BERGER, Melvin H. 1927-

Personal

Born August 23, 1927, in Brooklyn, NY; son of Ben (an upholsterer) and Esther (Hochman) Berger; married Gilda Shulman, December 22, 1957; children: Eleanor, Nancy. Education: Attended City College of New York (now City College of the City University of New York), 1944-45; Eastman School of Music, B.M., 1951; Columbia University, M.A., 1952; University of London, associate degree, 1965.

Addresses

Home— 115 East 9th St., No. 15F, New York, NY 10003.

Career

City College (now City College of the City University of New York), New York, NY, lecturer, 1951-54; Plain-view (NY) High School, teacher of music, 1954-79; full-time author.

Writings

(With Frank Clark), Science and Music, McGraw, 1961.

(With Frank Clark) Music in Perspective, Sam Fox, 1962.

Choral Music in Perspective, Sam Fox, 1964.

Triumphs of Modern Science, McGraw, 1964.

Famous Men of Modern Biology, Crowell (New York, NY), 1967.

Atoms, Coward (New York, NY), 1968.

For Good Measure, McGraw, 1969.

Gravity, Coward (New York, NY), 1969.

Tools of Modern Biology, Crowell (New York, NY), 1970.

Storms, Coward (New York, NY), 1970.

Masters of Modern Music, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1970.

National Weather Service, John Day, 1971.

South Pole Station, John Day, 1971.

Enzymes in Action, Crowell (New York, NY), 1971.

Stars, Coward (New York, NY), 1971.

Computers, Coward (New York, NY), 1972.

The Violin Book, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1972.

Animal Hospital, John Day, 1973.

Oceanography Lab, John Day, 1973.

Those Amazing Computers, John Day, 1973.

Funny Side of Science, Crowell (New York, NY), 1973.

The Flute Book, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1973.

Careers in Environmental Control, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1973.

The New Water Book, Crowell (New York, NY), 1973.

Pollution Lab, John Day, 1973.

Jobs in the Fine Arts and Humanities, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1974.

The New Air Book, Crowell (New York, NY), 1974.

Cancer Lab, John Day, 1975.

The Clarinet and Saxophone Book, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1975.

Consumer Lab, John Day, 1975.

Time after Time, Coward (New York, NY), 1975.

(With wife, Gilda Berger) Fitting In, Coward (New York, NY), 1976.

Police Lab, John Day, 1976.

Energy from the Sun, Crowell (New York, NY), 1976.

Medical Center Lab, John Day, 1976.

The Story of Folk Music, S. G. Phillips, 1976.

Quasars, Pulsars, and Black Holes in Space, Putnam (New York, NY), 1977.

Auto Factory, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1977.

F.B.I., F. Watts (New York, NY), 1977.

Food Processing, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1977.

The Supernatural, John Day, 1977.

Jigsaw Continents, Coward (New York, NY), 1978.

Bionics, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1978.

The Trumpet Book, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1978.

(With Gilda Berger) The New Food Book, Crowell (New York, NY), 1978.

Building Construction, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1978.

Printing Plant, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1978.

Disease Detectives, Crowell (New York, NY), 1978.

The World of Dance, S. G. Phillips, 1979.

Planets, Stars, and Galaxies, Putnam (New York, NY), 1979.

Stereo Hi-Fi Handbook, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1979.

Putting on a Show, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1980.

The Photo Dictionary of Football, Methuen (London, England), 1980.

Mad Scientists in Fact and Fiction, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1980.

Robots in Fact and Fiction, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1980.

The Photo Dictionary of Football, Methuen (London, England), 1980.

The Photo Dictionary of the Orchestra, Methuen (London, England), 1980.

The New Earth Book: Our Changing Planet, illustrated by George DeGrazio, Crowell (New York, NY), 1980.

Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids, Putnam (New York, NY), 1981.

Disastrous Floods and Tidal Waves, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1981.

Disastrous Volcanoes, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1981.

Computers in Your Life, Crowell (New York, NY), 1981.

(With Gilda Berger) The Whole World of Hands, illustrated by True Kelley, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1982.

Censorship, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1982.

Sports Medicine: Scientists at Work, Crowell (New York, NY), 1982.

(With Gilda Berger) Bizarre Murders, J. Messner (New York, NY), 1983.

(Consulting editor) Christopher Lampton Computer Languages, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1983.

Data Processing, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1983.

Bright Stars, Red Giants, and White Dwarfs, Putnam (New York, NY), 1983.

Why I Cough, Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, and Yawn, illustrated by Holly Keller, Crowell (New York, NY), 1983.

Energy, drawings by Anne Canevari Green, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1983.

Exploring the Mind and Brain, Crowell (New York, NY), 1983.

Space Shots, Shuttles, and Satellites, Putnam (New York, NY), 1983.

Sports, drawings by Anne Canevari Green, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1983.

(With Gilda Berger) Bizarre Crimes, illustrated by Cheryl Chalmers, J. Messner, 1984.

