Silly Science: Strange and Startling Projects to Amaze Your Family and Friends

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

Fun science for kids is a phenomenon these days: witness the success of
Disney’s “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” the proliferation of shops
devoted to science-based toys and games, and the popularity of
science-themed birthday parties. Silly Science and Everyday Science are
solid, worthwhile contributions to this burgeoning field. Co-written by
the former owner of a West Coast science store and an elementary-school
teacher, these two books have been well thought out in terms of content,
format, and marketing.

Silly Science offers 28 “strange and startling projects,” none of
which serve any practical purpose other than to illustrate an important
scientific principle. Everyday Science has 25 projects, most of which
involve the simple construction of something useful. Parents will
appreciate the fact that the projects require little time investment and
feature commonly found household items, many recycled. Format is similar
in each volume: there is a brief description of each project, a
materials list, simple notes on how to perform the experiment, a quick
explanation of the intended result, and a “Did you know?” section
containing interesting related facts.

These titles will appeal to both children and adults; the brightly
illustrated covers are appealing, and the drawings throughout are both
humorous and informative. Silly Science may appeal

to a slightly broader audience because the types of projects it features
are “sexier” (e.g., Slam-Dancing Spaghetti, Where’s the Beef, and
Spongeasaurus). The radiometer, barometer, and sundial-type projects in
Everyday Science may be more “serious,” though no less interesting
to the child with a stated interest in the subject. Both titles can be
enjoyed at home or in the classroom.