Review: Candy Experiments by LORALEE LEAVITT

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Candy is more than a sugary snack.  With candy, you can become a scientific detective. You can test candy for secret ingredients, peel the skin off candy corn, or float an "m" from M&M's. You can spread candy dyes into rainbows, or pour rainbow layers of colored water. You'll learn how to turn candy into crystals, sink marshmallows, float taffy, or send soda spouting skyward. You can even make your own lightning.
Candy Experiments teaches kids a new use for their candy.  As children try eye-popping experiments, such as growing enormous gummy worms and turning cotton candy into slime, they'll also be learning science.  Best of all, they'll willingly pour their candy down the drain.
Candy Experiments contains 70 science experiments, 29 of which have never been previously published.  Chapter themes include secret ingredients, blow it up, sink and float, squash it, and other fun experiments about color, density, and heat.  The book is written for children between the ages of 7 and 10, though older and younger ages will enjoy it as well.  Each experiment includes basic explanations of the relevant science, such as how cotton candy sucks up water because of capillary action, how Pixy Stix cool water because of an endothermic reaction, and how gummy worms grow enormous because of the water-entangling properties.

MY TAKE:

As a kid, I liked candy but I usually couldn't finish eating packs because I got sick of the sweet taste. If I had this book when I was a kid, then those candies wouldn't have gone to waste!

Candy Experiments features loads of experiments you can try with different kinds of candies. Yes, the soda-Mentos experiment can be found here, but there are a lot of other experiments you've probably never even thought of.

I liked a lot of things about this book. First, there were step-by-step instructions and pictures of the results. This way, kids can tell if they're doing it correctly. There are also easy-to-understand scientific explanations so kids can understand what happens to the candy. It's a great way to get your children interested in science.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the e-ARC. Publication date is on January 1, 2013.

THE GOOD:

1. There are a lot of experiments you can try.
2. It makes use of all kinds of candies and chocolates so chances are you already have some of the ingredients on hand.
3. The pictures make it easier to see what the experiment is aiming for.

THE BAD:

1. Some might find it wasteful to buy candies just to experiment on them, if they don't already have the candies in stock.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

When the carbon dioxide forms bubbles on the candies, the candies start floating.

READ IT IF:

1. Your kids eat a lot of candy.
2. You have tons of leftover candy.
3. You want your kids to become interested in science.

RATING:



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