Book Review and Fun Project: The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate The School

My WFMW tip today is really a book review and a fun project to go along. Because if the cold and snow are keeping your family indoors (like they are here in Michigan), then chances are your children could use a fun indoor project right about now.

The book is The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate The School by Judy Sierra. I first discovered this book at my library over the summer. At first I wondered if the book might not appeal to my then 3 and 6 year old children. After all, did they even know what a science project was? As it turns out we were all in for a real treat. Here is the summary taken from the book:

A girl sends off for “Professor Swami’s Super Slime” to use as her science fair project and then has to cope with the funny disaster that follows.

Two things I love about the book:

1) The entire story is told in rhyme. Clever and descriptive rhymes like:

“A science project fully guaranteed to win first prize. A substance so amazing judges won’t believe their eyes. A mutant yeast with just a piece of dragon DNA. Professor Swami’s Super Slime. Order yours today!”

2) The illustrations are fantastic. The Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Stephen Gammel has a gift for making mutant slime come alive. His own words describe his talent best:

“Many years ago, a dear friend and colleague was introducing me to a group of folks interested in getting into the business of picture books, and she said, ‘Stephen’s pictures look like they just happened before you turn the page.’ That statement startled me, and I’ve never forgotten it.”

Now for the fun indoor project. I can’t think of a better project for this book to conduct your own chemistry experiment with your children. Who wouldn’t want to make their own mutant slime?

Slime Recipe (There are many similar recipes for slime. I have chosen to use this one.)