Mara, Wil. Fire Breathing, Sword Swallowing, & Other Death Defying Circus Science.

Mara, Wil. Fire Breathing, Sword Swallowing, & Other Death Defying Circus Science. Capstone Publishers  2018  32p  $27.99    ISBN 978-1-5157-7283-5  elem/ms  VG-BNS  series: Circus Science (Capstone)  

This book provides a unique blend of circus activities and science.  Each activity is thoroughly explained, the science behind each is provided, and the dangers are enumerated. Safety chapters are presented at the end of the book. With a high interest level (for who doesn’t like danger?) and wonderful textual descriptions and photographs on each feat, this book offers much to readers of nonfiction. The text structures in place to facilitate reading include clarity in the organization of each event, photographs to support the text, vocabulary words defined on the page they first appear, extra side bar facts that highlight important information, and alternative activities that the reader can try at home (less dangerous, of course). The death-defying feats included in this volume are high-wire walking, human cannonballs, the trapeze, sword swallowing, fire breathing, glass walking, the globe of terror, knife throwing, the hair hang, and the wheel of death. The photographs that support each activity are chilling and thrilling. What makes this book special is its alignment to the science curriculum. With each activity, one studies the science behind its success. To name just a few of the concepts that students will study, one finds volume, pressure, force,  projectiles, friction, and displacement. Alongside a science book that shows each new concept, one could use this book to offer real-life examples, thus adding validation to the lessons. This series will find fans in students who like to understand how things work. It will also appeal to students who want to explore extensions of learning on their own.    

Books that explain the science behind real-life activities -- in this case, circus acts -- are invaluable for instruction. Elementary school and middle-school libraries will want multiple sets for the resourceful science teacher as well as for interested students.

Summary: This book provides a unique blend of circus activities and science.

Circus Arts, Science                           --Martha Squaresky

The Kite Rider (audio book)

McCaughrean, Geraldine. The Kite Rider.
Full Cast Audio, 2004, 6 cds, $45.00, 978-1-933322-15-5.
This story of thirteenth-century China is engaging, suspenseful, well-done historical fiction with excellent characterizations and a well-paced plot. The tale of adventure and betrayal and the lengths to which a boy will go to save his family draws the listener into the story immediately. This Full Cast Audio version does an excellent job of translating the written book into the spoken word. The characters are well voiced and convincing and the original music adds much to the story. It is an enthralling rendition of a wonderful book.
Twelve-year-old Haoyou watches in horror as his father is chosen to be the wind tester for his ship and then dies strapped to a bamboo hold cover. The ship's first mate Di Chou wants to marry Haoyou's mother and does everything to get her including murdering her husband. Haoyou must prevent her awful fate. When he begins to build kites to provide for his family, Di Chou then burns his house down. Haoyou is forced to fly as a kite rider himself to ensure that Di Chou is removed from their town. The owner of a visiting circus sees him and offers him a chance to save his family from poverty by flying high to earn money, fame, and freedom. They will travel throughout the country and perform for the great Kublai Khan.
This story of thirteenth-century China is engaging, suspenseful, well-done historical fiction with excellent characterizations and a well-paced plot. The tale of adventure and betrayal and the lengths to which a boy will go to save his family draws the listener into the story immediately. Haoyou will grow from a frightened boy to the Khan's eye in the sky. When he finally returns to Dagu to protect his family from the reappearance of Di Chou, he is much changed and willing to risk all.

This Full Cast Audio version does an excellent job of translating the written book into the spoken word. The characters are well voiced and convincing and the original music adds much to the story. It is an enthralling rendition of a wonderful book. This is a must purchase for any middle school library that contains audio books. SO