Jewel and Gem Goop. Make-it-Yourself Stickers. Tornado in a Bottle. Funny Putty. Fruity Lip Gloss. Magic Muck. Snow Globe. Scratch & Sniff Watercolors. Believe it or not, it's possible--easy, in fact!--to make every one of these "wacky, wild, and crazy concoctions" (and 57 more) using common household ingredients. John E. Thomas and Danita Pagel have pulled together the cream of the crop of potions, clays, and all-around weird swills for the pleasure of children and scientists of all ages. Why not introduce the very youngest artist of the house to the world of art with Puddin' Paint? Is there a geologist in the house? Make an Instant Volcano--begins with a fizz, then erupts in a bubbling flow of lava. Time for a bath? Try Bathtub Finger Paints--bathers and the tub will get clean at the same time! These truly amazing concoctions are not mess-free, but they guarantee hours of absorbed, lively, creative fun, and inspiration for a lifetime of imaginative endeavors. Brief scientific explanations would have been a welcome addition, but maybe young readers will be motivated to explore the chemical, physical, and geological origins of these experiments on their own. Adult supervision is recommended for all projects. (Ages 5 and older) --Emilie Coulter


From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 4?A collection of more than 65 easy-to-make concoctions. Although some of the projects need to be heated and others, such as the Tropical Rain Stick, call for the use of a hammer and nails, most are mixtures or chemical compounds made with common kitchen supplies, such as shortening, corn syrup, cornstarch, food coloring, gelatin, and dish detergent. Many of the concoctions resemble products found in toy stores; e.g., Gooey Gunk, sidewalk chalk, finger paints, and scratch-and-sniff stickers. A general safety warning is placed at the beginning of the book. The cartoon line drawings show the project in use, but do not clarify the instructions. Sheila Ellison and Judith Gray's 365 Days of Creative Play (Sourcebooks, 1995) and Nancy Blakey's Lotions, Potions and Slime (Tricycle, 1996) include similar mixtures. With its clean layout and clear directions, this is a user-friendly project book for creative youngsters.?Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OHCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal