Book Review

"The facts feel like thrilling wisdom passed between friends on the playground… [a] well-researched, visually impressive informational treat" - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Rewarding childhood curiosity, First Big Book of How makes scientific inquiry fun, explaining diverse topics with an engaging visual style." - Foreword Magazine

"Curious kids will enjoy the eye-catching visuals while soaking up their new-found knowledge." - Booklist

“Informative and thoroughly 'kid friendly' in organization and presentation.” - Midwest Book Review – Children’s

Readers will appreciate that many of the questions are not ones typically found in similar books." - Youth Services Book Review

Selected by the Children's Book Council for October 2024 Hot of the Press List

"The images are large and engaging for young readers. This book is a wonderful resource for home or a classroom." - Children's Literature, (CLCD) five star review

"My daughter absolutely loved the axolotl section and how cute they were. I don’t have enough words to describe everything contained in this book. It’s a great educational tool for children who always wonder how things work." YA Books Central Book Review

2024 Honorable Mention for Juvenile Nonfiction Foreword INDIES

From the Publisher

★ 2024-09-14
Fascinating photos and interesting illustrations take center stage in this fun, fact-filled book.

A colorful, appealingly organized, and straightforward table of contents describes the six high-interest subjects the book covers—the body, machines and buildings, wild animals, bugs, Earth, and space—immediately signaling to readers that they can enjoy the information within in myriad ways. Longer segments that answer questions like “How do touchscreens work?” and “How do we know what extinct creatures looked like?” allow learners to gain a more in-depth understanding of a range of subjects. Many pages include a text bubble that presents a “wacky fact,” a fascinating tidbit designed to engage and impress—for example, that scientists once found a suit of armor in a shark’s stomach—which is a clever way to help readers retain information. For those with shorter attention spans, “Tell me how…NOW!” spreads provide quick answers to burning questions, such as “How many times do people pass gas in a day?” The informal language and kid-friendly phrasing make the facts feel like thrilling wisdom passed between friends on the playground, and the numerous references to poop will delight many readers. Stunning photographs interspersed among the charming illustrations and clear scientific diagrams add greatly to the overall appeal. The photos and artwork portray a racially diverse array of people.

A well-researched, visually impressive informational treat. (glossary, index, source notes, picture credits)(Nonfiction. 5-10)

Kirkus Reviews