Jan's Big Bang

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

Even though they are only in Grade 3, Jan and her friend Sarah decide to
participate in the school science fair. The projects they attempt—an
erupting volcano, an ant farm, and a worm composter—all turn out to be
unworkable for various reasons. Running out of time and beginning to
despair, they finally manage to develop a viable experiment out of the
failed attempts.

This enjoyable novel’s central themes—protecting the environment
and the importance of perseverance—are well developed. The book is
also quite humorous. A Very Distinguished and Important Visitor to the
science fair insists on testing the “explosive” aspect of the
girls’ project, thereby causing the “big bang” of the title. The
fact that the two budding scientists are girls is another plus, given
that the disciplines of math and science are sometimes still considered
to be male preserves. Recommended.