Adventures with Biology

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9Useful information lodged inside an appallingly boring book design. Thirty experiments, graduating from very simple, such as taking your body temperature, to more involved, like making yogurt, are aimed at budding biologists. A lima bean is frequently used, as are other materials commonly found in the home. Clear instructions contain cautions at appropriate intervals; e.g., tincture of iodine is a poison; don't do the bread-mold experiment if you are allergic to molds; enlist the help of adults in cutting with a knife; ask permission to dig up a clover plant. Staid line drawings appear throughout; they are labeled clearly but lack visual appeal. There is no color, no variety, no life in a book inviting kids to experiment with living things. Sally Morgan's Flowers, Trees, and Fruits (Kingfisher, 1996) has fewer experiments and is written for a slightly younger audience, but it shouts with color and vitality.Jacqueline Elsner, Athens Regional Library, GA