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Lucy's Lab #1
Nuts About Science: Lucy's Lab #1
On Lucy’s first day of second grade, she’s excited to meet her new teacher, Miss Flippo, and find out everything’s she’s going to learn about this year in school. And when Miss Flippo tells the class that they’re going to have their very own science lab, complete with lab coats and goggles, Lucy can’t wait to start exploring.
But one thing is troubling her. The tree that sat outside her first grade classroom all year is gone. Where are the squirrels going to live?
Inspired by her classroom lab, Lucy starts her own research mission to find out what happened to the tree, and then to lobby for the school to plant a new one. With the help of her cousin, Cora, and their new classmates, Lucy discovers that science is everywhere you look, and a lab can be anywhere you look.
Launching a new chapter book series from IRA Children’s Book Award-winner, Michelle Houts, Lucy Saves Some Squirrels draws on STEM themes and is aligned with curriculum guidelines to bring a love of science to young readers, inspiring them to start their own labs and explore their world.
But one thing is troubling her. The tree that sat outside her first grade classroom all year is gone. Where are the squirrels going to live?
Inspired by her classroom lab, Lucy starts her own research mission to find out what happened to the tree, and then to lobby for the school to plant a new one. With the help of her cousin, Cora, and their new classmates, Lucy discovers that science is everywhere you look, and a lab can be anywhere you look.
Launching a new chapter book series from IRA Children’s Book Award-winner, Michelle Houts, Lucy Saves Some Squirrels draws on STEM themes and is aligned with curriculum guidelines to bring a love of science to young readers, inspiring them to start their own labs and explore their world.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
11 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Houts
19 books43 followers"My first memory of writing was when I was in first grade. I wrote an awesome retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk using my friends and myself as the characters. I don’t think my best friend was very happy when I cast her as the giant. The person who was happy, however, was my first grade teacher, Miss Course. She was so impressed that she sent me over to the second grade teacher’s classroom to show her what I had created. I remember knocking on the door of the second grade classroom and being very nervous that all those “big kids” would be looking at me when it opened. The second grade teacher, Mrs. Bryant, made a really big deal about my story! I think I decided then and there that I wanted to be a writer. Thank you, Miss Course and Mrs. Bryant!
"Fast forward A LOT of years… I always liked school, so when it came time to decide on a career, I chose to be a teacher. I went to the Ohio State University to study special education. After teaching for several years, I went back to school for a master’s degree in early childhood education. After having three children, I went back to school again for another master’s degree in speech pathology. I finished that one in 2009. See? I told you I always liked school.
"While I was at Ohio State, I met the farmer of my dreams. I always did want to live on a farm when I was a kid. I think that’s because most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins were farm folks and some of my favorite memories are from days spent in their barns, pastures, and haymows. When you fall in love with a farmer, you move to a farm, because he sure isn’t going to move to the city! So here I am.
"Here on the farm, we are raising three kids, calves, hogs, cats by the dozens, one adorable golden retriever and a goat who believes he’s a golden retriever. But that’s another story…"
"Fast forward A LOT of years… I always liked school, so when it came time to decide on a career, I chose to be a teacher. I went to the Ohio State University to study special education. After teaching for several years, I went back to school for a master’s degree in early childhood education. After having three children, I went back to school again for another master’s degree in speech pathology. I finished that one in 2009. See? I told you I always liked school.
"While I was at Ohio State, I met the farmer of my dreams. I always did want to live on a farm when I was a kid. I think that’s because most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins were farm folks and some of my favorite memories are from days spent in their barns, pastures, and haymows. When you fall in love with a farmer, you move to a farm, because he sure isn’t going to move to the city! So here I am.
"Here on the farm, we are raising three kids, calves, hogs, cats by the dozens, one adorable golden retriever and a goat who believes he’s a golden retriever. But that’s another story…"
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 26, 2017
This year my son, who is in the fourth grade, started a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program at school and loves it. I was very excited to discover the Lucy's Lab series which are STEM based chapter books for ages 7 to 9. The books are a nice combination of realistic fiction and science. The series teaches that science is all around us and is really cool, but simultaneously tells a story about Lucy.
This first book in the series focuses on habitats. It uses classroom lessons to explain habitats while concurrently has the main character exploring the question of what happens to an animal when their habitat disappears?. This is a wonderful approach to get kids that prefer fiction to nonfiction to read about science. I found the STEM content to be very basic and believe it would be easy for kids in the suggested age range to understand. The author does not delve deep into the topic, but gives the reader enough information to have an understanding of what a habitat is, along with some examples. This is not a book for hard core science kids.
I found the realistic fiction piece of the book to be geared toward the average third or fourth grader, even though the protagonist is a second grader. Therefore, I would bump the age of interest range up to 10. This was largely due to the reading level, not the topic. If a child is being read to, I believe it would hold a first or second grader's attention, but as a read alone book, I would say it would work for third grade and above. The characters in the story were quirky and interesting and very well developed. There was humor in the book and the author writes in an organized manner. The characters move all around town which helps to keep the reader engaged. The chapter lengths vary from about 4 to 9 pages each.
