Libby Loves Science

May 8, 2020

K-Gr 3-Libby loves performing science experiments and exploring the world around her. When she learns that there will be a science booth at an upcoming school fall festival, she and her friends decide to participate. What follows is all but a procedural for giving children a path into hands-on learning. Included are instructions for a series of accessible science experiments with simple drawings making them approachable for young children. Also helpful are material lists and notes about what can be expected once the experiment is performed. These appear in the corner of pages and can be adequately distinguished from the narrative text. The wonderfully diverse array of characters sport jubilant expressions as they search for, plan out, and try different experiments, from researching and working with ingredients to observing their results. VERDICT A successful marriage of solid information and good fun, this book expresses a love for the topic that will encourage kids to follow their curiosity and develop their own appreciation for science.-Deanna Smith, Pender County P.L., NC

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2020
Science lover Libby works with classmates to run the science booth at the school festival in this companion to Derting and Johannes' Cece books, illustrated by Vashti Harrison. Libby is a black girl who loves experimenting, especially in the kitchen. At school, chemistry is right up her alley. When Mr. Darwin recruits students to run the science booth at the school fair, Libby works with Rosa and Finn to devise experiments that will be exciting enough to compete with the bouncy house. On the day of the festival, they decorate their booth artfully and set up their giant bubbles, slime ingredients, and rocketry supplies, but for a while they are overlooked. The trio manages to attract attention to their experiments, and soon they have a small crowd. Their booth doesn't win the prize, but their class celebrates anyway with a fun and tasty chemistry experiment. Instructions for all of the science activities are included as notebook-page insets within the story spreads. The diverse characters (Rosa is brown skinned with puffy, red hair, and Finn looks Asian) are accessible and fun. Murray's bright, cartoon illustrations, patterned after Harrison's aesthetic, generate excitement around their adventures. While the one-note story falls a bit flat at the end, science lovers will be happy to continue collecting these titles, and the incorporation of well-loved activities like cooking and making slime just may convert science skeptics into science lovers too. Sure to inspire real-life experimentation. (science facts) (Picture book. 5-9)

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April 15, 2020
Grades 1-3 Joining the ranks of strong girls in STEM comes Libby, a spirited Black girl with a passion for chemistry. When her teacher announces their class will be running the science booth at the school fair?and that the most successful booth will win an ice cream party?Libby can't wait to get involved. She and two other classmates volunteer and come up with three fun experiments for people to try at the booth: making giant bubbles, mixing fluffy slime, and launching a baking-soda-and-vinegar bottle rocket. Brightly colored artwork bubbles with Libby's enthusiasm, even when things at the booth don't quite go as planned. Materials lists and instructions for each experiment, plus two others, appear in the main text, giving readers an opportunity to experience the science fun themselves. While the kids have supervision and safety goggles on in the illustrations, there's no mention of these precautions in the instructions themselves. Nevertheless, this book is a natural fit for classroom science units and home use?just be prepared for a fun but messy learning experience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

February 1, 2024

PreS-Gr 3-Libby and her classmates are excited when their science teacher, Mr. Darwin, announces a new student will be joining them the next day. The students quickly make a plan to welcome the newcomer with an ice cream party. Mr. Darwin starts the next day by teaching the young learners about the states of matter, laying the foundation for an unplanned hands-on experience. The story takes an unexpected turn when Libby forgets to put the ice cream in the freezer, thus transforming a solid into a liquid. Mr. Darwin turns this mishap into a valuable learning opportunity and suggests using hot chocolate as a replacement. The substitution of the hot chocolate becomes a catalyst for exploring the states of matter through a delightful experience involving ice, melting marshmallows, and a selection of delicious toppings. He cleverly incorporates scientific concepts, allowing the children to explore solids, liquids, and gases in a fun and interactive way. Digitally created illustrations depict a diverse classroom that makes a visually appealing backdrop for Libby's love of learning. The book's familiar setting, likable characters, and humorous statements and situations combine well with the age-appropriate science. The inclusion of back matter featuring a glossary and recipes enhances the book's educational value and makes it a valuable resource for STEM lessons. VERDICT A recommended resource for educators and a delightful read for young science enthusiasts. Ideal for science units, this book successfully combines informative content with fun.-Lynne Stover

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2024
"Science is the best!" When Libby's teacher, Mr. Darwin, announces that a new student named Fatima will be joining their class, Libby suggests throwing her a welcome party. Libby's friends volunteer to make a banner and bring decorations, while Libby will be responsible for the treats. The next day, Libby totes a bag filled with sundae toppings and a carton of ice cream. Fatima arrives and sits beside Libby, and they soon bond over their shared love of science. Mr. Darwin explains the term matter and its three states and offers familiar examples, with lots of eager input from the students. Everyone seems to grasp the concept. Recess begins, and they prepare for the party. But Libby realizes that she forgot to put the ice cream in the freezer, and it's changed from a solid to a liquid. Luckily, Mr. Darwin supplies hot cocoa, and the children apply their knowledge. The steam coming from the cocoa is a gas, the marshmallows they add to their mugs are solid, and the cocoa is liquid. The welcome party has been a smashing success. The science is clearly explained, and the Popsicle-bright illustrations focus on the big-eyed children, who are all fully engaged and plainly adore all things STEM. Mr. Darwin is light-skinned, Libby presents Black, Fatima is brown-skinned, and the class is diverse. Science made clear--and fun. (recipes for ice pops and orange soda, quiz, glossary) (Easy reader. 5-8)

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