Fairy Tale Science: Explore 25 Classic Tales Through Hands-On Experiments

by Sarah Albee, Bill Robinson (Illustrator)

Overview

Explore the laws of physics, principles of chemistry, and wonders of biology in this collection of classic stories with a hands-on STEM twist.

From Snow White to Chicken Little to Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves—read each story like a scientist!

• Determine if a glass slipper can withstand an evening of ballroom dancing.
• Explore the buoyancy of a magical frog.
• Test the power of blowing air on a house.

And so much more!

Find out what happens actually ever after!

"A lively and captivating book." - Kirkus

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250257611
Publisher:	Odd Dot
Publication date:	09/07/2021
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	1,103,565
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	1010L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sarah Albee writes children's books for many age groups and under a number of pseudonyms. She has had three of her books appear on the New York Times Bestseller list. Before she began her career as a children's book writer and editor, Sarah was a newspaper cartoonist and a semi-professional basketball player. These days she lives in Connecticut with her husband and three children.

Bill Robinson is an illustrator and character designer for animation. He has illustrated over twelve books for children, including titles based on Frozen, The Dark Crystal, and Vampirina for Random House and Disney. He is currently a character designer at DreamWorks TV (The Boss Baby: Back in Business) and has worked with Disney, Sony, Warner Bros., and more. He lives with his wife, daughter, and dog in Los Angeles, California.

Editorial Reviews

10/04/2021

“Have you ever wondered how a pair of glass slippers could withstand an evening of ballroom dancing? Or if it’s possible to spin straw into gold?” With textbook heft, this stuffed compendium parses scientific questions raised by fairy tales’ preposterous plots, pairing 25 story summaries—almost entirely European—with a series of kid-friendly experiments designed to explore STEM concepts. Albee’s snarky asides (of “The Princess and the Pea”: “This tale is short and, if you really think about it, mildly disturbing”) will draw young readers, while compelling scientific explorations explain concepts such as sound waves as they appear in “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” before presenting companion experiments. Some, like running time trials à la “The Tortoise and the Hare” to test for the presence of slow- and fast-twitch muscles, are better suited for a classroom environment, and others require equipment, including heart-rate monitors, that may not be available to all readers. Robinson’s cartoony digital illustrations feature a diverse array of human characters. Includes a robust glossary. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

2021-06-24
Readers are invited to approach fairy tales with scientific curiosity.

This collection includes summaries of 25 fairy tales, 22 of which are European, although the full-color, cartoon-style illustrations feature ethnically diverse children. For each, information regarding the story’s origin and variations is provided. Following each summary, the author discusses related scientific concepts and provides detailed steps for performing one or more experiments or activities, complete with scientific terms, definitions, diagrams, and reflective questions. Following “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the author includes a discussion of vital signs. Also included are steps for readers to determine their heart rates. Following “The Three Little Pigs,” the author provides a discussion of forces, including how the wind can cause structural failure. Readers are encouraged to test this using a ping-pong ball and blow-dryer. The author’s humorous and satirical retelling of each tale is key, offering a fresh perspective on these classics and encouraging readers to begin thinking like scientists. The rich heritages of Africa, Indigenous North America, Oceania, and Latin America are entirely absent, while a story set in China by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen is included; alongside the story of Ali Baba, the two other non-Western tales are about possibly real Asian historical figures—Mulan and Vikramaditya—choices out of keeping with the European stories. The cursory explanations of past societies’ timekeeping abilities and fear of witches feel ahistorical.

A lively and captivating book weakened by its narrow cultural focus. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews