Why Does My Shadow Follow Me? More Science Questions from Real Kids
Why Does My Shadow Follow Me? More Science Questions from Real Kids
Why does my pee pee smell?
Pee-yew! What’s that smell? If you’ve been drinking enough water, your pee – also known as urine – shouldn’t smell like much of anything. It should also be clear or pale yellow. That’s because your body’s liquid waste is made of mostly water. But sometimes, things go wrong, and pee gets stinky.
When you let kids ask questions, sooner or later you are going to get questions about “pee-pee”, or “butts” or “sharks” or “sunlight”. Why Does My Shadow Follow Me?” is a wonderful compilation of real questions asked by real kids at the Ontario Science Centre. The answers came from educators and science researchers who work at the Science Centre. And then author Kira Vermond and illustrator Suharu Ogawa, as they did in Why Don’t Cars Run on Apple Juice?: Real Science Questions from Real Kids, again worked their magic to turn the questions and answers into a treasure-trove of quirky information.
The format of the book is appealing and engaging for all ages. The text is as quirky as the questions. The colourful cartoon-style graphics are the perfect match for the humorous presentation of an eclectic collection of 49 questions and answers. Chapters include “Cute Critters and Up-ROAR-ious Creatures”, “The World Inside Us”, “This Planet We Call Home”, “Tremendous Tech and Inspiring Innovations”, and “Our Out-of-This World Universe”.
Bet you didn’t know tongue prints are as unique as fingerprints. Or that your belly button grows tiny hairs to catch belly-button lint (gross!).
From your nose to your toes, the human body inspires all kinds of playful, head-scratching question. Some even tickle the funny bone!
Interspersed through the text are bits of additional information in highlights titled “Play and Learn”, “Ask About”, “We Are Family” (which is a quiz), and “Share This!” and others.
“Red Light, Blue Light”
Your culture can influence how you experience color. For a long time in Japan, there was no word for green. It was considered a shade of blue, or (Japanese text ao). Today, traffic lights that tell cars to go are still called “blue” in Japan!
In addition to recognition that there are cultural differences in our experiences, the illustrations in Why Does My Shadow Follow Me? show children of all colours and sexes actively engaged in scientific investigation.
The back of the book includes a list of “Further Readings and Sources” which includes at least one reference for each question. Since the goal of the book is to inspire more questions, having a starting point for continuing any line of inquiry will be a lifeline for adults who are lucky enough to be engaged with the inquiring young minds this book is designed to stimulate.
One of the invaluable strengths of this book is that it makes it clear that no question is too silly to ask, even the questions about pee and butts. Every question is validated with a scientific answer.
The Advanced Readers Copy that I am reviewing has pages for an Index which will also be helpful for young learners and their adults.
The “Conclusion” acknowledges by name the kids whose questions were included in the book. How thrilling and inspiring is that, both for the ones who get to see their questions and their names in print, and for all the others who know their questions may be in the next book. If this second book of weird and wonderful science questions can be pulled together during a pandemic, I’m confident there will be a Book Three. I can’t wait!
Like the first book, Why Don’t Cars Run on Apple Juice?, this second book, Why Does My Shadow Follow Me?, shines with wonderment. Again, I recommend you buy two copies if you can.
Dr. Suzanne Pierson is sitting out the pandemic at home in Prince Edward County, Ontario, where she tends her Little Free Library for the enjoyment of the rest of her stay-at-home neighbours.