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Three Books for Kids Who Like Science Experiments

December 15, 2018 Claire Annette Noland 1 Comment

Children are naturally curious and are always excited have the opportunity to experiment. These three Cybils nominees in the Early Chapter Book category are books that are sure to become favorites of young readers who are transitioning into longer books with more detailed plots featuring favorite characters.

The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare
by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale (authors) and LeUyen Pham
Candlewick Press 2018
96 page Early Chapter Book for grades 1-4

Themes – Science Fair, teamwork, friendship, superheroes, monsters

Setting: Intergalactic Science Fair

 

Fans of Princess in Black books will be thrilled to read this sixth installment in the series. Princess Magnolia heads to the Intergalactic Science Fair with her poster explaining her seed project. She meets up with her princess friends, each with an exciting project. Princess Magnolia and her friends are amazed with Tommy Wigtower’s talking volcano project. Tommy is concerned because the volcano is supposed to erupt – not talk! Unfortunately, his use of monster fur in the creation of the project resulted in goo monster growing in the volcano. The monster wreaks havoc on the other projects and Princess Magnolia takes on her identity as the Princess in Black. As she attempts to get the monster under control she is joined by a new hero, Princess in Blankets, who helps her solve the hungry goo monster problem using some scientific reasoning.

Like the other books in this wonderful series, each chapter has bright and cheerful illustrations showing a diverse group of characters. The girls are adventurous and use teamwork to solve the monster problem. There is humor and excitement from start to finish making this a perfect book for students reading on their own.

Fergus and Zeke at the Science Fair
by Kate Messner (author) and Heather Ross (illustrator)
Candlewick Press 2018
48 page Early Chapter Book for grades 1-3

Themes: Science experiments, mice

Setting: School

Fergus and Zeke are the classroom mice in Miss Maxwell’s classroom. The mice participate in the student activities by listening to stories and keeping their own calendar and journal. So, when it is announced that the class would be participating in the school science fair, Fergus and Zeke are excited to join the fun. They are dismayed, however, when they learn that they are to be the subjects of Lucy’s experiment where they need to find their way through a maze to receive a treat. They want to do a project – not be the project! These clever mice turn the experiment around when they figure out a way to train Lucy to cheer in order for them to perform.

Written in 4 very short chapters, this book has a funny and engaging plot that gives a great example of processes involved in conducting an experiment. This is the second book about Fergus and Zeke and hopefully there will be more to come.

 

Zoey and Sassafras Unicorns and Germs
by Asia Citro (author) and Marion Lindsay (author)
Innovation Press 2018
96 page Early Chapter Book for grades 1-5

Themes: Unicorns, germs, scientific method

Setting: Zoey’s home and barn

For those who enjoy fantasy mixed with fact, the series featuring Zoey, her cat, and the magical animals they meet is perfect. In this sixth book of the series, Zoey is learning about bacteria while making yogurt. Suddenly, she and her mother feel an earthquake. When the barn doorbell rings, Zoey goes out back and discovers an injured baby unicorn. But this is no little unicorn, it is gigantic and is the cause of the quaking. Zoey tries to help the unicorn who has an injured leg. When infection sets in, Zoey experiments and figures out what she needs to do to help the unicorn to heal.

Zoey is a bright inquisitive young scientist who loves animals.  Zoey’s mother gives suggestions but it is Zoey who logically solves each problem. Safety tips are stressed as well as information on how to properly conduct an experiment. The chapters are short and written in a large font. There are black and white illustrations on nearly every page spread. This book will appeal to a broad age range of young readers. Don’t be surprised to find kids trying out the experiments on their own after finishing the book.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Cybils 2018 early chapter books, Fergus and Zeke at the Science Fair, Princess in Black and the Science Fair, science experiments in kid lit, unicorns, Zoey and Sassafras Unicorns and Germs

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Comments

  1. Trine Grillo says

    December 15, 2018 at 4:31 pm

    Thanks for sharing these, Claire. I had not heard of them.

    Reply

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claireannettenolandbooks

Author | teacher | Field Trip Planner
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Today’s the day! I’m the featured author on to Today’s the day! I’m the featured author on today’s Summer of Stories! Take a look and let me know what you think. The link is in my bio.

And then check out all the other great stories!

