There are lots of engaging resources available for teaching science to young kids, but one of the best is strangely little known: a terrific and highly entertaining series of science-themed graphic novels from Capstone Press, featuring a super scientist by the name of Max Axiom. Max Axiom, the story goes, was hiking one day when he was struck by megacharged lightning. The accident gave him the ability to shrink to the size of the atom, while his magic lab coat enables him to travel through space and time. These super powers mean that when he is, for instance, investigating viruses, he can stand on a human knee and watch as a scrape becomes infected. He can travel down inside a plant to show the role of chloroplasts in photosynthesis. Each book in the series features an adventure focused on one science theme, such as Cell Life, Chemical Reactions, or Electricity. Information is presented clearly and engagingly, and each book also features a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and pre-screened internet links. There are more than 15 books in the series altogether. Unfortunately, the Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library each only carry one of these well-designed books, but you can purchase four for the price of three on Amazon. http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-new-york/max-axiom-graphic-novels-make-learning-science-fun
A Crash Course in Forces and Motion with Max Axiom, by Emily Sohn (Capstone Press 2007), is a graphic novel for eight- to fourteen-year-olds. The character Max Axiom, Super Scientist, is at an amusement park. There he defines Newton’s three laws of motion using roller coasters, skating, and bungee-jumping, among other activities to demonstrate his ideas. Everyday examples of things in motion are also described. Concepts are explicitly defined using clear and developmentally appropriate language. This book includes a glossary, Web sites, and suggestions for further reading. The graphic novel format may entice reluctant readers to engage in nonfiction text.
The novel graphic format utilized in the Max Axiom, Super Scientist series is attractive and engaging. The bright, colorful pictures will appeal to children and keep them reading about science. These books could be used effectively in or out of a school setting. Each book focuses on a single theme, but the subject is covered in a manner that cuts across scientific disciplines. The book on sound, for example, covers the physics of sound waves, the anatomy of the larynx and ear, echoes, sonar, and hearing loss. The flow from topic to topic is natural, and the books are cohesive. Capstone Press, the publisher, claims that the books are “designed to help below-level readers access text.” The scientific terminology, which is reasonably extensive for this age level, is clearly defined. The glossary and index help. The books also include generally well-done detailed diagrams to clarify some of the more difficult topics. The only shortcoming of these titles is that some of the simplified explanations result in misleading or erroneous information. The book on electricity, for example, defines electrical charge as a form of energy and states that volts are a measure of force. Also, a reader might be confused by the idea that current is measured in amps, but “electricity” is measured in “watts.” And a child is likely to come away from the book thinking that electrons move through wires at the speed of flight and are converted into energy in resistors. (The book doesn’t actually say these things, but the explanations presented might easily lead to such misconceptions.) The books on forces and motion and on sound do not include the same degree of oversimplification. All of the books cite recommended readings and Internet sites for readers who wish to learn more. The publisher’s materials indicate that quizzes are available to accompany the books. Overall, these books are useful, particularly for students who are highly visual, who find reading to be challenging, or who are not naturally curious about science.
I’m in love – or, better yet, my son is in love! We’ve had the opportunity to review graphic science books on all sorts of topics that are fun and easy to read. Comic book style science sounds really fluffy doesn’t it? Believe it or not, the Max Axiom series is full of “real” science that goes deep enough to be appropriate for any upper elementary/early middle school child. My son is a less-than-zealous textbook reader. (Picture eyes glazing over and giant yawns.) After reading – or being read to – from a textbook, he recalls very little of the information. Over the years, I’ve turned science into hands-on unit studies and supplemented with lots of library books, which has worked quite well. During one of these unit study times, I came across Max Axiom and wanted to know more. I found that Capstone Press offers many, many Max Axiom books, and boy were my son and I excited! Twenty-four books total cover the areas of biology/botany, chemistry, physical and earth science. In each book, Max Axiom (a scientist with super powers), goes on an adventure to learn all about the topic at hand. He can shrink to the size of bacteria and whiz through the human body, or go back in time to learn more about a famous scientist of the past. All of this in a 32 page comic book! (When I say comic book, don’t think of flimsy pages, these are “real” books.) http://thecurriculumchoice.com/2011/07/max-axiom-graphic-science-books/
Join Super Scientist Max Axiom in adventures covering various science concepts in kid-friendly “graphic novel” format. These books are sure to appeal to middle level kids and teachers with their easy-to-follow story lines and clear explanations of science concepts. Each book includes additional facts, a glossary, book and internet suggestions, and an index. Recommended.
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
