How Tall, How Short, How Faraway

April 1, 1999
Gr 2-4-A lively discussion of the history of measurement that incorporates some hands-on activities. Students may be surprised to learn that in ancient Egypt, parts of the body were used as measuring tools; a digit was the width of one finger, and a palm was the width of four fingers. Terms such as span and cubit are similarly defined. Explanations progress from Egyptian methods to the customary (or inch-pound) to the metric system. Readers are encouraged to use these various systems to measure their height and think about what units they could use for distances. The leisurely pace of the presentation picks up significantly in the last third of the book and readers might feel they are being rushed through two final activities that detail how to make a metric ruler, discuss odometers, and suggest activities to gauge distances in kilometers. The oversized white print against the bold background colors is easy to read and the full- and double-page computer-generated illustrations on every spread will engage readers.-Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC

April 1, 1999
Ages 5^-8. From the author and illustrator of "Fraction Fun" (1996) and "Shape Up!" (1998), this graphically dynamic volume introduces the concept of measurement. Adler explains how systems of measuring developed in ancient Egypt and Rome; how measurements became standardized; the origin of the metric system; and methods of measuring length, height, and distance. Bold color and creative design (especially the backgrounds of subtly designed rulers) give the pages visual zip. At the same time, the text's simplicity makes the ideas clear and easy to follow. A good basic book for children who are learning measurement using either the customary or metric system or (more likely) both. ((Reviewed April 1, 1999))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1999, American Library Association.)