Thirteen humorous poems explore the idea of chemical mixtures in this picture book aimed at young children and their caregivers. Mixtures include familiar foods (fudge, cinnamon toast, salad dressing, chocolate milk); common substances (concrete, glue, bubbles, mud); and more abstract combinations (music, teams, secondary colors); while a final poem, "Goodnight," depicts a sequence of rituals rather than a true mixture. Most of the poems contain a strong narrative thread; in "Mud" a young girl uses a garden hose to create a rainbow and then falls into the mud puddle she creates. Petricic's colorful cartoon illustrations communicate the actions and emotions of each poem, often extending the story beyond the text. "Music," for example, describes a five-member rock band; Petricic's accompanying illustration depicts both the child musicians and their unfortunate upstairs neighbors brating forcefully from the intense sound. Although there's no attempt to explain the science, several verses lend themselves to replication at home or school. Fans of this book will also enjoy Jon Scieszka's Science Verse (2004).

A compendium of poems designed to teach the concept of mixing...and, of course, to entertain. Each of the 13 verses is illustrated with a two-page spread, featuring mostly children doing the mixing. "Glue" shows them combining flour and water to make glue for a classroom art project—"Then mix them, squish them, squoosh them, / 'til you get a sticky goo." In "Bubbles," a girl blocks her brother, who wants to give the dog a bath in the washing machine, advising instead that they "Rub and scrub with soapy water, watch the bubbles fly." "Concrete" shows a workman putting sand, gravel, water and cement into the big mixer, as well as a trio of children putting their prints in the new sidewalk (one gets his shoes stuck): "Concrete starts all soft and slushy, / then gets hard—that's clever." Other topics include a makeshift Martian costume for Halloween, cinnamon toast, a ragtag soccer team, salad dressing, mud, music and bedtime; that is, the routine of checking under the bed, a bedtime story, hug and kiss, etc. "Just one more glass of water, / and one more time to pee, / and one more check beneath the bed / for monsters—wait for me." A brief, helpful afterword suggests teaching possibilities provided by the text. The poetry may be hit and miss, but the concept is terrific and the illustrations similarly sublime. (Picture book. 3-6) 

Gr 1-3 The title and blue and yellow paint blending into green on the cover hints at the theme of this lighthearted collection. Twelve of the 13 poems explore mixtures. Examples consistent with the scientific definition include water and flour, cinnamon and sugar, soap and water, dirt and water, chocolate and milk, and yellow and blue paint. Poems about vinegar and oil, fudge, music, and a sports team stretch the definition a bit. The final poem, "Goodnight," the poets admit, is added just for fun. A simple rhyming scheme and two stanzas per selection plus word choices that kids will appreciate make the poems accessible. The black-line cartoon drawings with color washes match the humorous writing perfectly. Series of vignettes illustrate each poem like the steps in a science experiment, often arching across the spreads. This title should find a place in large collections. Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI