The Shocking World of Electricity with Max Axiom, Super Scientist

by Liam O'Donnell, Richard Dominguez (Illustrator)

Overview

Follows the adventures of Max Axiom as he explains the science behind electricity including how it is produced and how electricity is distributed. Written in graphic-novel format.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780736878883
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	01/01/2007
Series:	Graphic Science Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.12(d)
Age Range:	8 - 14 Years

About the Author

Liam O'Donnell was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in Canada.  He's lived in Toronto, Canada and is the author of several graphic novels, including the Max Finder Mystery series of you-solve-it comics.  He's never met a pirate and not sure if he ever wants to.  When he's not writing stories, he loves playing video games and going camping, but not at the same time.

Table of Contents

Powering our world — Energy to electricity — Electricity on the move — Power at our fingertips.

Editorial Reviews

Illustrated in comic-book style with vivid full-color graphics, this book explores the world of electricity. When Super Scientist Max Axiom gets shocked after touching a doorknob, he dives in to find out more about the world of electricity. From atoms to powerlines, Max Axiom grabs the readers’ interest with action-packed adventures, encouraging them to learn more about renewable energy, batteries and conservation. He makes a hard-to-comprehend subject more understandable. ParenTown Bookshelf

Kidsville News!

Join Super Scientist Max Axiom in adventures covering various science concepts in kid-friendly “graphic novel” format. These books are sure to appeal to middle level kids and teachers with their easy-to-follow story lines and clear explanations of science concepts. Each book includes additional facts, a glossary, book and internet suggestions, and an index. Recommended.

Pennsylvania School Librarians Association

The novel graphic format utilized in the Max Axiom, Super Scientist series is attractive and engaging. The bright, colorful pictures will appeal to children and keep them reading about science. These books could be used effectively in or out of a school setting. Each book focuses on a single theme, but the subject is covered in a manner that cuts across scientific disciplines. The book on sound, for example, covers the physics of sound waves, the anatomy of the larynx and ear, echoes, sonar, and hearing loss. The flow from topic to topic is natural, and the books are cohesive. Capstone Press, the publisher, claims that the books are “designed to help below-level readers access text.” The scientific terminology, which is reasonably extensive for this age level, is clearly defined. The glossary and index help. The books also include generally well-done detailed diagrams to clarify some of the more difficult topics. The only shortcoming of these titles is that some of the simplified explanations result in misleading or erroneous information. The book on electricity, for example, defines electrical charge as a form of energy and states that volts are a measure of force. Also, a reader might be confused by the idea that current is measured in amps, but “electricity” is measured in “watts.” And a child is likely to come away from the book thinking that electrons move through wires at the speed of flight and are converted into energy in resistors. (The book doesn’t actually say these things, but the explanations presented might easily lead to such misconceptions.) The books on forces and motion and on sound do not include the same degree of oversimplification. All of the books cite recommended readings and Internet sites for readers who wish to learn more. The publisher’s materials indicate that quizzes are available to accompany the books. Overall, these books are useful, particularly for students who are highly visual, who find reading to be challenging, or who are not naturally curious about science.

Science Books and Films

I’m in love – or, better yet, my son is in love! We’ve had the opportunity to review graphic science books on all sorts of topics that are fun and easy to read. Comic book style science sounds really fluffy doesn’t it? Believe it or not, the Max Axiom series is full of “real” science that goes deep enough to be appropriate for any upper elementary/early middle school child. My son is a less-than-zealous textbook reader. (Picture eyes glazing over and giant yawns.) After reading – or being read to – from a textbook, he recalls very little of the information. Over the years, I’ve turned science into hands-on unit studies and supplemented with lots of library books, which has worked quite well. During one of these unit study times, I came across Max Axiom and wanted to know more. I found that Capstone Press offers many, many Max Axiom books, and boy were my son and I excited! Twenty-four books total cover the areas of biology/botany, chemistry, physical and earth science. In each book, Max Axiom (a scientist with super powers), goes on an adventure to learn all about the topic at hand. He can shrink to the size of bacteria and whiz through the human body, or go back in time to learn more about a famous scientist of the past. All of this in a 32 page comic book! (When I say comic book, don’t think of flimsy pages, these are “real” books.) http://thecurriculumchoice.com/2011/07/max-axiom-graphic-science-books/

Curriculum Choice blog