From School Library Journal
Gr 4-9–Messy, daredevil, tongue-in-cheek, and definitely boy-friendly, this collection of science explorations will energize a boring afternoon or a routine science lesson. Grouped loosely under the headings “The Power of Air,” “Kitchen Chemistry,” “Dry Ice,” “Gooey Wonders,” and “Don't Try This at Home...Try It at a Friend's Home!” the experiments emphasize the fun before the facts and are arranged under the headings “Let's Try It,” “Take It Further,” “What's Going on Here?” and “Real-World Applications.” Adult help will be necessary to guide elementary-aged children through the wordy instructions and the use of dry ice, power tools, and stoves. Sharp, full-color photos appear throughout, but they're not always informative. Adults dominate the images with an emphasis on the author's appearances on The Ellen Degeneres Show. Safety warnings are included at the front of the book, within experiments such as “Soup Soufflé” or “Naked Eggs,” and in the introduction to the “Dry Ice” section.–Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Former elementary-school teacher Spangler has made a small empire out of finding the hands-on fun in science, with regular appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and his own extensive website, on which he markets educational toys and products. The creator of the Mentos Diet Coke geyser experiment that became a YouTube video sensation, Spangler uses cheap, everyday materials to invent entertaining, highly kid-appealing activities, many of which are collected in this volume. Heavily illustrated with color photos and described in funny, casual prose, the experiments will easily engage a young audience, and each is followed by a succinct explanation of the science concepts at play, from the potato launcher, which encourages kids to shoot spud pellets at close range as they learn about pressure and volume, to bouncing and folding eggs and soda-bottle lava lamps, which demonstrate chemical reactions and density. Serious safety cautions appear throughout the irreverent chapters, while “Take It Further” sections encourage fired-up lab partners to continue the activities. A boon for parents and teachers alike, this should find a large, enthusiastic audience. Grades 3-6. --Gillian Engberg