The Science Spell Book: 30 Enchanting Experiments for Kids

by Cara Florance

Embrace your inner alchemist and explore the magic of science through amazing experiments you can do at home!

Have you ever wished you could cast a real spell with the wave of a magic wand? Have you ever wanted to mix a real color-changing potion? Now kids can perform magical feats with a few simple ingredients and a little help from science.

Kids will learn about physics, biology, chemistry, and more through 25 dazzling experiments and activities including:

Elixir of Enlightenment-brew a stunning color-changing tea!
Chaotic Calling-learn about chaos theory while creating art with a pendulum!
Fluorescent Feast-create a meal that glows under a black light!
North Divination-make a homemade compass!
and more!

Written by biochemist Cara Florance, Science Spells is the perfect way to engage kids while teaching them about science. Each experiment includes simple instructions, diagrams to follow along with, and an explanation of the science behind each magical experiment.

Genres: Science, Childrens, Nonfiction, Stem, Homeschool

224 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2022

About the author

I write children's books about science and am a huge sci-fi fan myself. I have a PhD in biochemistry, a BS in chemistry, four kids, six chickens, and too many plants.

I hope my books make science more real to children, offering them excitement, context, and an outlet to begin to investigate and participate in the science all around them. Reading and learning fill my heart with joy and I love to share that wondrous feeling.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book does no wrong I would say. Whenever there's adult supervision required the book includes it wherever necessary. And yes, magic and science. No arguments here. To each his own. I still remember being a kid believing in both science and magic. One was healthy for my creativity and imagination. One explained well why a thing happened.

The book does read like a magical potion recipe. However, I can understand the intention of the author and the team.

It will be a fun time for the family I feel to carry out these simple experiments.

However, caution is still necessary dealing with such things even though most ingredients are natural.

Such a fun activity book!

Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Kids, for the advance reading copy.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite children's science books that I've read, and I've read a lot! It's packed with fun science activities with lots of full color, engaging photos, clear instructions, lots of information about the science behind the activity, and a wonderfully fun feel to it all. There are all different sections for all kinds of types of science, and the projects are really creative. I can't think of any kid who wouldn't like making a UV-glowing dinner, bracelets that light up when you click them together, or color changing ink from anthocyanins. I plan to write up a full review on my homeschooling website, A Magical Homeschool, because this is one I will definitely be recommending.

Great fun -- and even better, wildly educational.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Science Spell Book is a fun filled science book for parents, carers or teachers to do some magical experiments with their children/class. The book starts with an introduction for the grown up accompanying the children to do the experiments. It gave some good information and a run down on staple items that you need to do the experiments successfully. After this the book is divided into sections and has bright, colourful photographs to accompany each experiment along with detailed and easy to follow instructions.
Some experiments had diagrams to help you follow the instructions better which was a great help too.
You will need to spend some money kitting out for the experiments with ingredients and things needed as not every household will have these items on hand at home.
A great interactive, wow factor book for children, sure to delight using the magic of science!

[Jennifer Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Science Spell Book: Magical Experiments for Kids by Cara Florance is a great book for parents, caregivers, and teachers of science and/or magic-loving kids. The introduction to the book is intended for the adults to review and provides instructions on how to use the book as well as some staple items that should be kept on hand to complete the included experiments. The remainder of the book is divided into sections highlighting various natural phenomenon that inspire magic. These categories are infusions (pH and indicators), illumination (light), sorcery (forces), alchemy (physical and chemical changes), and mimicry (biology-inspired engineering). Each section includes an explanation of the natural phenomenon and related experiments. The experiment pages include a supply list, detailed instructions and explanations, illustrations, and color photographs.