I read this book with my fourth grader who is 10, but at a third grade reading level. He really enjoyed the book and looked forward to reading it each night. At the end of the book he believed there were some unanswered questions. He wanted to know what happened to the squirrels that had been in the tree. He felt like that was the point of the story and he never found out where the squirrels went. We discussed how they must have found another tree, possibly in the park, but he was still not happy with this. He also wanted to know if Lucy got in trouble for making lab coats out of her father's shirts. It was implied at the end that she probably did. He also wanted to know more about Lucy's teacher going into space. I am assuming the author will go into this further along in the series. Even though he was a little disappointed with the wrap up, believing it was "unfinished" we have started the second book in the series and will let you know what we think when we finish it.
I love when fiction books teach a variety of things and this one really did. It taught about habitats with lots of other science topics and vocabulary thrown in throughout the book. It taught about the importance of observation, research, facts, and safety. It taught vocabulary that might be new to a child such as "specimen", "laboratory", or "arctic". It taught kids that if you want to convince someone to do something- research, gather facts, and put into an organized presentation why this is a positive idea. It taught that kids can make their voices heard in different ways and that it is constructive to take action when you believe in something.
I recommend this book for any kid, whether they're interested in STEM topics or not. If you're an adult looking to get a child interested in STEM, this is a great series to start with. Also, check out Lucy's very own Pinterest page where you can find more information about the science lessons Lucy had in school along with more STEM ideas. This series and Pinterest page is a great resource for homeschoolers.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This first book in the series focuses on habitats. It uses classroom lessons to explain habitats while concurrently has the main character exploring the question of what happens to an animal when their habitat disappears?. This is a wonderful approach to get kids that prefer fiction to nonfiction to read about science. I found the STEM content to be very basic and believe it would be easy for kids in the suggested age range to understand. The author does not delve deep into the topic, but gives the reader enough information to have an understanding of what a habitat is, along with some examples. This is not a book for hard core science kids.
I found the realistic fiction piece of the book to be geared toward the average third or fourth grader, even though the protagonist is a second grader. Therefore, I would bump the age of interest range up to 10. This was largely due to the reading level, not the topic. If a child is being read to, I believe it would hold a first or second grader's attention, but as a read alone book, I would say it would work for third grade and above. The characters in the story were quirky and interesting and very well developed. There was humor in the book and the author writes in an organized manner. The characters move all around town which helps to keep the reader engaged. The chapter lengths vary from about 4 to 9 pages each.
I read this book with my fourth grader who is 10, but at a third grade reading level. He really enjoyed the book and looked forward to reading it each night. At the end of the book he believed there were some unanswered questions. He wanted to know what happened to the squirrels that had been in the tree. He felt like that was the point of the story and he never found out where the squirrels went. We discussed how they must have found another tree, possibly in the park, but he was still not happy with this. He also wanted to know if Lucy got in trouble for making lab coats out of her father's shirts. It was implied at the end that she probably did. He also wanted to know more about Lucy's teacher going into space. I am assuming the author will go into this further along in the series. Even though he was a little disappointed with the wrap up, believing it was "unfinished" we have started the second book in the series and will let you know what we think when we finish it.
I love when fiction books teach a variety of things and this one really did. It taught about habitats with lots of other science topics and vocabulary thrown in throughout the book. It taught about the importance of observation, research, facts, and safety. It taught vocabulary that might be new to a child such as "specimen", "laboratory", or "arctic". It taught kids that if you want to convince someone to do something- research, gather facts, and put into an organized presentation why this is a positive idea. It taught that kids can make their voices heard in different ways and that it is constructive to take action when you believe in something.
I recommend this book for any kid, whether they're interested in STEM topics or not. If you're an adult looking to get a child interested in STEM, this is a great series to start with. Also, check out Lucy's very own Pinterest page where you can find more information about the science lessons Lucy had in school along with more STEM ideas. This series and Pinterest page is a great resource for homeschoolers.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2019
I truly enjoyed reading “Nuts About Science”, which is the first book in the “Lucy’s Lab” chapter book series by Michelle Houts. The story features an adorable main character and a lot of science related to habitats, specimens, and tree diseases.
Lucy is a curious second-grader with a good eye for observation. She likes bugs, fossils, non-fiction books, lab coats and goggles. So it’s no surprise that Lucy is totally excited to start second grade, where they’ll have a science lab (with a skeleton!) and learn about different types of habitats (woodland, arctic, rainforest, desert, and ocean). She even turns her old playhouse into her own science lab, where she can do research and solve problems.
But there is one thing that doesn’t let Lucy fully enjoy second grade: the old oak tree that grew in front of the school had disappeared, leaving local squirrels homeless. Lucy starts her investigation and soon learns that the tree had to be cut because of oak wilt. Worried about the squirrels that lost their habitat, Lucy has to use all her convincing power and research skills in order to persuade the principal to plant a new oak tree in front of the school.
