The Mad Scientist Next Door

by David Cole, Matty Mitchell (Illustrator)

Overview

A new mystery unfolds when Emily and Sam get a new neighbor!

Emily and Sam are excited to see a moving van next door, but the new neighbor isn't quite what they were hoping for. He doesn't have any kids, seems grumpy, wears a weird white lab coat, and he keeps getting heavy boxes delivered to his garage.

Could he really be a mad scientist? And could he have something to do with their friend's missing dogs? The siblings can't accuse him of anything without evidence, so they set out to use the scientific method to prove he's up to something.

The second chapter book in the Emily and Sam series offers opportunities to investigate alongside the siblings to solve the case of the mad scientist next door!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781988761978
Publisher:	Common Deer Press
Publication date:	09/17/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	102
File size:	33 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Dave Cole has degrees in math and computer science and has shared his passion for education at many levels, including teaching at the college level, coaching elementary math teams, and running a summer math camp. He also has a love of writing and has written a number of plays as well as The Math Kids series (as David Cole).

Matty Mitchell was born and raised in Australia, but found his way to Seattle 11 years ago and has recently moved back to Fremantle, Western Australia with his wife, son, daughter and dog. When Matty’s not chasing (or being chased by) his two munchkins, he’s drawing.

Editorial Reviews

08/19/2024

Twins Sam and Emily Hilbert are back, and this time they’re putting the scientific method to the test. When a mysterious neighbor moves in next door, Sam and Emily's interests are instantly piqued by the strange equipment he stores in his garage—including a large crate he informs the movers no one is to touch but him. The twins dub him “Mr. X” and convince themselves he’s a mad scientist, but when their friend Tanya’s dogs go missing, they start to wonder if he may be more sinister than they originally thought. The pair immediately take on the case, depending on the scientific method to help them determine who’s at fault.

Given Mr. X’s rather secretive nature, he springs into prime suspect position quickly on the twins’ list. In true scientific fashion, they set out to gather evidence supporting that hypothesis, and in the process learn that sometimes the best laid plans do go awry—and that science can be influenced by personal opinion. The pair pull in a little help from their friend Mateo, a character from the previous book in Cole’s Emily and Sam series (after The Case of the Missing Turtle), whose methods are a bit risky but deliver them eye-opening results—and shed a whole new light on Mr. X’s closed-door shenanigans.

Cole’s story is the perfect opportunity for younger readers to grasp the trial-and-error method of gathering scientific evidence, and Matty Mitchell pairs those teachable moments with lively, eye-catching illustrations that ooze adventure, suspense, and a little fun on the side. The educational info is engaging and immersive, as the inquisitive Hilbert twins give in to their passion for science—and learn the hard way “you can’t just find data that proves your hypothesis. You also have to look for data that might prove it is wrong.” Cole closes with a kid-friendly breakdown of the scientific method.

Takeaway: Two precocious twins use the scientific method to unravel a mystery.

Comparable Titles: Asia Citro's Zoey and Sassafras series, Elise Gravel's Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere

Production grades Cover: A Design and typography: A Illustrations: A Editing: A Marketing copy: A

BookLife Reviews