Could a Robot Make My Dinner?: And Other Questions About Technology

Gr 2–5—These titles prove that learning about history and technology needn't be boring. Each volume asks and answers a succession of unorthodox and intriguing questions. For example, "Who was the first queen to use a toilet?" "How do the stripes get into toothpaste?" "Did you know?" text boxes supply additional information. For example, "The first Westerner to see the city of Timbuktu arrived in the 1820s." The strength of these books lies in their ability to convey information in an exciting way that will appeal to students who might be turned off by wordy textbooks. The color photographs, some as large as a page, highlight the questions being answered and will be sure to pull in curious readers. Although primarily a fun read that will not likely be used in a classroom, this set contains an abundance of fascinating information and quirky facts.—Anne Barreca, New York Public Library