Scientific American December 1996 [antikvár]

1 From the Editors Experienced Readers for Young Minds THE MORRISONS, Pljylis aud Philip, select the Young Readers Book Awards. his issue marks only the second occasion of the Scientific American Young Readers Book Awards, but it builds on a much longer tradition. Every December since 1949, this magazine has reviewed the best of the current crop of science books for children and teenagers, intended as a service to parents and teachers (not to mention the young readers themselves, who might like to choose their own books, thank you). If reviewing children's books sounds easy, think again. James R. Newman, who began the column, wrote in 1952: "This is my third annual roundup of children's science books, an exertion which has understandably given rise to some strong opinions about this branch of literature. Of the hundreds of books I have read, few have impressed me as first-rate. The majority range from mediocre to wretched; the wretched examples are not rare." He continued, dyspeptically but not unfairly, "Science popularization for children, I am sorry to note, receives less regard from educators than it deserves, less effort from writers than it requires, less attention from publishers than its potentialities justify." Fresh to the reviewer's job in 1966, Philip and Phylis Morrison echoed those sentiments in their own way but still had the good cheer to add, "Happily there are so many admirable books that we need dwell no further on the unsuccessful ones." If the unsatisfying average quality of children's science books is one problem, their quantity is another. The past 12 months brought 700 books for the Morrisons' consideration. Scouting out the best could be a full cottage industry. But then, who could be better suited for the task than our own cottage industrialists, the Morrisons? Their home and office in Cambridge, Mass., was found in a recent scientific analysis to be 48 percent books by weight. They are accomplished writers, having co-authored the classic The Powers of Ten and other works. And—here I'm letting you in on a closely guarded secret—during his years as a physicist at M.I.T., Phil quietly invented and swallowed a perpetual-motion machine. That is why, with Phylis's assistance, he has been able to endure as a reviewer and columnist for Scientific American for 30 years. Fans will find him back with a new installment of "Wonders" next month. I'm glad to report that Phil and Phylis have lowered neither their high standards nor their high spirits over three decades. They are the guiding lights of these Young Readers Book Awards. Our thanks to them and to the authors and publishers who are this year's winners. Happy reading. JOHN RENNIE, Editor in Chief [email protected]