Lewis, J. Patrick. 2004. SCIEN-TRICKERY: RIDDLES IN SCIENCE. Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. New York: Harcourt. ISBN0-15-216681-5

SCIEN-TRICKERY contains 18 riddle poems about science. Each one is on its own two-page spread with a full-color illustration of cartoon-like characters that help readers solve the riddles. The riddles cover a wide range of science related topics: scientists (Einstein and Darwin), physics (lasers, magnets, gravity, electricity, sound), chemistry (water’s formula, rust), astronomy (Neptune, constellations, eclipse), earth science (humidity, maps, oceans), mathematics (zero), paleontology (dinosaurs), and microbiology (germs). These are sophisticated topics, but the riddles themselves are simple and funny. Young children should easily guess the answers with the help of the illustrations. And, if they cannot guess, the answers are written upside-down on each page. In addition, there is a page of notes at the end that gives a brief explanation of each topic for children who want to learn more.

The riddles are scientifically accurate, but each has a child’s point of view. For example, the poem “Gee.”

It keeps you from flying
Off into space.
It’s what makes you fall
Flat on your face.
And if it could talk
like you and I do,
I think it would say,
“I’m pulling for you.”

Children may not understand the pun in the final line, but they will thoroughly enjoy the images of flying off into space and, even more, falling flat on one’s face. Besides introducing gravity in a memorable way, this is also an excellent poem to act out. Listeners can jump, fall and pull as they hear the poem. After hearing it a few times, they may even be able to recite it.

The poem “Shhhhhhhhh!” is not only a funny riddle and poem; it is also the easiest way to make decibels comprehensible to children that I have ever seen.

I am expressible
Only by decibel:

10 is a whisper
30 is crisper,
60, in relation,
Is normal conversation.
80 is traffic and telephones.
120? The Rolling Stones.
130 is a cannon shot!

150 is…what?!

Readers may enjoy sitting down and reading the entire book just for fun. But it is also a useful collection for a classroom teacher to use to introduce a science topic. Or, a teacher might use this book as a way to build excitement about science lessons and get the class to focus right away. Each day one of the poems from this book would be showing as the class walked in. Students would have just two minutes to submit an answer to the riddle on poem and drop it into a bowl. At the end of the class, one lucky winner would be chosen from the correct answers. The winner would be allowed to check the answers on the next day and draw from the correct entries.

After this book is finished you may want to continue with more science-related poems through Jon Scieszka’s SCIENCE VERSE.

0 comments