ALA Booklist (Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2016)

Science can be weird, gross, magical, mysterious, and, most of all, beautiful. With this understanding at the forefront, Goossens and Faas offer 47 experiments that allow readers to experience the wonders of physics, biology, chemistry, and earth science firsthand. With watercolor illustrations, worthy of a top-­quality picture book and depicting a young girl and her mad-scientist sidekick, simple procedures are explained in plain terms. A "Why Does It Work?" section for each experiment summarizes the basic scientific tenets at the root of each outcome, while concepts such as states of matter, osmosis, and force are introduced. Symbols that denote difficulty, safety hazards, time constraints, and messiness factors make selecting an experiment easy, and most can be performed using basic household supplies. Since the book is written without weighty jargon and relies on the appeal of its visual format to generate curiosity, it is an ideal introduction to a variety of concrete STEM concepts for the creatively-minded reader.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

As the title suggests, this is far from a dry book of science experiments-among the 47 activities are ones with attention-getting names like -elephant toothpaste,- -fireball grape,- and -exploding melon.- Readers will discover, though, that the experiments can be quite similar: those in which something foams up or explodes generally involve creating carbon dioxide (often with vinegar and baking soda), while those with gooey results usually include the use of borax. Instructions are direct and largely clear, and Faas-s images opt for playfulness over instruction. Her expressive paintings feature a girl and a hapless adult scientist-she-s having the time of her life, whether sailing down a river of glitter slime or microwaving homemade clay, whereas he provides the comic relief, with his experiments generally catching on fire or blowing up. Ages 6-up. (Apr.)

School Library Journal (Sun May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 4-7 Putting Mentos in soda, soaking an egg in vinegar, and exploding a watermelon with rubber bands are the kind of activities science afternoons are made of. Each of these 47 experiments is given a spread detailing supplies needed, directions, and explanations of the science at work. Warning symbols indicate explosions, messiness, and safety tips, as well as whether the project requires the use of fire. Unlike most science experiment books, which give numbered steps and set amounts, this title presents the "What To Do" sections in prose with approximate measurements. While this may prove to be frustrating for parents or children familiar with step-by-step instructions, it does allow for trial and error for those patient enough. Done in the style of Quentin Blake, Faas's illustrations add joyous beauty, but not information, to each activity. VERDICT Nothing new here, but this might be a starting point for hands-on activities ideas; purchase for STEM collections or programming. Jennifer Wolf, Beaverton City Library, OR