Did you know that many important scientific discoveries were purely accidental? Would you like to know which inventor forgot his clothes and ran down the street yelling, "Eureka!" or which discovery began as a simple church distraction? You'll find answers to these questions and many more in Larry Verstraete's book, S Is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet.

S i s for Scientists is the latest addition to the award-winning alphabet series from Sleeping Bear Press and is the perfect book for curious minds. It's a unique alphabet book for older children in which the origins of significant scientific events and people from the past are explored. The pages feature alphabetic prompts like Demonstrate, Measure, Solve, and Visualize followed by short poems that introduce readers to the corresponding topics. Information about specific scientists and discoveries are provided on each page as well. Children 8 and up should be able to read this book on their own. My three children, ages 11, 8, and 5, have enjoyed hearing it as our family read-aloud.

Because this book provides historical information about science, some of the information presented is not from a creationistic viewpoint. Evolution is briefly mentioned, and so is the belief that dinosaurs disappeared 65 million years ago. Even though our family holds different opinions on these matters, I still think the book provides a wealth of valuable information about discoveries that have changed our world. I found it not only informative but entertaining as well.

For $16.95, you can add this beautifully illustrated hardback to your library. It would be a great addition to any child's curriculum. I liked it and recommend it to anyone with an insatiable thirst for scientific knowledge.

Product review by Brandi Tesreau, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, November 2010