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They Came from DNA

A space creature comes to earth to figure out what makes human beings what they are, encounters DNA, and starts to tingle right down to his blats.

Published by WH Freeman Books for Young Readers. Translated into Turkish and Chinese for sale overseas.

Selected by the Children’s Book Council of the National Science Teachers Association as a pick of the year 1994.

Review quotes:

  • “Fast paced, theatrical, tongue in cheek . . . a winner.”
       —Kirkus Reviews
  • “Imaginative humor.”
       —The Wall Street Journal
  • “Delightful tale of science fact.”
       —Odyssey Magazine
  • “Entertaining Introduction to genetics.”
       —Booklist
  • “A lighthearted romp with serious factual foundations . . . A sparkling approach to the scientific method.”
       —Science & Children
They Came from DNA

Scientific Goofs: Adventures Along the Crooked Trail to Truth

Spontaneous generation, the earth-centered universe, Martian canals, Piltdown Man, animal electricity, and other hilariousously wrong scientific ideas that paved the way for modern truths.

Published by WH Freeman Books for Young Readers. Translated into Turkish and Chinese for sale overseas.

Chosen as kids’ pick of the month in 11/7 issue of Odyssey Magazine.

Review quotes:

  • “This gem of a book makes science funny, delightful, and possible for anyone to do. Jauntily written, it prods school kids to notice how hit-and-miss our ‘established facts and ideas’ really are, and how useful is a healthy instinct for skepticism . . . Aronson’s hilarious, informative text is enhanced by amusing line drawings.”
       —Radio AAHS Magazine (May, 1995)
  • “Aronson knows how to tell a good story and how to explain complicated science. Even more, he clearly communicates the value of making mistakes and learning from them. What a well-timed message for this book’s natural adolescent audience.”
       —Children’s Literature Newsletter (12/94)
  • “A delightful potpourri of scientific failures that proved to be unlikely catalysts to understanding the truth . . . An excellent, punny introduction to the world of science for upper elementary and junior high schoolers. It’s both a quirky history and a subtle lesson in humility where we realize that mistakes are an integral part of figuring things out.”
       —Plainview (TX) Daily Herald (9/15/95)
  • “Entertaining and informative. The final chapter is a charge to the reader to explore and challenge accepted scientific truths. As a scientist, I applaud the inclusion of this chapter. This concept is not often taught in science curricula.”
       —Appraisal: Science Books for Young People (Autumn 1995)

Available at Amazon.

Scientific Goofs

MELIA AND JO

Quirky kid creators based on Amelia Earhart and Josephine Baker team up to invent stuff.

Picture book created with Jennifer Oxley, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Receives starred review from Kirkus.

MELIA AND JO

Eclipses: Nature’s Blackouts
Meteors: The Truth Behind Shooting Stars

Science books for middle school readers, published by Franklin Watts.

Both available on Amazon: Eclipses, Meteors.

Eclipses: Nature's Blackouts

Presidents and Their Times

Biographies of presidents for middle schools published by Marshall Cavendish.

Abraham Lincoln
Ulysses S. Grant
Richard Nixon

Nixon given starred review in “Booklist” and chosen one of PSLA’s Top 40 Non-Fiction titles of 2008.

Presidents and Their Times: Abraham Lincoln

Wishbone

Literary adaptations based on the PBS TV series Wishbone, published by Scholastic.

Romeo and Juliet and A Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Wishbone: Romeo and Juliet

Kids’ Magazines

Comics and articles for children’s magazines including:
Looney Tunes, Tiny Toons, 3,2,1 Contact Magazine, Scholastic Search, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Scholastic Science World, Garfield, Where’s Waldo? Superman & Batman, and Scholastic Update.

Looney Tunes

The Jewish Museum

Text for Jewish Museum family audio tour; Camels & Caravans children’s exhibition; and Tikkun Olam: Our Great Garden exhibition.

The Jewish Museum

Plain Talk About the Law

Weekly column written while working as a community educator in rural North Carolina.

Printed in Chatham County Herald and Southern Pines Pilot.

Sample column, “Pop Quiz: Wills”.