I Fall Down

I Fall Down
by: Vicki Cobb
Illustrations by: Julia Gorton
Copyright:2004
Pages: 30
Reading Level: 4-8

This cleaver non-fiction book, is the first of its type I have seen. I first thought it was a normal picture book then saw the sticker in the corner that says "Science Play" on it. Opened it up to find this is an educational interactive book. You first open it up to find it is not like any other book, but has specific instructions. To fully enjoy this book you are going to need "an assortment of balls, keys, a block, a jar of honey, a spoon, a penny, two identical rubber bands, a child and adults shoe, and a bathroom scale." So as you can see this is not a bedtime story.
This book then asks a series of questions and gives you ways to find the answer for yourself. First it asks "Know what happens when you trip?" "You fall down!" The book then goes into the different effects if gravity. And has you try and few things to test gravity. My favorite page is where they tell you to test gravity with honey. Get a spoonful of honey...and watch it drizzle down. This book is fun, because the illustrations are all over the page. This one has a hand that looks like its coming right off the page with a spoon full of honey. Except instead of honey the words drip down back into the jar. Then there are dropping races, which teach that no matter the size of the object it's always a tie (except for things effected by air). This book then talks about the force things drop, and how the weight effects how hard things hit. The end asks you how much you weigh, and shows you how you don't have to fall to find out, but you can step on a scale.

Recommended to: Young detectives, and inventors. Which is basically all young children. This book would be such a wonderful bonding and learning experience between a parent and child. And how exciting for a child to learn so much and then be able to go out and share it with all there friends.
Problems: Two small problems, first would be finding the time to do this book justice, and also last page has the boy without his shirt on, which might be somewhat offensive to some people.
My reaction: Such a fun non-fiction. This book is colorful, yet simple, educational, yet fun. All things you could want from a book like this. Can't wait to see others from her series. Must have in my home.