This book is perfect mix of science and slapstick! The title caught me right off and the story did not disappoint. In fact, it delighted!
What Floats in a Moat?
Written by Lynne Berry
Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers 2013
Age range: 5 – 8 Years
Themes: Science, Determination
Synopsis: Archie the Goat and Skinny the Hen have a delivery for the castle. But when they come to a moat, Archie is stumped. Skinny suggests the drawbridge, but Archie suggests Science! With fun text and illustrations, Archie and Skinny reenact the Archimedes Principal in order to successfully cross the moat.
Opening: Archie the Goat stopped short at a moat. He measured and mapped. He doodled and drew. He sketched and scribbled and scrawled.
“Aha! To cross the moat,” pronounced the goat, “we build a contraption to float!”
“Or,” said Skinny the Hen, “we could just take the drawbridge.”
“Bah,” said Archie,” drawbridge, straw-bridge.”
“This is no time for a drawbridge. This is a time for science!”
“Right!” said the hen. “Science!”
(Want a little more? Click on the cover above to see a few pages.)
Resources:
An author’s note at the back of the book explains Archimedes’ Principle.
At the How Stuff Works website, I found a helpful page HERE on How Sailboats Float. There is an interactive activity on buoyancy.
Click HERE for some experiments and HERE for more.
Why I Like This Book: This book is full of humor and fun word play. There are sprinkles of rhyme throughout that added personality. Goat, moat, float…see? Fun! I feel like Berry nailed the characters. Archie, ever the science buff, simply ignores the obvious drawbridge and Skinny, the skeptical side-kick, goes along with Archie’s antics. Even though it’s silliness to ignore the easy solution, the characters were believable and endearing. I, also, like the fact that this can be easily used in the classroom for spicing up a science lesson. Of course, it’s no surprise that Cordell’s illustrations add that “extra special” to the text. He never disappoints in my opinion.
To find more perfect picture books, head on over to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and check out all the fantastic selections! Each book is reviewed by a picture book -lovin’ reviewer, AND includes activities to go along with the book. You will find a handy list right HERE.
Well, I need to keep my library account on another screen this week! Another great pick. I’m interested to read the sprinkling of rhyme too. Always love a little humor.
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I agree! Lots of great ones this week. I liked the sprinkling of rhyme. I thought it was well-placed and charming!
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Fun – a funny book about science! Great pick!
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Thanks, Erik! It’s a goodie!
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I love picture books that sneak science into the story. And what’s more fun than learning about buoyancy from a goat & a chicken!
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I think this would even be great for older kids. I believe they would get a kick out it since they should have already studied about Archimedes.
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You never disappoint with rollicking fun choices for kids, and us 🙂 Look out for my next weeks pic, a real tongue twister, just for you 😉
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Can’t wait! I’m behind on looking at the PPBF links. Hope to do some catching up today!
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A goat and a hen! What a great combination. And of course the goat is the thinking one. They’re always thinking. Usually about trouble. This looks like a fun book. And a useful one for the classroom! I’ll be checking it out for sure. Thanks!
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Hope you find it! The interaction between the goat and the chicken is very entertaining 🙂
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This is one of the funnest books around!!
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Ah! So you like it, too??? Great minds!
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Oui, oui!
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Penny, I always anticipate a fun pick from you and you never disappoint! I love kids’ science books – And I can’t wait to read this one. And correct me if I’m wrong – you and I will have front row seats at the “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” movie that’s coming out. 😉
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Front row for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Science+wordplay? I’m in! Thank you for sharing this, Penny. I haven’t seen this and it looks like mentor text material for sure.
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It got some nice reviews, Wendy, so I do feel like it would be good for mentor text material.
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Adorable writing and characters! Love the wordplay.
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Me too, Catherine. We’re lovers of wordplay for sure!
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Love the first three sentences and they won my heart. I have to run and get this sciddle daddle fast. 🙂
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Yep! Those opening lines are very inviting! Hope you enjoy the book, Clar.
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So clever! I have just put it on reserve at the library!
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Oh good! I hope you enjoy it!
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Great resource links!
I love the rhymes mixed into the sentences. Fun to read aloud.
Cordell is genius.
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Very fun to read aloud. And, I agree, Cordell is a genius. I love his book, ANOTHER BROTHER!
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Science and humor — a great combination for kids. I can only imagine how entertaining this book is. Today is a day for science and history.
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I haven’t visited the other PPBF links yet, I’m looking forward to seeing more science and history PBs.
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What a brilliant concept!
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I know! Made for a cute book.
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This sounds VERY entertaining, Penny! I love their names – Archie (for Archimedes I assume) and Skinny the Hen! 🙂 And I love the idea that “This is a time for science!” Definitely have to check this one out!
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Yes! Aren’t the names cute? And Skinny the Hen becomes part of the solution and doesn’t end up so skinny! It’s really funny!
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Penny, Great review! This book sounds super-duper cute! Will try to pick this one up for my 7 yr. old.
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Thanks! I hope your 7 year old likes it as much as I did.
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