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Yesterday's Classics/Public Domain books for science
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If you have YC or have used any old books like Fabre’s Story Book of Science, I’m wondering what you think about the value of such an old book versus an up-to-date book with current understanding of the topics being discussed. Is it best to stick with new books for science? (I haven’t read any of these books, so the question is purely hypothetical at this point.)
We used Storybook of Science and really enjoyed it. I don’t remember there being anything I knew was outdated. I think partly it can depend on what areas of science are being discussed. I know when we did Burgess’ Animal Book it says rabbits are rodents which is no longer true (they are lagomorphs). These things can be interesting if you catch them. It shows kids that science is evolving and today’s right answers may change.
Nebby
There is a lot to be gained from these older books. Yes, you do occasionally come across some outdated information, but those instances are rare. I tell my kids from the outset that we are reading an old book and that we might come across something that has now been found to be untrue. We talk about the fluid nature of the field of science, like Nebby mentioned. The benefits that come from reading these books far outweighs any negatives.
One thing to remember is that because of the nature of Science, this will always be something we have to watch for. If you buy a 10 year old book, you will read that there are 9 planets and that the appendix is useless. Science is an ever-changing field of study. Besides, Nicholas Copernicus and Galileo read science books with wrong information and it didn’t hurt their education, right? 🙂
Thank you. Anyone want to share books you wouldn’t miss (or ones you would skip) next time around? These are all new to me. I’m thinking mostly for my 13 yo dd.
And I was under the impression that rabbits were rodents until I learned otherwise here…. and that “flaw” in my knowledge base has had 0 effect on me in my life. I’m sure if I went into that field I’d learn different quickly enough…. So I don’t worry about it.
My dd and I have throughly enjoyed Burgess Bird Book and look forward to Burgess Animal Book. I printed up the color cards available online for free and dd loves going thru these to help learn to ID the birds and animals.
I look forward to hearing which other books others have enjoyed.
We just listened to “The Way Things Are Made” and found it quite interesting. We learned a lot about different things, all while realizing that perhaps these things are not made the same way any more. ;).
We love the Thorton Burgess books, we have started Clara Dillingham Pierson’s books with my younger ones, and definitely plan on listening to the Fabre books. From a recent thread, Fabre’s The Life of a Spider is a must read. Jack’s Insects is an older one and my girls loved it.
Several YC science authors are available as audiobooks from librivox.org including:
Many of the Thorton Burgess books, including the Bird Book and Animal Book
The Stories Mother Nature Told Her Children by Jane Andrews
Wild Life in Woods and Fields by Arabella B. Buckley
Birds of the Air by Arabella B. Buckley
The Insect Folk by Margaret Warner Morley (I think she wrote others in the YC, but they weren’t on audio yet)
Squirrels and Other Fur Bearers by John Burroughs
The Fairyland of Science by Arabella B. Buckley
The Book of Nature Myths by Florence Holbrook
The Biography of a Grizzly by Ernest Thompson Seton
Makers of Many Things by Eva March Tappan
The Life of a Spider by J. Henri Fabre
There are several of Clara Dillingham Piersons books as well.
From what we have read, the stories are more about the habitat and descriptions of the animals.
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