Every Day, Chemistry

April 26, 2021
Chemistry isn’t something that requires test tubes and goggles, as a parent and child discover in these pages—instead, “science is all around us.” Sooy’s (Our World Is Relative) setup explanation may confuse young readers and even some adults (“Substances become something new—not just by cutting or freezing or physical change, but by changing what they are, their chemical composition”), but easy-to-grasp examples soon take over as the white-skinned family moves through their day. Every-
thing they encounter involves chemistry: the breakfast toast, the rust on a slide, the brown coloration on an apple, the shampoo that “foams, lifting away sweat and dirt,” the pizza dough rising, even breathing itself. Pang (MVP: Most Valuable Puppy) keeps the bright-eyed, engaged protagonists and their actions front and center, in cheery color and clean digital lines that have the cozy familiarity of TV animation. The slight story doesn’t offer specifics about how the listed reactions take place, but back matter offers some help, in the form of questions “to help determine if a chemical reaction has occurred” and a real-life example of chemical and physical change: bread baking. Ages 4–8. (June)■

June 1, 2021
Grades K-2 This is a cheerful introduction to the ubiquity of chemistry. Precise language mirrored by colorful illustrations depicts concepts such as physical and chemical changes; vocabulary such as respiration, digestion, and reaction; and much more. Readers will learn how, at every moment of the day, some kind of chemistry is at work: when we cook, play, eat, wash, or even when we love. The book has an easy narrative style that lends a storylike feeling, and the illustrations of a child and her family going about their day provide a warm welcome into the world of science--a world that is science. Back matter adds a more academic explanation of chemical changes and how to spot them in the process of baking bread, which may lead to cooking experiments in the kitchen. Early-elementary teachers will appreciate this as a read-aloud, with the potential for lots of discussion. Can be paired thematically with Elin Kelsey's You Are Stardust (2012) and Wild Ideas: Let Nature Inspire Your Thinking (2015).

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Starred review from June 25, 2021

PreS-Gr 3-Sooy's picture book follows a pale-skinned mother and daughter through a seemingly typical day brimming with chemistry simmering beneath the surface. Breakfast pops from an almost magical toaster where asterisks, lightning bolts, and sparkles swirl around, signaling to readers that scientific reactions are occurring inside. Next, the two drive to a park where plants grow, a diverse cast of characters run, rapidly respirating, while others calmly cloud-watch or beat the heat in the shade. The daughter glides down a rusty slide and stomachs digest picnic lunches. Back at home, bath time is a soapy chemical reaction washing away grimy particles. Eagerly, the daughter observes dough rising and baking in the oven, yielding a delicious pizza dinner. Snuggled beneath the covers, a flashlight illuminates the pages of a bedtime story. Even the sharing of love as the mother kisses her daughter goodnight: it's all everyday chemistry. Pang's vibrantly colored, digital artwork emanates a warm energy. The formula for Sooy's story is light on factual information, leaning into the naturalistic treatment of what's happening and why. Back matter provides supplemental information on chemical reactions for those wanting to explore further. VERDICT A recommended catalyst to spark young readers' interest in chemistry.-Emily Brush, Novi P.L., MI

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