Can kid genius Frank Einstein improve on the human body?
After investigating matter and energy and myriad related topics and scientists along the way, Frank has come to a question concerning anatomy. Can friend Janegoodall’s natural pitching skills be augmented somehow in order to win her a spot on the Midville Mud Hens’ roster? With the help of candy-loving sidekick Watson, Janegoodall herself, and self-assembled robots Klink (the smart one) and Klank (the…um, cuddly one), Frank works through the various systems of the body, one by one. From an exploration of the senses, he decides that boosting the brain is the best way to boost the body. However, rival genius (term used loosely) T. Edison and his signing sidekick Mr. Chimp try to take control and take credit. How can the good guys win when mind control comes into play? Scieszka’s third joke-filled Frank Einstein adventure jam-packed with sneaky science lessons is perfect for young scientists who may prefer fact to fiction. Biggs’ ample tricolor (orange, black, and white in this outing) illustrations extend both the story and the science. Aftermatter broadens the fun with additional science facts, puzzles, and even baseball tips.
Halfway through the series, the science and the sly (and slapstick) laughs are still going strong. (Science fiction/humor. 6-10)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4197-1643-0
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2015
Categories: CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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In her debut chapter book, Platt shares the story of a young girl navigating friendships and the challenges of trying to win her school’s science triathlon.
Young Parker Bell is a curious child who loves science and aspires to match up to Mae Jemison and Jane Goodall one day. Her best friend and partner in science is coding whiz Cassie Malouf. They have been best friends since kindergarten, but Parker gets jealous when Cassie suddenly starts becoming friendly with Theo Zachary, a shy boy in their class. Parker worries that Cassie likes Theo more than her, and she fights hard to keep her friend. Matters only get worse when Cassie invites Theo to be part of their team for the science triathlon, which features a science trivia contest, an egg drop, and a presentation. In a somewhat predictable plot, Parker realizes she has a lot in common with Theo as she spends more time with him. Platt works hard to defy gender stereotypes. In addition to the girls’ STEM enthusiasm, Parker’s mom teaches phys ed, her dad owns a bakery, and Cassie’s mom teaches math. Zhai’s simple black-and-white illustrations of Parker, Cassie, and the classrooms provide a good visual aid to the story, depicting Parker and Theo as white and Cassie with dark skin and long black hair.
A lighthearted read that will offer comfort to young children that others too face challenges of friendship, teamwork and competition. (Fiction. 6-10)Pub Date: May 21, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-328-97347-4
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2019
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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A pro bono Twinkie of a book invites readers to fly off in a magic plane to bring clean water to our planet’s oceans, deserts, and brown children.
Following a confusingly phrased suggestion beneath a soft-focus world map to “touch the Earth. Now touch where you live,” a shake of the volume transforms it into a plane with eyes and feathered wings that flies with the press of a flat, gray “button” painted onto the page. Pressing like buttons along the journey releases a gush of fresh water from the ground—and later, illogically, provides a filtration device that changes water “from yucky to clean”—for thirsty groups of smiling, brown-skinned people. At other stops, a tap on the button will “help irrigate the desert,” and touching floating bottles and other debris in the ocean supposedly makes it all disappear so the fish can return. The 20 children Coh places on a globe toward the end are varied of skin tone, but three of the four young saviors she plants in the flier’s cockpit as audience stand-ins are white. The closing poem isn’t so openly parochial, though it seldom rises above vague feel-good sentiments: “Love the Earth, the moon and sun. / All the children can be one.”
“It’s time to head back home,” the narrator concludes. “You’ve touched the Earth in so many ways.” Who knew it would be so easy to clean the place up and give everyone a drink? (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: April 11, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5107-2083-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017
Categories: CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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