Early Book Review: Candy Experiments by Loralee Leavitt

Candy Experiments by Loralee Leavitt is a non fiction book set for release on January 3 2013. This book is full of experiments inspired by the author's daughter asking 'what would happen?'. Since then Leavitt and her family have tried many experiments, publishing many elsewhere. This book has 57 experiments, 29 of which have never been published before, broken down into nine chapters based on the scientific properties explored in the experiments. The book is intended for children between 7 and 10, but children younger and older can enjoy the experiments as well.

Candy Experiments can get any child interested in science, while willingly destroying their candy. The experiments do require adult supervision, and any involving heat and some ingredients do need adults to take an active role in the process. The safety and scientifically relevant information is included with each experiment, so that the candy fun can teach as well as entertain. Brightly hued photographs help clarify what young scientists should, or should not, be seeing as they try each experiment.

I recommend Candy Experiments for children, parents, and teachers that are interested in getting hands on with science together. The experiments are fun and explore interesting concepts about candy, sugar, and chemistry that both entertain and inform scientists of all ages. I think I will be trying out some of these experiments when my kids get a little older, most likely after a holiday that includes candy distribution.