BK-BOTM Book of the Microscope by Alice James | 64-page illustrated guide with microscope basics, slide preparation, and hands-on experiments.

This inexpensive microscope starter manual will demystify the microscope for parents and children. This book is packed with useful information, logically thought out and visually presented with the young budding scientist, 10 to 14 years old in mind. Easily understood by my grandson of seven with my assistance. I very highly recommend.

This book is great with lots of pictures, interesting facts, and details. I bought this for my 11yr. old along with her microscope. It is really helpful and explains basic concepts in a way that is easily understood. This book is wonderful for her level or even higher for someone who may need a refresher on the microscope and some basic science. This is awesome for the little scientist within.

Great book for a 3rd grader at a 6th grade level!! BUT- when it says $8.99 on the back of the book, and you charged $10.00... hhmmm.... that's not right!! So I feel like I over-paid for the book, and it is much thinner than I thought it would be. But what is inside the book is great knowledge for a smart 3rd grader.

Please note that this 2008 reprint is identical in every way to the 1989 version of the same title. So, if you are looking for more reviews, everything you see said about the "white cover" World of the Microscope applies here as well. I loved microscopes in school and have envied our science classes for years whenever the microscope unit came around, so I finally got myself some scopes (compound and stereo) about 18 months ago, along with nearly all the supplies I thought I might need (was confused on the dyes that would be helpful, so only picked up methylene blue as it was so easy to obtain). Alas, without a teacher to do the preparations for me, I found myself a little at a loss as to how to make my own slides. The Internet helped a bit, but I wasn't very successful with my first efforts and put my microscopes aside with some regret and a vague hope of working things out later. Then recently I came across the 1989 edition of this book in our library and had a look through it. Almost at once I decided that it might fill in some of the gaps in my knowledge (like how to properly use that hand microtome I bought!). Parts of the book are of no interest to me (e.g., who uses microscopes or how they work, the types of scopes and their parts, etc.), but the novice level information on stains, making sections, preparing various projects for viewing, culturing bacteria, and so on looks like it's just what I need. And yes, there was definitely good information about using a microtome (including how I could have saved money by making my own from scratch). Sure, all of this has got to be scattered around online, but I'm a book person, happy to have it all in one place and in reach when I want it (which is why I bought my own copy after the library one looked good to me). In conclusion, it's always a risk to write a review before fully using the item in question, but from the point of view of a would-be microscopist looking for a starting point, I expect to be very satisfied with this book, and believe others in my position might like it as well. Oh, and yes, it's definitely made for the children's market, not aimed at adults, but for my needs that's not an issue (and is maybe even a plus, as they don't assume knowledge the reader may not have).

Arrived faster than expected. The graphics and diction are excellent for children and the information is a great summary of the history and use of microscopes for all ages. The suggested experiments and projects are also very good. I have been trying to find educational books for grandchildren from 6 to 12 and this is one of the best I have found.

The kids love this, and searched everywhere for things to examine. They were very happy to get it.

I bought this for my daughter (7) to go along with her new microscope and slide set. Although we haven't tried most of the suggestions, we did flip through it and it's a great book. It gives enough detail to be valuable for years to come but not so much detail to be overwhelming to a child. I would think this book will last her until at least age 12. This is a great companion to a microscope gift!

The book is very good, lots of information, and the pages are spill resistant. Then on the back of the book cover it was priced at $8.99. I didn't like paying $38 for a book marked $8.99! Seems like an huge mark up!

Knowing that the grandparents have bought my little boys a microscope for Xmas, I wanted to get them a book to compliment it and to give us all some ideas as to what to do with it. Having read the good reviews of this book I decided to purchase it...and I'm not disappointed! The book starts with a bit of history - explaining how things were different before microscopes were invented, and giving an idea of how microscopes have developed over the years. It then also has a useful section entitled "The scale of things", to help put the sizes of objects that are talked about into some sort of perspective. Then there are sections on magnifying glasses, types of microscope and how to use a microscope, before we finally get onto the bit we're really after...microscope projects! The next sections contain lots and lots of ideas of different things to examine under the microscope, as well as lots of detailed information to help you to get the best out of your microscope and get the best images you can. It starts off with very simple first subjects such as feathers, hair and photographs and then it's swiftly on to taking a first look at cells. There is a wealth of scientific information included to help you to understand what it is you're seeing and to explain around the subject which really involves you and makes this much more than a book that just shows you how to see pretty patterns with your microscope. After the cells they cover: Simple organisms; Fungi; Microscopic life in the sea; Microscopic life in fresh water; Making sections; Looking at plants; Looking at insects; Staining; Rocks and minerals and Crystals. Finally the book contains a few last chapters with more technical details concerning: Mounting and measuring; Uses of the microscope; How and optical microscope works and The electron microscope. This book is aimed at children, but if you're an adult and new to microscopes then do not let that put you off! The text is child friendly but there is quite a lot of writing and, due to the nature of the subject, there are quite a few tricky words in there. As a rough guide, I would suggest that children around 8+ should be able to read much of this themselves...although they're still likely to need some help in places. That said, I'm really looking forward to using it with my 4 and 6 year old! They won't understand all of the science, but I feel that they should be able to grasp the basics of many of the concepts and even if they don't then the book has given me lots of super ideas for things to show them. The book includes lots of attractive and useful illustrations that really help to add to the text and I'm sure that these will help with the understanding. It's been many, many years since I last looked down a microscope and I can honestly say that this book has got me all excited and raring to go! This should truly help you and your kids to get a lot out of your microscope and is a fantastic introduction to some important and interesting science for any child. Highly recommended.

Buen libro para iniciar a los niños en la ciencia

Helpful for the kids.

Really good book. It looks a bit childish at first but after a few pages it is a very serious and thorough book of science for the non-initiated one. Plus it is nice to see hand sketches and drawings like in the good old days. No pictures at all! I recommand it for the price.

I have just bought my first microscope for £100, I bought this book with it and I am so glad I did. Apart from it taking two weeks to arrive which I was not impressed about, the fact I had the microscope for two weeks before I was uninspired as to what I should use the microscope for (sounds daft). This book inspires you for things to look at under the scope, such as scraping the inside of your cheek, various different liquids, certain insects, bacteria!. You must buy this book if you are new to a microscope