Solid, Liquid, Gassy! (A Fairy Science Story)

June 15, 2020
Like its predecessor, series opening Fairy Science (2019), this outing is an informative science book masquerading as a cute little book about a curious fairy. Protagonist Esther is a brown-skinned, purple-pigtailed, skeptical sprite believing wholeheartedly in hypothesis and experimentation over magic and wishes. While her classmates learn spells, Esther studies the law of density, and if there's a choice to be made between a microscope or a wand, Esther, of course, would choose the microscope. Through lively digital illustrations and an airy story, Spires gives young readers a conceptual invitation to the scientific method. Esther and her buddies ask questions, research, make and test a hypothesis, examine their results, then draw conclusions. As their schoolmates prepare for the spring magic fair, the young scientists hope to debut their findings on the wonders of condensation. But no one, including the teacher, wants to hear about silly logical theories when everyone knows that ice disappears in the spring due to the moon's sneezes. With drollery and humor, Spires introduces scientific terms and theory. Included in the back of the book is an experiment about the water cycle that uses everyday household items, creating an interactive experience beyond the book. A solid choice for both storytimes and STEM curricula. (Picture book. 3-7)

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July 20, 2020
Esther is a fairy who believes in science, not magic: “While the other fairies wish on stars, Esther conducts experiments.” The sprites have little patience for “her silly logical theories,” but when their pond disappears, Esther leads the way, using the scientific method to discover why. The skeptical fairies dismiss the science but appreciate the clever costumes Esther and her pals don to illustrate the water cycle’s stages—solid, liquid, and “gassy.” Fairy chatter, gross-out humor (references to pee and sparkling snot), and star sign jokes (“I’m a Pisces, so I understand water”) play off Spires’s accessible explanations of the scientific method and water cycle, but the premise feels forced—a STEM agenda dropped into fairyland. Twee digital illustrations depict a multicultural array of fairies fluttering in stylized woodlands. Ages 4–8.

August 21, 2020

Gr 1-3-Esther the fairy is rather unusual; unlike the other fairies, she does not believe in magic! Instead, she and her friends Fig and Clover prefer to examine the world using the scientific method. Their latest experiment involves discovering what happens to ice when it gets warm. Together, they make observations, conduct research, ask questions, develop hypotheses, and test to find the answers. When the nearby pond unexpectedly disappears, it prompts Esther and her friends to apply their scientific approach to a real-world experience. They extend their initial experiment and learn more about how temperature affects water. Even though the explanation is not as magical as the other fairies would prefer, Esther and her friends do their best to make reality fun. A delightful blend of fact and fiction, this book helps bridge the gap between magic and science for young readers. Straightforward text guides the story, while feelings and emotions appear in accompanying speech bubbles. This combined presentation makes the story accessible to a range of readers. Fairy-like hues of turquoise, purple, red, and green dominate each page, enlivening the many visual elements in every illustration. The complexity of the book's visuals makes it ideally suited to up-close examination. At the end of the book, readers are guided through a related science experiment they can try on their own, bringing Esther's story to life. VERDICT This is an enjoyable addition to lower elementary school library and classroom science collections.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.

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