Amy S. Hansen is an award-winning author who writes science books for young readers. Her research can take some interesting turns, because to write about the science principles behind technology, Amy must really understand how things work. For one of her most recent books, she dismantled an old phone, a tape recorder, and a VCR so she could see and understand the mechanics before describing them. She also hounded her experts and read lots of information to make sure that she got her facts straight—as Amy says—“that is another story.”
AGood nonfiction has its own story and pace. Its not just a collection of numbers or facts; the text paints a picture, provides “cool” information, and invites readers to be detectives to bring about understanding of their own world. Amy’s presentations include:
- Take Apart Parties--a hands on investigation of How Things Work
- Going from the Idea to a published work, the writing process
- Telling stories--nonfiction versus fiction
Selected Reviews of Amy's Books
Time for Learning--How Things Work
Amy S. Hansen
This is the book for any child (or grown-up) who has ever asked, “How does it do that?” Race cars and MP3s, cell phones and traffic signals, roller coasters and bridges: It’s all here with full-color photographs; screens that pull out, push in, and twirl; diagrams and cross sections, all in a spiral-bound book so the pages lie completely flat. It is not as comprehensive or as thorough as an encyclopedia but it is much more interesting to read. The writing is lively, clear, and often very visual. “So you want to know how your refrigerator operates, do you? Go on, open it up…. NO, wait!” Open the cardboard flaps on the refrigerator in the book instead. “No tools, no messy parts, no angry parents.” The author encourages young readers to nurture their own inventive spirits and acknowledges a ten-year-old girl who is the youngest female ever to receive a U.S. patent. There are often pictures making the connection between an invention and nature--for example, a maple tree seed pod next to a helicopter, an eagle next to an airplane. Interesting factoids are sprinkled throughout the text--“Recycling one soda can saves enough energy to run your television for three hours!” (printed on a tiny soda can that can be pulled out of a recycling box). Because of the many moving and even loose parts, this book will need to be handled with care, but it would be a popular pick in the classroom, library, or family bookshelf. For families, How Things Work will appeal to a wide age range, with the youngest children pushing and pulling all the moving parts. 2006, Publications International, $14.98 Ages 6 up. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature).
Kidsource: Science Experiments
Amy S. Hansen
Illustrated by Mike Moran
Learning about different branches of science will be fun with this fascinating collection of easy-to-do science experiments. This resource introduces middle school students to different aspects of biology, geology, meteorology, ecology, chemistry, physics and electromagnetics. After discussing the scientific method, safety precautions, science equipment, data gathering tools, and ideas for designing experiments, the author provides dozens of interesting scientific experiments such as growing seedlings, sifting through layers of earth, making a rain gauge, testing levels of acidity, growing crystals, and building a galvanometer. Each experiment includes background information, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, a discussion about results, and project extension ideas. This activity book also contains useful tips, intriguing facts, cute illustrations, resource lists, suggested Internet sites and a glossary. Young scientists will enjoy rolling up their sleeves and using these challenging activities to explore the world around them. 2000, Lowell House/NTC Contemporary Publishing Group. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Debra Briatico (Children's Literature).
How can you measure something you can't see? Why do plants grow down with their stems up? Is the air in your neighborhood polluted? This book contains more than thirty experiments and short science tests related to biology, geology, meteorology, ecology, chemistry, physics and electromagnetics. The scientific method for investigation is well-explained and the author emphasizes safety throughout. She describes methods to collect and manage data and relates many experiments to important past discoveries, such as Fleming's discovery of penicillin mold. Experiments begin with simple ways to study the world around us and advance to controlled tests, such as understanding acid and bases, polymers and how electricity is made. The illustrations are informative and comical and sidebars provide historical facts as well as clever tips. Contains a glossary, index and handy reference lists, including Internet sites. The book should stimulate enthusiasm for science and be a useful resource for parents. 2000, Lowell House/NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Elaine Wick (Children's Literature).
A welcome change from run-of-the-mill science fair books, Ms. Hansen's experiments make the activities practical by tying them into a child's everyday world (weather, garden, pollution levels, body, etc.).... Each experiment has clear directions, a list of materials, an explanation of how and why it should work, and methods for further study. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: J. Cook (Parent Council Volume 8).
