ICE: THE AMAZING HISTORY OF THE ICE BUSINESS

ICE!: THE AMAZING HISTORY OF THE ICE BUSINESS, by Laurence Pringle (Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills 2012)(ages 8+).  Before mechanical refrigeration, there was ice, which had to be harvested during the winter, stored, transported, and then delivered to customers.  ICE! offers a fascinating glimpse into a lost industry and illuminates a portion of day-to-day life a century ago. Photos and sidebars offer additional information and insights.

BILLIONS OF YEARS, AMAZING CHANGES

BILLIONS OF YEARS, AMAZING CHANGES, by Laurence Pringle, ill. by Steve Jenkins (Boyds Mills 2011)(ages 8+), offers a fine overview of the science of the theory of evolution, covering fossils, Charles Darwin, "missing links," "survival of the fittest," "natural selection," and more.  The text is eminently readable and the drawings are an engaging complement.

Not nearly enough dinosaurs, though. :-).