Do the Doors Open by Magic? and Other Supermarket Questions

Christy Conte is a member of the Parents Advisory Committee at the
YMCA’s Parent and Child Enrichment Centre and a journalist.

Inquisitive kids will love these books: they are informative, brightly
illustrated, and very well written. Author Catherine Ripley sets off
with the premise that young children are endlessly curious about the
world around them. Why Is Soap So Slippery? deals with the types of
questions that come up at bathtime: “How do animals stay clean?”
“Why do some shampoos sting my eyes?” “How do towels get dry by
morning?” Do the Doors Open by Magic? covers supermarket questions:
“How does all the food get here?” “Why are some eggs brown and
some white?” Using a question-and-answer format, the books generally
allot two pages to each query.

Ripley’s experience as editor of the award-winning Chickadee magazine
serves her well here. She has a knack for presenting scientific facts in
a manner that is age-appropriate, informative, and entertaining. Scot
Ritchie’s illustrations are lively, colorful, and, as befits a young
audience, they visually dominate the pages. Highly recommended.