Computer Talk, pictures by Geri Greinke, J. Messner, 1984.

Word Processing, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1984.

Computers: A Question and Answer Book, Crowell (New York, NY), 1985.

Space Talk, J. Messner, 1985.

Mind Control, Crowell (New York, NY), 1985.

Guide to Chamber Music, Dodd, Mead (New York, NY), 1985, 2nd edition, Dover Publications (Mineola, NY), 2001.

Germs Make Me Sick!, illustrated by Marylin Hafner, Crowell (New York, NY), 1985, revised edition, HarperCollins (New York NY), 1996.

Star Gazing, Comet Tracking, and Sky Mapping, illustrated by William Negron, Putnam (New York, NY), 1985.

Atoms, Molecules, and Quarks, illustrated by Greg Wenzel, Putnam (New York, NY), 1986.

Hazardous Substances, a Reference, Enslow Publishers (Hillside, NJ), 1986.

The Artificial Heart, illustrated by Anne Canevari Green, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1987.

Lights, Lenses, and Lasers, illustrated by Greg Wenzel, Putnam (New York, NY), 1987.

Early Humans: A Prehistoric World, illustrated by Michael Welply, design and paper engineering by John Strejan, Putnam (New York, NY), 1988.

UFOs, ETs, and Visitors from Space, Putnam (New York, NY), 1988.

As Old as the Hills, illustrated by S. D. Schindler, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1989.

If You Lived on Mars, Lodestar Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Our Atomic World, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1989.

The Science of Music, illustrated by Yvonne Buchanan, Crowell (New York, NY), 1989.

Solids, Liquids, and Gases: From Superconductors to the Ozone Layer, illustrated by Greg Wenzel, Putnam (New York, NY), 1989.

Switch on, Switch Off, illustrated by Carolyn Croll, Crowell (New York, NY), 1989.

Simple Science Says—Take One Mirror, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1989.

(With Gilda Berger) Drug Abuse A-Z, Enslow Publishers, 1990.

Stranger than Fiction: Killer Bugs, illustrated by Kelly Oechsli, Avon Books (New York, NY), 1990.

101 President Jokes, illustrated by H. L. Schwadron, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1990.

How Life Began, illustrated by Jerry Lofaro, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1990.

Guide to Sonatas: Music for One or Two Instruments, Anchor (New York, NY), 1991.

Ouch!: A Book about Cuts, Scratches, and Scrapes, illustrated by Pat Stewart, Lodestar (New York, NY), 1991.

Stranger than Fiction: Sea Monsters, illustrated by Kelly Oechsli, Avon (New York, NY), 1991.

101 Wacky Camping Jokes, illustrated by Don Orehek, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992.

Sound, Heat, and Light: Energy at Work, illustrated by Anna DiVito, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992.

All about Seeds, illustrated by Anna DiVito, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992.

Look out for Turtles!, illustrated by Megan Lloyd, Harper-Collins (New York, NY), 1992.

Discovering Mars: The Amazing Story of the Red Planet, illustrated by Joan Holub, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992.

Guide to Choral Masterpieces: A Listener's Guide, Anchor (New York, NY), 1993.

All about Sound, illustrated by Cynthia Fisher, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.

Oil Spill!, illustrated by Paul Mirocha, HarperCollins, 1994.

Outdoor Science Adventures, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.

Digging for Dinosaurs, Newbridge Educational Pub. (New York, NY), 1994.

All about Electricity, illustrated by Marsha Winborn, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.

Discovering Jupiter: The Amazing Collision in Space, illustrated by Tom Leonard, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.

The Anchor Guide to Orchestral Masterpieces, Anchor (New York, NY), 1995.

A Whale Is Not a Fish and Other Animal Mix-Ups, illustrated by Marshall Peck III, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.

Don't Believe It! Fibs and Facts about Animals, illustrated by Bryn Barnard, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

(With Gilda Berger) Did Dinosaurs Live in Your Backyard?, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) Where Does the Mail Go?, illustrated by Geoffrey Brittingham, Chelsea House Publishers (Philadelphia, PA), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) Where Are the Stars during the Day?, illustrated by Blanche Sims, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) Where Did Your Family Come From?, illustrated by Robert M. Quackenbush, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) Life in the Rainforest, illustrated by Geoffrey H. Brittingham, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) Do Stars Have Points? Questions and Answers about Stars and Planets, illustrated by Vincent Di Fate, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) Telephones, Televisions, and Toilets, illustrated by Don Madden, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) How Do Airplanes Fly?, illustrated by Paul Babb, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1998.

