Parish, Herman. Amelia Bedelia, Rocket Scientist? Illustrated by Lynn Sweat. Greenwillow Books, 2005. ISBN 0060518871. $16.89. 64 p.
Reviewer: Charity Martin-Reno
Reading Level: Primary, Intermediate
Rating: Excellent
Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction; Humorous stories;
Subject: Science projects--Juvenile fiction; Schools--Juvenile fiction; Books--Reviews;
This delightful book is another of the well-known housekeeper Amelia Bedelia's crazy adventures. After being told to wash the glasses, Amelia puts Mr. Rogers’ eye glasses in the dishwasher. Before he can explain his true instructions, she is off to the school science fair where she manages to make a mess of things by offending the science fair judge and pouring a full box of baking soda into one student's volcano, causing it to explode. In the end, she saves the day as usual with her quality baking. Mr. Rogers brings her forgotten lemon meringue pies to the school and they are chosen as the winner of the science fair--bringing her skills as a chemist to the forefront: "combine citric acid, H2O, cornstarch, sucrose, and a pinch of sodium chloride…When the top turns brown, it's done."
Children will laugh and enjoy the play on words associated with Amelia Bedelia books. She takes the literal meaning of every word spoken out of any character's mouth. (Nobel Prize becomes "no bell" prize; "make-up" test for the children becomes a test in applying cosmetics). Pictures are bright and funny.
