...packs a weighty spread of topics in its relatively few pages. Physics is a natural choice, but Carmichael also includes nutrition, engineering, and psychology. Each spread features splashy layouts with lots of photos and diagrams, and the text does a great job of introducing vocabulary, both in inset boxes on the pages where terms appear and in a comprehensive glossary. . . .plenty here to introduce a wide range of topics to students whose interest in gymnastics or this year’s Olympic Games might make for a tidy segue into school projects.  

  Photos abound in this STEM-ready Summer Olympics series. Critical thinking questions at the end of each volume give them that one-two Common Core punch. The many textual asides on the photo-laden pages include ample information for burgeoning athletes who really want to know how physics plays into sports. . . .A recommended first purchase for libraries looking to engage sports lovers in STEM topics.