book cover

Copycat Science

by Mike Barfield, illustrated by Mike Barfield

Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 9+

Published by QED, 2020

  • Around the world
  • Comic books
  • Historical
  • Interactive
  • Non-fiction

About this book

Full of fascinating facts, this compact non-fiction comic book provides a superb introduction to over 40 key STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) figures from throughout history. Divided into broad areas of interest, including human biology, materials, light and astronomy, each section presents several important scientists from that field of expertise.

Well-known individuals, such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein are featured, as well as less familiar people, for example eighteenth-century Italian physicist Laura Bassi and Iraqi-born Ibn Al-Haytham, who studied light and vision more than 1,000 years ago. Brief biographies provide information about when and where they lived, as well as details of their scientific legacies. Also included are step-by-step instructions for experiments that readers can try at home, which relate to each scientist’s area of study. These range from exploring optical illusions to making a magnifying glass and creating strands of strawberry DNA.

Colourful, interactive and accessible, this humorous comic book is bursting with information and is essential reading for anyone interested in science. At the end is a useful glossary and a list of science-related jobs.

About the author

Mike Barfield is a writer, poet, performer and award-winning cartoonist. He originally trained as a scientist before switching to writing jokes for all ages. Mike has worked in TV, radio, books, newspapers and magazines – as well as in schools, libraries, museums, and science festivals across the country. While performing to schools and festivals, he can often be found dressed as a giant housefly.

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