April 1, 2012
Gr 4-8-Written to encourage girls to explore science, these books accomplish their goal. Featuring color photos of budding scientists at work, each title includes at least 10 experiments that can be conducted at home with fairly basic materials. The instructions are clearly written and indicate when adult help is necessary. "Insider Info" sections at the end of each experiment give an explanation of the science behind the activities. The complexity of the experiments varies within the volumes. For example, in Biology, readers are taught how to color flowers with food coloring as well as how to extract DNA from a banana. In Chemistry, they learn how to make "Peppermint Lip Balm" and "Earth-Friendly Plastic." Look elsewhere for more complex science fair-type experiments, but the ones here are fun and accessible.
Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.