I think that this book would be a fun and educational addition to a homeschool or classroom, but it could also be great inspiration for family activities. I really appreciate that the various sections include illustrations as well as photographs. I always like to see the end result in order to see if I completed the activity properly. Additionally, some of the illustrations are diagrams that help break some of the instructions down. I find this to be extremely helpful for experiments that need to be completed in a precise manner. Another factor to consider is that the experiments in this book are NOT the same as all the other typical "magic" experiments. I'm pleased to say that The Science Spell Book is unlike any other science or magic book that I've seen and I'm eager to add a physical copy of the book to my own homeschool library!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for the opportunity to review an ARC of The Science Spell Book!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I am feel really envy with nowdays kiddos, they got so many awesome books and fun creative ways to learning. This book is one of them. Actually this book is all about science experiments with natural ingredients that we actually do daily. Like natural handmade coloring food.

How this book describes all the experiment with mysterious style is what I like the most. Those style is gripping my attention and give a feel as the readers is learning "magical secret stuff" instead study science. I reading this with my son and he said this book narration give him those intriguing, fun adventure feel when we are study something we really like.
This book will make some fun activities between parents guide and other family members. I personally appreciate the layout, colors and the adorable illustrations from this book. It is pleasing to see.

Thanks Netgalley and Sourcebook Explore for my copy.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked the experiments within! Some could have used more pictures and at times I didn’t care for the sprinkling of witchcraft as it felt forced but whatever gets kids involved in science!

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for some fun science activities to do with your kids? This is the book for you! We did many of the activities in the book using materials we had on hand, purchased at Walmart, or on Amazon. The materials are pretty inexpensive and can be used many times over. We had fun with the Magic and then learning about the science behind it. We learned so much, while having fun. The photos and illustrations really bring the book to life.

Thank you NetGalley and SourceBooks Kids for the opportunity to review this book.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a variety of "magic spells" or interesting experiments, many of which are tied to nature and household items. The book explains the experiments as well as the chemistry and scientific ideas behind the experiments. The book looks like it is aimed at children in the 8-12 range, but I'm not sure that all of the concepts and text would be something that 8-10 year olds would understand, even some young teens might have trouble with these concepts. I believe that the idea behind the book is to spark curiosity and encourage interest in science, which are very important things, but I'm not sure that this book will be accessible for its target audience. There is a note at the beginning to parents or caregivers but it doesn't really give strategies to support young readers in performing activities as it is more a reasoning or purpose for the book. I love the idea behind this book and think it has great potential but may have missed the mark when it comes to creating a text that readers will be able to follow.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

complimentary copy from Raincoast books.
ARC copy received.

Okay, so I hate the connection between science and magic. It's a dangerous road to travel.
It is an interesting marketing stream though.

I love the science contained within. AND if you avoid the hocus-pocus aspect and just look to the science it's a decent science book for kids 7+.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic activity book for kids and their grownups! I know I would have been enamored of this as a child. This is full of in-depth science information that never talks down to the child reader, and the experiments themselves are creative and simple. I am often skeptical of books that link science and magic (they frequently do a disservice to BOTH disciplines), but this is so well done.

[Christiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is cool! especially liked the Infusions section, magic wand, and astral invocation (making candles in a solar oven).

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorably and scientifically sound. I would have loved something like this as a kid. Could be a great resource for teachers and caregivers!

[Kateryna Hai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really tells everything about science in nature, at home and in the garden! I love it!!

[Meg (thyme.for.books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Science Spell Book is a collection of over 25 experiments for children. Most, if not all projects, suggest adult supervision. A majority of the experiments need items that would need to be purchased separately.

I found the concept of this book to be off-putting. While there’s nothing wrong with the projects, it’s written in a way that seems to explain away magic as science. I’m not familiar with this author so I’m not sure what her standing is.

While I love and have reviewed many books of science projects and experiments, this one was not for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Sourcebooks and the Early Reads program!

[Sarah Wolf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neat book that explores a thematic myriad of common science experiments through the lens of magic. The projects are framed in a clever way but the experiments themselves are common in many science books. I do wish the "Science" sections had graphics explaining the scientific phenomenon. The photos are beautiful and there is creative clipart but there are a lot of words that could have been replaced by diagrams or visuals.

I'm a visual learner and if you are looking to really dial in on the mechanisms of these experiments with your littles, I'd perhaps reach for another title.