Science Verse Rocks!

(Click to enlarge)

Science Verse, by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

I saw a poster for this book hanging in the window of my favorite Borders Books and Music store(the flagship store on Liberty in Ann Arbor) a couple of weeks ago when Kevin and I were hanging out.

Whenever I see something like this, something science related and amusing, I generally try to at least take a look at it and most often end up purchasing it. I teach chemistry to non-majors and majors alike at a small liberal arts college, and anything I can do to liven up the classroom is welcome.

This is a very clever and funny book. It has the format of a child's picture book, and I found it in the children's section, but I cannot imagine most children reading it on their own. Too many big and hard to pronounce words. I can imagine the fun they might have having it read to them.

Scieszka and Smith have a lot of fun creating science-based rhymes to the familiar cadences of several well known works. Think "Battle Hymn of the Republic", or "Trees", or "The Raven", or "Jabberwocky", or "Paul Revere's Ride". The illustrations are awesome as well.

My favorite, and one that I have already read to my non-majors, is "Twas the Night", in the cadence of "A Visit from St. Nicholas", about the creation of the universe, by someone suspiciously similar to Santa. My favorite part:

"He huffled and snuffled and sneezed one AH-CHOO! / Then like ten jillion volcanoes, the universe blew. / That dense dot exploded, spewing out stars, / Earth, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, and Mars"

Check this book out for a little silly science fun. If you decide to buy it, use the link at the top of this post, and help me buy more great books.