Hands-On Science: Matter

An imaginary lab and a real experiment introduce matter.

An experienced writer of science books for young readers invites her audience to explore matter in a chemistry lab. She focuses on two concepts: mass and three of the states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas. These are intriguingly presented in a manner reminiscent of Hervé Tullet’s Press Here (2011). Readers are invited to tilt, jiggle, and tap on the book to see how matter can change shape or form without changing mass. Using first a blob of clay and then a bunch of cherries for her imagined experiments, Schaefer concludes with directions for a real demonstration of making gas with baking soda (a solid) and lemon juice (a liquid) to create bubbles of carbon dioxide (a gas). (She reminds readers to do their experiments with a grown-up.) She draws connections between these concepts and readers themselves as she points out that we all have solids, liquids, and gases in our bodies. The science is solid and the teaching appropriate for the age. Clean illustrations set on plentiful white space aid understanding. Rereaders will notice that all the materials and equipment depicted throughout, even the white coats, can be found on the first spread. Human characters are racially diverse. 

A simple and clear interactive scientific exploration.
—Kirkus Reviews

There’s nothing quite like an interactive book, especially when science experiments are involved. Tipping and twisting with real hands-on experiments makes this picture book perfect for any wiggly child who loves making predictions.
—Brightly