#summerofstories #floursackdresses #floursack #makedo #picturebookreadaloud 

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I'm excited to share that the Crystal Kite Award v I'm excited to share that the Crystal Kite Award voting continues until July 18th for members of SCBWI. Our book, Nancy Bess Had a Dress, is in the Southwest Division (where illustrator @angelac.hawkins lives)

Members, you can vote for books in all of the regions.
Cast your vote at this link: 

https://www.scbwi.org/crystal-kite/CK8

I will be sharing Nancy Bess July 11th online for the Summer of Stories https://summerofstories.substack.com/

and I'll be doing story time and craft at the Three River Public Library on July 11th at 10:30

@gnomeroadpublishing @pbspree @eringreneaux @tularecountylib 
@scbwicencal #crystalkiteaward
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We are enjoying a lovely summer’s day with CARL’S SLEEPY AFTERNOON thanks to our friends @laughingelephantbooks who sent us a copy signed by Alexandra Day and Carl!
Happy 40th Anniversary, Carl! You are such a good dog 🐾❤️
Carl has an opportunity to have a quiet and sleepy afternoon but does he rest? Not our Carl!
We’re on our 3rd generation loving this noble good dog and look forward to reading about his adventures for many more years!

#gooddogcarl #picturebookdogs #summerreading @mrernierecommends @christinabeeghly @laurennolandhajik @roxannenoland @gn705
Summer is the best time to beat the heat by taking Summer is the best time to beat the heat by taking your young ones to a museum. And I suggest, before you go, you share the delightful picture book, MousterWorks, written and illustrated by @angelac.hawkins
Young mice, Cosette and Pépin, join Grand-mère on a splendid adventure through a mouse hole into a museum. They gaze at brilliant interpretations of well-known painting by famous artists such as Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt, and Edward Banister. Cosette excitedly engages with the art while her brother, Pépin, searches for cheese in the art and eventually realizes that he can be an artist and paint his favorite things.

The final photo is 2.5 year old Alice at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. She was captivated by "Home Sweet Home" (after Seurat, Manet, and Pippin) painted by Wangari Mathenge

Art is for all ages.

To read my full review, visit my blog https://afieldtriplife.com/mousterworks-lets-go-to-a-museum/

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Thank you @tularecountylib 
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Happy Summer! At the top of our summer "to do" lis Happy Summer! At the top of our summer "to do" list is visiting libraries where I love to see staff recommendations. SUMMER: A Solstice Story written by @kelseyegross and illustrated by @renataliwska is such a lovely picture book.
Owl, Squirrel, Raccoon, Bear, Sparrow, Rabbit, Woodpecker, and Deer gather to celebrate the arrival of summer with its gifts of light and new life. The friends share sprouts, fresh water, flowers, and fruit each accompanied by special wishes for the little ones to shine, glow, shimmer, gleam, and blaze bright with solstice light. They spend the day with festivities as they dance, splash, hop, and savor a forest feast.
I shared this with a group of children the night before the Solstice so that they understood how special this date is. Then, we read it again as the sun set on the longest day of the year after partaking of many of the same activities done by the woodland animals. They really enjoyed the center pages that fold out.
This is a soft, gentle, and breathtakingly beautiful picture book that should be enjoyed all summer long. @pbspree #summersolstice #summerasolsticestory
We have been Good Dog Carl fans for almost 4 decad We have been Good Dog Carl fans for almost 4 decades so we are excited to celebrate 40 years of our favorite picture book series! I love the book mom and Carl’s adventures are the best!
So let’s raise a toast to Carl, the very good dog, and to  @laughingelephantbooks Here’s to many more wonderful years of ❤️ filled stories.
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This is a wonderful book for all families and will help everyone understand the sacrifices that our brave service members make. I just wish this book had been available when I was teaching children in military families.
Written by Forrest Zenone, Skyler Zenone, and Tricia Stone-Shumaker
Illustrations by Penny Weber
@poppysadventures1 @pennyweberart @laurennolandhajik #militaryfamilies #asmuchasthestars
#mrernierecommends
FYI… sweet peas are blooming on Old Creek Road a FYI… sweet peas are blooming on Old Creek Road around Whale Rock Reservoir
The story of how they got there reminds me of Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney “You must do something to make the world more beautiful.” 
Read how these delicate blossoms came to grace the highways in San Luis Obispo County: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/johnny-appleseed-sweet-peas-planted-120000196.html

Lupine, poppies, and wild mustard are also blooming.

#sweetpeas #jackcreekfarms #roadtrip #afieldtriplife #missrumphius
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