Chirping Crickets, illustrated by Megan Lloyd, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) Round and round the Money Goes, illustrated by Jane McCreary, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) How's the Weather?, illustrated by John Emil Cymerman, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) Why Don't Haircuts Hurt? Questions and Answers about Your Body, illustrated by Karen Barnes, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

(With Gilda Berger) Do Tarantulas Have Teeth? Questions and Answers about Poisonous Creatures, illustrated by Jim Effler, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) Growl!: A Book about Bears, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) Why Do Volcanoes Blow Their Tops? Questions and Answers about Volcanoes and Earthquakes, illustrated by Barbara Higgins Bond, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) What Do Animals Do in Winter? How Animals Survive the Cold,, illustrated by Susan Harrison, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) Water, Water Everywhere: A Book about the Water Cycle, illustrated by Bobbi Tull, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) Can It Rain Cats and Dogs? Questions and Answers about Weather, illustrated by Robert Sullivan, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) Chomp!: A Book about Sharks, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) The Whole World in Your Hands: Looking at Maps, illustrated by Robert Quackenbush, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) Why Did the Dinosaurs Disappear? The Great Dinosaur Mystery, illustrated by Susan Harrison, Chelsea House (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) Do Whales Have Belly Buttons? Questions and Answers about Whales and Dolphins, illustrated by Higgins Bond, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) How Do Flies Walk upside Down? Questions and Answers about Insects, illustrated by Jim Effler, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

(With Gilda Berger) Brrr!: A Book about Polar Animals, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) Why Do Wolves Howl? Questions and Answers about Wolves, illustrated by Roberto Osti, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) Screech!: A Book about Bats, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) How Do Bats See in the Dark? Questions and Answers about Night Creatures, illustrated by Jim Effler, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) Scholastic Science Dictionary, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

Buzz!: A Book about Insects, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) Do Tornadoes Really Twist? Questions and Answers about Tornadoes and Hurricanes, illustrated by Higgins Bond, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) Can You Hear a Shout in Space? Questions and Answers about Space Exploration, illustrated by Vincent di Fate, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) Dive!: A Book of Deep Sea Creatures, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) Do All Spiders Spin Webs? Questions and Answers about Spiders, illustrated by Roberto Osti, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) Do Penguins Get Frostbite? Questions and Answers about Polar Animals, illustrated by Higgins Bond, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) What Do Sharks Eat for Dinner? Questions and Answers about Sharks, illustrated by John Rice, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Gilda Berger) Can Snakes Crawl Backwards? Questions and Answers about Reptiles, illustrated by Alan Male, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Gilda Berger) What Makes an Ocean Wave? Questions and Answers about Oceans and Ocean Life, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Gilda Berger) Where Have All the Pandas Gone? Questions and Answers about Endangered Species, illustrated by Jim Effler, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Gilda Berger) Splash!: A Book about Whales and Dolphins, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Gilda Berger) Is a Dolphin a Fish? Questions and Answers about Dolphins, illustrated by Karen Carr, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Gilda Berger) Mummies of the Pharaohs: Exploring the Valley of the Kings, National Geographic Society (Washington, DC), 2001.

(With Gilda Berger) Does It Always Rain in the Rain Forest? Questions and Answers about the Rain Forests, illustrated by Michael Rothman, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Gilda Berger) Do Bears Sleep All Winter? Questions and Answers about Bears, illustrated by Roberto Osti, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Gilda Berger) Snap!: A Book about Alligators and Crocodiles, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

Guide to Chamber Music, Dover Publications (Mineola, NY), 2001.

(With Gilda Berger) Where Did the Butterfly Get Its Name?: Questions and Answers about Butterflies and Moths, Scholastic Reference (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Turtles, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Squirrels, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Howl! A Book about Wolves, Cartwheel Books (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) How Do Frogs Swallow With Their Eyes?: Questions and Answers about Amphibians, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Spiders, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Robins, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Penguins, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Ladybugs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Grrr!: A Book about Big Cats, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Foxes, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Butterflies, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Bears, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Are Mountains Growing Taller? Questions and Answers about the Changing Earth, illustrated by Robin Carter, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) Ants, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Gilda Berger) You Taste with Your Tongue, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Whales, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Sting!: A Book about Dangerous Animals, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Spinning Spiders, HarperCollins Publishers, 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) A Snowy Day, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Snakes Live in Grass, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Sharks, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Sea Horses, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) The Real Vikings: Craftsmen, Traders, and Fearsome Raiders, National Geographic (Washington, DC), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Polar Bears Live on Ice, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Owls Live in Trees, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Octopus, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Manta Rays, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Hurricanes Have Eyes but Can't See: And Other Amazing Facts about Wild Weather, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Frogs Live on Logs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Fish Live in Water, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Dolphins, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) Bees Live in Hives, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Gilda Berger) You're Tall in the Morning but Shorter at Night, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Gilda Berger) Tadpole to Frog, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Gilda Berger) Penguins Swim but Don't Get Wet: And Other Amazing Facts about Polar Animals, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Gilda Berger) Living Things, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Gilda Berger) Grub to Ladybug, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Gilda Berger) Fish Sleep but Don't Shut Their Eyes: And Other Amazing Facts about Ocean Creatures, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Gilda Berger) Egg to Robin, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Gilda Berger) Caterpillar to Butterfly, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

Biographical and Critical Sources

BOOKS

Contemporary Literary Criticism, Volume XII, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1980.*