Written by Andrea Beaty. Illustrated by David Roberts
Ada Twist is a member of “The Questioneers” in a series of science-based books for middle grade readers.
The first three books in the series are: Ada Twist, Scientist; Rosie Revere, Engineer; and Iggy Peck, Architect; and Sofia Valdez, Future Prez. Each book has an unlikely issue and the kids use critical thinking, trial-and-error, and math to save the day.
In The Perilous Pants, Ada starts her morning by observing that mom’s hot coffee smells, and dad’s cold coffee does not. She invents multiple experiments to figure out how smells change at different temperatures. Meanwhile, Rosie’s Uncle Ned goes outside wearing his helium pants and floats away. The rest of the book involves chasing Uncle Ned all over town while applying Ada’s temperature research to figure a safe method to make him sink. OK. Maybe you have to read it yourself.
Each of the books is adorable, goofy, and really smart. The science is real, as it should be. Andrea Beaty has degrees in biology and computer science. She also wrote the sci-fi book Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies, inspired by B-rated horror flicks, yet appropriate for 3rd graders.
Beaty and Roberts wrote several books filled with experiments as the Questioneers Project Book series. Her website, AndreaBeaty.com, has an entire section dedicated to science activities. It also has “Story time from Space”, showing astronauts on the International Space Station reading the books in space.
I highly recommend reading any of “The Questioneers” books. You’ll have to read Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants to find out about stinky shoes, the Great Backyard Bird Count, and how Ada rescues Uncle Ned.