Hauling a pumpkin wheels and axles vs. lever

Reviewed by: Joanne Libby - Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 25, 2015

Review

This book would be useful in a classroom where students are learning about simple machines. It is aimed at children ages 5 to 8. A young African-American boy and his mother are trying to move a large pumpkin. The pumpkin is too heavy for Noah to move, so he and his Mom try a shovel which is a lever. They are able to slide the pumpkin onto the shovel, but are unable to move it from there. They then see a small wagon which they use to move the pumpkin. Levers, axles and wheels are explained. Noah's Mom has to pick up the pumpkin and place it in the wagon as the lever did not work in this case. This book would not be good without instruction and the audience is probably too young to read it on their own anyway. Even though these are "simple machines", I found the concepts difficult.

Overall Book Score: good