The Horrible Science books might be the perfect combo - the jokes are so juvenile which of course makes them hysterical - but the science is spot on and really good. My only problem with them is that DS is learning to spell English English not American English!!!! He is slowly working his way through the box of 18 we bought him, at breakfast he informed me that you can break a magnet by running a big electric current through it - I am a little worried he is now looking for a big electric current in the house LOL

We started with this one:
The stunning science of everything

its a stand along hard cover, separate from the smaller books, which covers a ton of stuff

and I always recommend the brainwaves!
brainwaves

and the basher books:
simon basher

sorry if I am repeating - didn't go back to check the thread!

DeHe