THE PERIODIC TABLE OF SCIENCE FICTION Book

Another fantastic boredom buster book from author Helaine Becker filled with the colorful eye-catching illustrations of Claudia Davila. Who doesn't like magic tricks, illusions and quirky science facts? I loved books like this when I was a kid and my kids do to.

This book is divided into six sections: Optical Illusions, Read Their Minds, Science Stunners, Math Magic, Show-Stopping Science and Magician's Survival Guide where a kid can prepare a stellar show . The tricks are really cool, like The Levitating Ice Cubes, Flower Power, I've Got Your Number and The Force is With You.

Every time my kids pick up this book they can spend hours doing the tricks. It even inspired my daughter to put on a magic show, replete with the magician's kit--hat, magic wand, cape and table. Not only does the book show you how to do the tricks, but it also explains how or why the tricks work. It equips a kid to wow their friends. As I watch my kids having fun doing the tricks, that is, assembling all the supplies they need (yes, my kitchen table can look messy afterwards!) it relieves me that they are learning and discovering new things, and keeping busy rather than watching TV, which I try to keep to a minimum.

Interspersed throughout the book are fun facts about the topic that makes up the magic trick. For example, for Flower Power, which is a trick that makes flowers grow, there is a fun fact about bamboos, stating that they grow so quickly you can actually hear it getting taller! Certain species can grow as much as 121 cm in one day.

As you can see, kids will learn many new things while having fun doing their tricks. An excellent book for the kid who likes to keep busy doing super fun stuff. Highly recommended!