Simple Machines

Children meet six basic machines in this illustrated science picture book: the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, ramp, wedge, and screw. Each one shows how a simple tool can take the strain out of a task, such as hoisting a heavy load or getting something down from a high shelf. The book poses playful questions, like whether a seesaw could be set up to raise an elephant, and explores what happens when several simple machines are linked together.

The explanations are short and direct, supported by easy-to-follow diagrams. A glossary helps readers with new vocabulary, and a closing section suggests a hands-on lever experiment to try at home or in class. It is aimed at early elementary students, and its Level 2 label means the concepts are a little more demanding than in the series' introductory titles.

This book belongs to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, which has more than a hundred titles and is designed to pair learning with engaging visuals. Its topics align with Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, and STEM learning goals. The series has received the AAAS/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.