Reviews

The Fort on Fourth Street: A Story of the Six Simple Machines


NSTA Recommends - August 2014

Every P–3 classroom bookshelf would be helped by having a copy of this book. Not only does it have the repetitive rhyme to help in reading, there are good scientific principles being shared. It is not in–your–face science but has a gentle almost subliminal science focus. Parents would also enjoy having this book because it describes a fun project for parents to do with their child. Who, as a 6 or 7 year old, would not love to have a fort?!! Good science, good reading, and lots of fun—a great combination.
- Reviewed by Steve Canipe for NSTA

Science Books & Films - April 2015

The book is simple in concept and easy to read. However, this is not a "do-it-yourself" book. It's a conceptual method book that will help children understand how simple tools can simplify a construction task. The last few pages offer more to inquiring minds:questionnaires on various tools, definitons, and important questons to consider for a child who may want to plan a project from beginning to end. It's a short but colorful book, easy to read, and a useful classroom springboard for introducing some basic concepts of mechanics using commonly found tools.
John D. Chilgren, Education Business Group, U.S. Treasury, Portland, OR

Spanglish Baby - September 2013

I was impressed by the quality of this book from cover to cover and although the target audience is ages 4-9, my 11-year-old and I enjoyed it together. As non-native speakers we even learned new words such as “polea” for “pulley” which we don’t typically use in everyday language around the house!

So Cal City Kids - September 2013

Great for ages K-2nd. My son and I enjoyed reading this book and I love the For Creative Minds at the end of the book. This book includes learning activities that include matching the machine, measuring tools and a Hands on: Building a Fort.

Feathered Quill Book Reviews - October 2013

This is an excellent book to introduce the scientific concepts of simple machines to young students. The book, presented in picture book format, will entice even the most reluctant reader. The concepts are much easier to understand when presented with visuals of everyday objects children are familiar with. As a story in rhyme, accompanied by a progressive rhyming sequence on alternating pages with visuals, it’s much easier to grasp the concepts. In the back of the book are additional activities, including downloadable instructional materials on the publisher’s website. This would be an excellent read and discuss book in the homeschool or classroom setting.

Homeschool Book Review - October 2013

The Fort on Fourth Street: A Story About the Six Simple Machines(published in 2013 by Arbordale Publishing, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464). What is a machine? Most of us would immediately think of a copy machine or heavy-duty factory machines or something like that. However, the six simple machines that Grandpa and his grandchild use to build a fort in the backyard on Fourth St. are a wheel and axle (wagon), wedge (saw), screw (wood screws), pulley (pulley with rope and basket), lever (crowbar), and incline plane (ramp). As the pair build the fort together from start to finish, can you guess the surprise ending that awaits the reader at the conclusion of the story?

KidLit Reviews - November 2013

The Fort on Fourth Street: A Story About the Six Simple Machines by Lois Spangler is an adventure into scientific principles using the process of building a fort to teach children about the six simple machines. It is a fun and interesting book that, with the help of Grandpa, gives Kathleen and her friends a fun place to play. The book also includes 4 pages of activities that parents and children can complete together reinforcing the ideas and concepts presented in the book.

Goodreads Reviewer - November 2013

The Fort on Fourth Street: A Story About the Six Simple Machines by Lois Spangler is an adventure into scientific principles using the process of building a fort to teach children about the six simple machines. It is a fun and interesting book that, with the help of Grandpa, gives Kathleen and her friends a fun place to play. The book also includes 4 pages of activities that parents and children can complete together reinforcing the ideas and concepts presented in the book. 

ACS Readers Haven - January 2014

The illustrations are very well done showing grand dad and the kids building a fort and the pets are romping on the pages. But the really engaging part is that it is a story in rhyme with a story within the story. As the main story of building a fort using six simple machines progresses, the right hand page recounts the story line (sort of akin to "this is the house that Jack built"). Gramps has a design (just like a real builder would have) and with his measuring instruments and six simple machines he builds the fort. 

Tif Talks Books - March 2014

In Spangler's story, we learn about six simple machines that are used to build a fort in the backyard.  This is a story that I could read multiple times and still learn from.  It's not a common theme in books, but it is one that is perfect for all your little builders out there.

Learning Table Reviews - June 2014

The Fort on Fourth Street becomes a complete unit study when these extra resources are utilized, and the subject matter of simple machines is easy to expand on with blocks, Legos, or other hands-on ingredients for demonstrating simple machines at work.