Science: Grades 5 - 8
Wonders of Creation Series
Publisher: Master Books
For More Information or to Order: www.newleafpress.net

When your mom writes product reviews, you're used to the mailman bringing packages of books to your door on a regular basis.  This time, before I had the box unpacked, my boys quickly spied the beautiful covers, snatched the books and headed to their favorite reading spots!  For the next 30 minutes all I heard was, "Cool!" and "Mom - did you know…?"

Written by well-known creation scientists, the Wonders of Creation is a series of four hardcover books with beautiful photos, clear illustrations, and plenty of detailed diagrams.  Though designed for students in upper elementary and middle school, the whole family can benefit from these well-written texts.  Although some chapters deal with very technical topics, such as radioisotope and carbon dating in The Geology Book, the information is presented in a way that makes sense, even to a science novice like me! .  Each 80-page book has a glossary and index for easy reference.  To further reinforce the material and add enjoyment to these areas of science, the publishers have included a 24" pull out color poster inside each book.  We were given three books from this series to review:

The Geology Book
Dr. John D. Morris is your guide on a tour of the earth's crust, pointing out both the natural beauty and the scientific evidences for creation.  Topics covered include the earth's crust, continental drift theory, rock formation, volcanoes, erosion, fossilization and the age of the dinosaurs, dating methods, great geologic events of the past and more. 

The Weather Book
Professional Meteorologist Michael Oard has written this engaging text and filled it with stunning photos of various weather phenomena.  Through illustrations and diagrams he explains the how's and why's of the weather - something very important to understand since weather impacts our lives everyday.  I especially enjoyed the section on cloud types, the photos used really helped us to enjoy the daytime skies!  In addition to clouds, topics include how weather persons forecast hurricanes and tornados, how to read a weather map, the greenhouse effect, what Noah's flood and the Ice Age have in common, how to build your own weather station, dangerous weather and more.

The Astronomy Book
Dr. Jonathan Henry is your guide to the amazing universe that God has created.  Filled with stunning photos (including shots from NASA) and helpful diagrams, The Astronomy Book covers an incredible amount of material!  Beginning with a reminder that the study of astronomy shows us the glory of God in His Creation, the book covers topics dealing with the size of the universe, the origin of the universe, eclipses, using a telescope, constellations, space exploration, a tour of the solar system, stars and galaxies, black holes, comets, meteors, and more.

The Wonders of Creation series succeeds in its goal to create a sense of awe as the student learns about the world around them.  A great supplement to enhance your study of science, this series aids in equipping students with the knowledge to intelligently discuss the evidence that supports the biblical account of creation.

Making the Grade: A
Cost: 15.99
Value for Your Homeschool Dollar: 9
Review provided by Cindy Prechtel, Editor