Brook Farm Books

NEW AMERICA. Be part of a research and development team to redesign the socioeconomic system before it’s too late. The focus is on energy and resources, but many other fields are explored. Very suitable for thinking friends. Designed to provoke discussion. 2 to 4 players. $30.00. Ages about 12 to adult. Click on image to enlarge the picture.

OUR TOWN requires a higher level of strategies. Develop your city’s economy and avoid going bankrupt. You must decide what will work best as a private enterprise and what will be best cooperatively owned and operated. Rules for easy play and for a more advanced game. 2 to 6 players. $30.00. Ages 9 to adult. Click on the game image to enlarge the picture.

Usborne Internet-Linked Introduction to Genes & DNA, by Anna Claybourne. I like some Usborne books, but this one is outstanding. Without talking down to readers or sounding like a textbook, this book gives an excellent introduction to this subject. The illustrations will fascinate you and your kids. I like the combined use of the book and the computer. After introducing the basic information, the book goes on to consider the implications of what we know and where all this science may take us in the future. Some people have found this book too explicit about sex, so if you haven’t had a good discussion about sex with your children, you may not want to start with this book.

The Internet links are good and updated regularly by Usborne. The glossary, timeline, and one-page sheet of basic facts offer easy reference. Ages 9 to 14. $11.95.

NEW AND USED BOOK BUYING COMPARISONS: Before going to Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com for books that have been out a while, try www.DealOz.com, which tells you the many places you can find a book and a total price that includes shipping. You should also check prices with Follett Educational Services. They have new and used textbooks as well as an abundance of good reading material for all grades. www.fes.follett.com.