It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed some children’s non-fiction, but with great excitement it’s time to look at a new book from What On Earth! The Greatest Stuff on Earth is another great addition to their catalog of informative children’s books. The book’s tagline is “The amazing science of Sunlight, Smartphones, Microphones, Mushrooms and Everything in Between.” Yes, this is a “science of everything” book, and who doesn’t love one of those?
What Is The Greatest Stuff on Earth?
Through the book we journey into the world of materials; how they are made and how we utilize them. Aimed at readers aged 8 upwards, there’s lots of “stuff” here that will interest all ages.
The Greatest Stuff on Earth is divided into 3 sections with the final section taking up roughly half of its 124 pages.
Section 1, “Stuff: The Basics” offers a brief overview of matter and energy. Section 2, “Nature Stuff” starts at the beginning, with the Big Bang, before moving onto stars, planets, and then water and air. After that, it takes a look at “The Coolest Feat – Life.”
Section 3, “Stuff Humans Make and Use” looks at food, fuel, and shelter before moving on to advances in technology such as motors, paper (very hi-tech, once upon a time), and finally the smartphone. The final four pages of this section are dedicated to “the problems of stuff,” which my wife might define as the books piling up across the bedroom floor…
The Greatest Stuff on Earth closes out with a comprehensive glossary, a note on the methods of research used, a list of sources, and an index.
Why Read The Greatest Stuff on Earth?
The thing I like most about The Greatest Stuff on Earth is its bright, vibrant layout. The book contains lots of information, brought to life by its colourful stylised illustrations (by John Devolle). They entice readers to sample the text’s delights.
Steve Tomecek’s writing is engaging and he has arranged his book in a logical order. We’re essentially taken through the history of the universe, building up a picture of how the materials we use were initially created and then how, over centuries of investigation, we have harnessed them to make all the “stuff” that surrounds us today.
Under the banner of “Stuff” Tomecek has delivered a fascinating look at how the world works. It’s geek manna. The Greatest Stuff on Earth is the perfect book for inquisitive minds fascinated by the world around them. As Tomecek points out in the final page of his book, this is just the beginning, there is a whole world of “stuff” out there to explore. Books like this provide young minds with the catalysts to do so. With so much more stuff to discover, who knows, Tomecek and Devolle might be back with a follow-up. On the strength of this book, I certainly hope so.
If you would like to pick up a copy of The Greatest Stuff on Earth you can do so here, in the US, and here, in the UK. (Affiliate Links)
If you enjoyed this review, check out my other book reviews, here.
I received a copy of this book in order to write this review.
