Professor Mole's Machines: Pop-Up Book of How Things Really Work
not part of a series
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
If you want to know how things really work, then ask Professor Mole. He will explain how elevators work (elephant going up and down), how planes fly (rabbits pedaling) and more. Tongue-in-cheek fun with big pop-ups, at the end the reader must find Professor Mole 30 times in his laboratory!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-7
Length
14 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What machine in the book did you find most interesting, and why?
How do you think machines help people in their daily lives?
If you could create a machine, what would it do?
What did you learn about how machines work from Professor Mole's explanations?
Can you think of any machines you've seen before that are like the ones in the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to describe each machine in their own words, fostering their communication skills.
Discuss the importance of machines in everyday life, linking the book's content with real-world examples.
Prompt them to imagine and draw their own machines, using ideas from the book to boost their creativity and problem-solving skills.
Relate the machines and concepts from the book to simple machines or mechanisms around your home to make the connection tangible.
Praise your child's insights and curiosity as they answer, reinforcing their interest and confidence in discussing technical concepts.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding mechanical principles
Explanation: Through interactive pop-ups, the book illustrates basic mechanical concepts like levers, pulleys, and gears.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these principles to understand everyday objects around them, such as how a seesaw works or why doors swing on hinges.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: As children navigate through the pop-up mechanisms, they learn to solve small challenges, such as figuring out which tab to pull to make a machine work.
Real-World Application: This skill helps children in school and in daily situations where they need to think critically to resolve issues or find solutions to puzzles.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Innovation
Explanation: Professor Mole's inventive machines encourage children to think creatively about how objects can work together to perform tasks.
Real-World Application: Kids are inspired to create their own inventions or find new ways to use items at home for different purposes.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: The book shows that creating machines can involve trial and error, teaching children the value of perseverance when facing difficulties.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of persisting with a task at school or at home, even when it seems challenging at first.