The Magic School Bus And The Electric Field Trip
by Joanna Cole, Bruce Degan
List Price:
Our Price: $3.57
You Save: $3.42 (49%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Bruce Degan, Joanna ColeBrand: Scholastic
Illustrator: Bruce Degen
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); Spanish (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1999-01-01
ISBN: 0590446835
Number of pages: 48
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Book Reviews of The Magic School Bus And The Electric Field Trip
Book Review: Watt a Positively Charged Exploration!
Summary: 5 Stars
It is more than obvious that Joanna Cole (author) and Bruce Degen (illustrator) had the time of their lives bringing this book to fruition. Penned in 1997, "The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip" is packaged to the bursting point with anything and everything that has to do with electricity. There's so much going on here that a simple one-sided scorecard just won't suffice upon delving into Ms. Frizzle's latest adventure. It is Cole and Degen's most action-packed and tightly-woven collaboration yet. One senses from just taking in the first few pages that author and illustrator poured every fiber of their being into the Friz's ninth science-related field trip for children.
Our story starts off with a bang when a surprise guest bounces into class, positively charged with energy. She looks to be the spitting-image of Ms. Frizzle, only much younger.
"Hello, Aunt Valerie," says the girl, kissing the Friz on the cheek.
"My niece, Dottie Frizzle, is visiting today," adds Ms. Frizzle. "Dottie, we're learning about electricity!"
And so, while a thunderstorm rages on outside, our favorite frizzy-haired teacher begins her lesson for the day. She starts by breaking down a diagram of an atom. Then she points out the relationship between electrons (tiny parts of the atom that circle around its core) and electric current (where electrons are pulled away from their hosts and form a steady stream of movement). This is what gives us electricity.
Then, before the Friz can move onto magnetic current (the cousin of electric current), the lights all over school suddenly go out and the classroom is plunged into total darkness. Outside, a hearty roar of thunder echoes over the students' heads.
"There's no electricity!" someone yells.
"We're experiencing a blackout," notes Ms. Frizzle. And according to Gregory, a student in the class, a blackout happens when electric current stops flowing from the power plant to the community.
Why has this occurred? What can anyone do about it? Will this be the end of our story?
"To the bus, everyone!" orders the Friz, brandishing her trusty umbrella like a valiant knight's sword. "Let's find out what happened."
And so begins the wildest adventure Ms. Frizzle and her students have ever undertaken, one that will start at the heart of a power plant and, zooming along with millions of electrons, lead them all over town -- the library, Jo's Diner, student Phoebe's house, and back to school again.
Readers and students alike will learn all about electricity; its many uses, how it is made, and the safety hazards of working with it. They will come to understand the very important role magnetism plays in producing large amounts of electricity. They will familiarize themselves with terms such as "transformers" and "volts."
And that is only scratching the surface of this most densely-packed field trip to date. It would be hard for any author-illustrator team to keep upping the ante nine books into a series. But Cole and Degen prove themselves just as fresh and inspired as ever. "Electric Field Trip" will require second readings to fully grasp all the concepts presented in this book, which Cole and Degen fully acknowledge within the story. Electricity, atoms, watts, magnetism -- it's highly sophisticated and complicated material, even for the most advanced readers. And the fact that Cole and Degen plowed full steam ahead with the subject matter without batting an eyelash is to be commended. Readers will most certainly be rewarded for the time they spend poring over this book.
In keeping with tradition, Cole and Degen leave readers with two familiar mainstays at the end of the tale. Clearly explained are the things made up for story purposes. What's nicer is that Cole and Degen have added a new twist this time around, which makes distinguishing fact from fiction in the story more enjoyable than ever. And then there is the enticingly sweet tidbit to leave readers with a sampling of what's next in store for the Friz and her posse. It's hard to put a finger on what it could be, exactly . . . but one senses that it will quench your thirst for knowledge, you hear?
As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "If there's no flow, then it's no go!"
Summary of The Magic School Bus And The Electric Field Trip
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Scholastic is re-releasing the ten original Magic School Bus titles in paperback. With updated scientific information, the bestselling science series ever is back!
Small enough to squeeze through power lines, Ms. Frizzle's class learns how electric current travels through the town, lights up a light bulb, heats up a toaster, and runs an electric motor. Fans of the Magic School Bus won't be left behind by this simple and informative introduction to the generation and distribution of electricity.
Small enough to squeeze through power lines, Ms. Frizzle's class learns how electric current travels through the town, lights up a light bulb, heats up a toaster, and runs an electric motor. Fans of the Magic School Bus won't be left behind by this simple and informative introduction to the generation and distribution of electricity.
School Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in School Books
Sleepover Club at Laura's (The Sleepover Club)by Rose Impey
Collins; Published: 2002-07-01; Paperback; Book
Gay Lambert at the Chalet Schoolby Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
Armada; Published: 1989-02-09; Paperback; Book
Exploits of the Chalet Girls (The Chalet School)by Elinor Brent-Dyer
HarperCollins UK; Published: 1985-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $137.88
Schoolby Colin Hawkins
Collins Audio; Published: 1999-12-06; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $146.47
First Term at Malory Towersby Enid Blyton
Collins Audio; Published: 1993-12-09; Audio Cassette; Book
Thumbuddy to Love: Ballerina Sue Thumb Puppet and Adorable Story Book - Award Winning product to break thumb sucking habitby Andrea Wulfing Van Ness
Thumbuddy To Love; Published: 2008-12-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
Little Men (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Puffin Classics)by Louisa May Alcott
Rebound By Sagebrush; Published: 1995-05-01; Library Binding; Book
Best price: $12.54
Price in other shops:
The Gawgon and the Boyby Lloyd Alexander
Puffin; Published: 2003-01-13; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.89
Price in other shops:
The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamletby Erin Dionne
Puffin; Published: 2011-01-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.40
Price in other shops:
Love That Dog CDby Sharon Creech
HarperFestival; Published: 2006-03-14; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $7.20
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Growby Joanna Cole
Scholastic Paperbacks; Published: 1995-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.94
Price in other shops:
The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehiveby Joanna Cole
Scholastic; Scholastic Inc.; Published: 1998-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.22
Price in other shops:
The Magic School Bus At The Waterworksby Joanna Cole
Scholastic; Scholastic Press; Published: 1988-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.28
Price in other shops:
The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaursby Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen
Scholastic; Scholastic Press; Published: 1995-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.18
Price in other shops:
The Magic School Bus Inside A Hurricaneby Joanna Cole
Scholastic; Scholastic Press; Published: 1996-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
The Magic School Bus Explores the Sensesby Joanna Cole
Scholastic; Scholastic; Published: 2001-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.42
Price in other shops:
The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth (Magic School Bus)by Joanna Cole
Aladdin; Scholastic Press; Published: 1989-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.29
Price in other shops:
The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floorby Joanna Cole
Scholastic; Scholastic Paperbacks; Published: 1994-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.16
Price in other shops:
The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Bodyby Joanna Cole
Scholastic; Scholastic Press; Published: 1990-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.13
Price in other shops:
The Magic School Bus Lost In The Solar Systemby Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen
Scholastic; Scholastic Press; Published: 1992-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.07
Price in other shops: