Children's Science Book Database

Ada Twist, Scientist

This book fosters the processes of hypothesis, predictions, and observations. While Ada Twist explores questions many students might also have, the purpose of this book is more to promote student inquiry and the ideas of being a scientistAda Twist, Scientist
  • Author: Andrea Beaty
  • Illustrator: David Roberts
  • Year Published: 2016
  • ISBN: 978-1-4197-2137-3

Science Topics

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

Summary

Ada Twist spent her first three words observing her surroundings. On her third birthday she started asking questions and inquiring into the world around her; "She started with Why? and then What? How? and When? By bedtime she came back to Why? once again". Ada quickly finds that curiosity can sometimes be messy, but this doesn't keep her from researching everything she wants to learn about.

Evaluation

  • Appropriateness: High
  • Authority: High
  • Accuracy: High
  • Liteary Artistry: High
  • Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

This book fosters the processes of hypothesis, predictions, and observations. While Ada Twist explores questions many students might also have, the purpose of this book is more to promote student inquiry and the ideas of being a scientist

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

This book provides many opportunities to engage in metacognitive thinking about their own thinking. Students are not given specific questions to explore, unless they take examples from Ada Twist, but they might use the overall ideas of this text to inquire into their own lives. It promotes the idea of students asking and answering their own questions just like Ada Twist does.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Yes, this book encourages children to think for themselves. The entire takeaway from this text is to encourage young thinkers to observe the world around them and ask questions. The book describes this behavior as being a scientist. I think this book would provide great opportunity for teachers to introduce student-lead inquiry learning where they can research questions they may have about the world.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

This book addresses many topics for students to think about such as: inquiry-based learning, the role of a scientist, and who can be a scientist. I think this book could be a great tool to get students excited about science and start asking questions.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

This book is not based around specific content, more of overall themes of inquiry so there are no scientific principles to be deemed accurate/inaccurate.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

The reader is not directly exposed to facts v. fiction in this text but Ada's parents learn their goal should be to help Ada distinguish between fact and fiction to aid in her learning. Students are indirectly taught that curiosity means finding facts to answer questions.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

The illustrations tell the story in a wonderful way and provide information to the reader that the text doesn't. Through pictures we see things like gender, race, emotions, actions, and physical features that aren't found in the text.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

This book is great for a wide range of students to get them excited about science. For younger students, this text would be best as a read aloud, but could also be used for illustration exploration on an individual level. Older students would be able to read the text easily because of the song-like rhythm and detailed pictures with age-appropriate vocabulary.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

This text has characters of many different races and, I feel, is free of stereotyping.

Is the book free from gender bias?

Generally, adult men are portrayed the most to students as scientists. This text promotes the idea of a 3-year-old girl as a scientist inquiring into her own world. I feel this book is free from gender bias and gives the students a new outlook on what a scientist is and who can be a scientist.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

This book portrays science as something that is everywhere in the world around us. While it doesn't explicitly state connections between other core subjects, it does let the reader know that simply asking questions and inquiring into the world around you makes you a scientist.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

Yes, this book definitely presents a positive attitude toward science. It does have a realistic view that sometimes curiosity leads to messes that have repercussions, but in the end, the text promotes the idea of being a scientist and encourages students to ask questions.