written by J. Patrick Lewis
illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
Sandpiper, 2007
ISBN 9780152058494

The creators of Arthime-tickle: An Even Number of Odd Rhymes have once again compiled a collection of kid-friendly poems. In Scien-Trickery: Riddles in Science, complex subjects like gravity, germs and electricity (reminiscent of the format of School House Rock) become readily accessible to a younger reader.

Each poem is a riddle with the answer written upside down on the page; “my father’s the arc—my mother’s the spark—without them you would—be left in the dark.” (What am I? Electricity).

Playful illustrations rally around equally whimsical text and the red cover pops the book off the library shelf saying “Attention, Read me!” Each poem is written on notebook paper nestled into an illustration of the topic or theme. Notes at the back provide the reader with more information on each scientific term introduced in the poems.

Either read alone or out loud, Scien-Trickery: Riddles in Science is a great way to introduce both science topics and poetry in a fun and non-threatening way.

— Heidi Grosch