"Some objects can be scratched or dented easily. Others can take a beating and still look as good as new. This may be one sign of hardness. This accessible text introduces basic concepts about the property of hardness of matter. Readers learn how to identify hardness through senses and tests, as well as how hardness may change. A hands-on activity gives readers a chance to experience the concepts in action. Fast facts and vivid images offer additional...

This engaging title introduces readers to materials that are either hard or soft. Using familiar examples, readers learn what makes hard and soft objects different and why they are suited for different purposes. Easy-to-understand text and colorful photos invite young readers to identify and classify hard and soft things around them.

It's easier to name hard things, like rocks, than understand what this characteristic really means. This book encourages young scientists to observe the world around them and discern the features of various familiar things. They'll come to learn that anything that can't be easily bent can be described as hard. The achievable text and colorful photographs support readers in acquiring new vocabulary and a new appreciation for their powers of observation....