This book is a follow-up to the first Big Book of Why, which has sold more than 150,000 copies to date. With 192 pages of new content, Big Book of Why: Crazy, Cool, & Outrageous is divided by subject area – the human body, animals, nature, the Earth, space, science, technology, transportation, U.S. and world history, world culture, arts and media and sports and games. Each answer is accompanied by either a photo or illustration.
Sample questions and answers and crazy, cool and outrageous facts include:
Human Body
Q. Why do I have nightmares?
A. Nightmares are just scary dreams. You might get them because your body is relieving stress, you are ill or you experienced something scary when you were awake.
Animals
Q. Why are so many people afraid of spiders?
A. We’re not born afraid of spiders. It’s something we learn. Some scientists think humans are naturally worried about animals that move quickly, as spiders do, and the fact that some spiders are poisonous certainly adds to the fear factor.
Nature
Outrageous!: Flowers are supposed to smell sweet, right? Well, don’t get a whiff of the massive Titan arum. This plant, which only flowers every four to six years, smells like rotting meat!
Earth
Q. Why are oceans blue?
A. Beauty – and color – is in the eyes of the beholder. The light we see is made of many colors at once. Ocean water absorbs colors like red and orange, but blue wavelengths are reflected, making the ocean appear to be blue. Other colors in the sea come from plants, dirt and pollution.
Space
Cool!: Sometimes the sun shoots out massive amounts of magnetic energy, called solar flares. They can influence the weather on Earth, disturb radio communications, damage satellites and even cause temporary electrical blackouts.
Science
Q. Why do people cry when they cut onions?
A. Cutting onions releases a gas that mixes with the water that’s naturally in our eyes. Together, they form an irritating chemical. Our eyes produce tears to wash it away.
Technology
Crazy!: If there are aliens out in space, they could listen to radio shows from long ago. TV and radio signals are still traveling through space, as are cell phone calls.
World Culture
Q. Why do some countries still have kings and queens?
A. Until the late 1700s, nearly every nation was led by royalty. Since then, however, most nations that were run by monarchs have turned to a more democratic system. In Britain, for example, the kings and queens were powerful rulers until the Reform Bill of 1832. Now the royal family performs mainly ceremonial duties.
Sports & Games
Q. How did the game Marco Polo get its name?
A. The popular pool game of tag is named for Italian explorer Marco Polo, who visited China and other parts of the Far East in the 1200s. There’s a story that he got lost in the desert in China and only found his fellow travelers by yelling his own name.
“This new Big Book of Why: Crazy, Cool, & Outrageous is a must-have book that will satisfy even the most curious of kids,” said Bob Der, Editorial Director, TIME For Kids. “As parents and teachers know, kids always come up with interesting questions that stump adults. Now this book can be used as a tool for adults and a fun read for kids.”
My 9 year old eats these books up! He’s always thrilled when we get a new one in the mail and I find myself flipping through them too and learning a thing or two. Definitely check out the Time of Kids book series this holiday season, they’d be perfect for inquisitive kids (and you might even get a quiet cup of coffee on a Saturday morning as a result!)
This is the kind of book my teenage kids would like. I’ll admit, I’d even read it too.