Roller Coasters
From the Series Amazing Structures
In Roller Coasters, early fluent readers will learn how roller coasters are engineered to keep thrill seekers safe while giving them an exciting ride. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they explore the built world around them.
An infographic illustrates the physics principles that make roller coasters work, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about roller coasters using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Roller Coasters also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.
Roller Coasters is part of Jump!’s Amazing Structures series.
Reviews
NSTA (Karen Nesbit)
Amazing Structures: Roller Coasters OH MY! Not to forget Tunnels, Bridges and Skyscrapers, Dams and Stadiums! A new non–fiction book series brought to you by JUMP library, developed for young and struggling readers (2nd–5th), includes all the features of quality informational texts: labels, diagrams, maps, infographics,Table of Contents, Index, Glossary. There are also special features, Ideas for parents and teachers, including Before, During, And After reading strategies, Did you know (fun facts throughout the books), as well as Activities and Tools for children to extend their thinking. The LEARN more ideas for kids gives students a nudge to do more research. Each book includes 24 pages of stunning, vibrant photos of the most ‘amazing’ structures. The carefully leveled text gives early fluent readers support and practice reading informational text. Next Generation Standards include Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science. -Karen Nesbit
Series Made Simple
Imparting just a few tantalizing morsels of information about various kinds of large-scale infrastructure, these primary-level introductions combine particularly vivid photos with comments that are simply phrased but not entirely generalized. In Bridges, for instance, Pettiford identifies and points out distinctive features of common kinds: beam, arch, and suspension. Also worth noting are photographic depictions of woman engineers and designers at work in Bridges, Dams, Skyscrapers, and Roller Coasters. Less laudable are the single hands-on projects that close each volume, which are perfunctory instructions for such nonstarters as a dam made from rocks and sticks in a flat pan full of sand. VERDICT Possible additions to STEM collections.
Booklist (Erin Anderson)
The Amazing Structures series is a quality primer on the basics of reading nonfiction texts, with big, bold
headings and labels, captioned maps and diagrams, a glossary of unfamiliar terms, and sidebars filled with
added facts. This edition deals with the basic physics that power the world’s tallest, fastest, and most fun
amusement park rides. Topics such as potential and kinetic energy and gravity are explained in simple
terms. Questions at the start of each chapter engage readers’ prior knowledge and experiences, while
colorful photographs of kids around the world enjoying coasters provide context clues. Instructions for
building a model coaster are included in the end matter. This title not only covers foundational science
concepts but also offers practice with the timely and vital skill of reading nonfiction.