Kidsource: Science Experiments, by Amy Hansen, is a small, amiable collection of beginning science experiments familiar to the classroom and adapted for elementary school kids to try to on their own. ... The writing is lively and friendly; ... Each experiment contains sections on background, materials needed, procedure, and "What's going on"; the longer experiments also give hints for extending the activities a bit. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Charles Hibbard (Science Books and Films (Vol. 37, No. 2).
Wild Animals
Amy S. Hansen
Illustrated by William Fraccaro
Hansen has devised an exciting format for learning about the subject of wild animals, typically children’s favorite topic! Well-researched, this book presents wild animals in five settings: the treeless tundra, furry forests, great grasslands, dry deserts, and the world of water. Author Amy Hansen begins by stating that “this book is fun to read!”--and it is! Amy strives to make unique animals come alive to children. The text may be a bit difficult for younger children, but the illustrations will make it appealing. After all, it has photos, drawings, inserts of pop-up books, mini-books, charts, tabs, and picture dials. Each is designed to involve the reader as a participant. Illustrations are captioned and labeled. The text includes phonetic pronunciations for difficult terms, and definitions are written in italics. The text speaks to the reader as a real participant in the adventure of discovering wild animals. For example, one passage reads: “Next time you walk near a lake, river, pond, or stream, take a look into the water.” A wonderful addition to an elementary library collection or someone’s home book shelf, this book makes the animal kingdom come to life. It is the first in the “My First Time for Learning” series, designed to involve children as active readers. 2007, Publications International, $12.98. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Theresa Finch (Children's Literature)
Take Apart Parties--a hands on investigation of How Things Work. Students work in groups, use screwdrivers to take apart broken appliances. The inner workings of the appliances are compared with the writing in the book. So students might take apart a clock radio and find the speaker, then they would read about speakers and learn what the magnet does. With 15-20 minutes of hands-on work, Amy then uses their work to focus the more traditional Author visit, of reading from the book, describing the publishing process, and the non-fiction research.
- Number of Sessions in a Day: 3.
- Target Grade(s) 4-8.
- Maximum Number of Students in each Session 35.
- Length of Presentation: 40-50 minutes.
- Cost(s) $150 for single $250 for back-to-back sessions.
- Travel and Lodging Costs to be covered if the presentation is outside the Washington Metropolitan area (more than ???? miles).
Going from the Idea to a published work, the writing process. A variation on the question of “Where do you get your ideas?” This presentation takes one of Amy’s published works -- books and magazine articles, and follows the process starting from the original question. Students are asked to bring paper and pens and write down their ideas and then first approaches. Amy then shows first drafts, second, third, and published work. While this presentation works with many ages, the published material being used will vary depending on the age of the students involved.
- Number of Sessions in a Day: 3.
- Target Grade(s) K-8.
- Maximum Number of Students in each Session: Small group 30; Larger group up to 90.
- Length of Presentation: 40-50 minutes.
- Cost(s) Small group $150 for single $250 for back-to-back sessions. Larger group $200 single; $275 back-to-back session.
Telling stories--nonfiction versus fiction. For young students, this presentation looks at the difference between fiction and non-fiction. Amy asks them to find similarities in the story structure. Where are the problems? Where is the challenge? Who is the protagonist, or mover in the story? And how will the protagonist meet the challenge? For older kids, the students are asked to write the challenges, a fiction work, or used prepared research to write a non-fiction story.
- Number of Sessions in a Day: 3.
- Target Grade(s) K-8.
- Maximum Number of Students in each Session Small group 30; Larger group up to 90.
- Length of Presentation: 40-50 minutes.
- Cost(s) Small group $150 for single $250 for back-to-back sessions. Larger group $200 single; $275 back-to-back session.
Dinosaurs, Whales and Bugs, Oh My. Hands-on science and writing for young ones. Early elementary students will hear Amy read her age-appropriate science articles and books, including stories about dinosaurs, whales and bugs, and then assist the class in doing hands-on experiments to explore more. Up to three experiments and three articles and time for questions, but if the kids are fascinated, we won’t push through.
- Number of Sessions in a Day: 4.
- Target Grade(s) Pre-K to 2.
- Maximum Number of Students in each Session 30.
- Length of Presentation: 40-50 minutes.
- Cost(s) $150 for single $250 for back-to-back sessions.
- Travel and Lodging Costs to be covered if the presentation is outside the Washington Metropolitan area (more than 50 miles).
To learn more about Amy and her publications please visit www.amyshansen.com.
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