I really liked Lucy’s passion for learning and her bravery to fight for the cause she believes in. Her fun adventures, combined with cute black & white illustrations, will surely delight all kids who love observing and asking questions.
Lucy is a curious second-grader with a good eye for observation. She likes bugs, fossils, non-fiction books, lab coats and goggles. So it’s no surprise that Lucy is totally excited to start second grade, where they’ll have a science lab (with a skeleton!) and learn about different types of habitats (woodland, arctic, rainforest, desert, and ocean). She even turns her old playhouse into her own science lab, where she can do research and solve problems.
But there is one thing that doesn’t let Lucy fully enjoy second grade: the old oak tree that grew in front of the school had disappeared, leaving local squirrels homeless. Lucy starts her investigation and soon learns that the tree had to be cut because of oak wilt. Worried about the squirrels that lost their habitat, Lucy has to use all her convincing power and research skills in order to persuade the principal to plant a new oak tree in front of the school.
I really liked Lucy’s passion for learning and her bravery to fight for the cause she believes in. Her fun adventures, combined with cute black & white illustrations, will surely delight all kids who love observing and asking questions.
October 25, 2017
I am delighted by this new series. Lucy is a little girl who loves science and has the gumption to stand up for what she thinks is important. In this book, she arrives at school for a new year and discovers that the big oak tree that was home to her beloved squirrels is gone. She launches a campaign to plant a new tree. This book had humor, science, interesting characters, and a satisfactory ending.
I didn't feel the stark contrast between Lucy who loves science and brown and her best friend and cousin who loves all things girlie and pink was needed. I do not think it is necessary for girls to be either one or the other and these contrasts tend to rub me the wrong way, but this is just a personal opinion.
Aside from that, the book was well written and a pleasant read for me and my first graders. We are looking forward to reading the next one. I highly recommend this early chapter book.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I didn't feel the stark contrast between Lucy who loves science and brown and her best friend and cousin who loves all things girlie and pink was needed. I do not think it is necessary for girls to be either one or the other and these contrasts tend to rub me the wrong way, but this is just a personal opinion.
Aside from that, the book was well written and a pleasant read for me and my first graders. We are looking forward to reading the next one. I highly recommend this early chapter book.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 5, 2025
Had low expectations for this book since I couldn’t find it at many libraries, so how good could it be? Finally ordered a copy and the cover is so pixelated! But the book is awesome and I’m excited for Emily to read it. I love how the author explains how Lucy does things (like the steps she takes and materials she uses), I love how many opinions/preferences/situations are presented without judgment. I usually hate when a character complains about another kid but Emily is definitely experiencing some annoyance at some boys in her class who don’t listen, lol, so this book definitely parallels her experience. I love that Lucy is so into science! Hopefully Emily enjoys it so I can get the next book.
November 6, 2022
《مامان با چهرهای خندان میگوید: "میبینی وقتی افرادی همعقیده در کمال صلح و صفا نظراتشون رو مطرح میکنند، چی میشه؟"》
والا توی کشور ما اونها رو میکُشن. توی کشوری که معلمِ "لوسی" فضانورده و بچههای کلاس دومی برای کاشتن یک درخت راهپیمایی میکنن و فردا خواستهشون برآورده میشه، نمیدونم.
کتاب راجعبه دختریه که عاشق علم و آزمایش کردنه و دغدغهی محیطزیست رو داره. هم نقاشیها و هم متن و هم شخصیت بچهها خوب بود؛ فقط واسهی من خیلی جهان اولی و خوشبینانه و بیدغدغه و لجدرآر بود.
والا توی کشور ما اونها رو میکُشن. توی کشوری که معلمِ "لوسی" فضانورده و بچههای کلاس دومی برای کاشتن یک درخت راهپیمایی میکنن و فردا خواستهشون برآورده میشه، نمیدونم.
کتاب راجعبه دختریه که عاشق علم و آزمایش کردنه و دغدغهی محیطزیست رو داره. هم نقاشیها و هم متن و هم شخصیت بچهها خوب بود؛ فقط واسهی من خیلی جهان اولی و خوشبینانه و بیدغدغه و لجدرآر بود.
September 20, 2017
I did not need any Convincing! Lucy's Lab: Nuts About Science is pitch perfect for young scientists, and princesses too. A pleasurable read with a mix of fun and facts. The illustrations offer just the right touch of science, second grade shenanigans, and gentle humor. First in what is sure to be a fantastic series.
January 8, 2018
Cute little story about a second-grader who advocates for the planting of a new tree on school grounds. Lovely illustrations (in particular the science lab on page 12-13) and nice to see a young girl excited about nature and reading and science. I enjoyed the bit about her trip to the library, and her various efforts throughout to understand the things the adults were saying to her!
February 8, 2018
Libraries and science!
March 19, 2019
Such a cute book! It is a simple story and plot line, but one that fully kept both my 5 and 7 year-old daughters listening. Definitely recommend as a beginning chapter book!
February 27, 2020
Made me want a science lab
April 9, 2020
She makes her play house into a science lab, and used it to collect specimens! She argues for a new tree for the whole school
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews