Science Is Lit: Crazy Chemistry and Epic Experiments
Big Manny, illustrated by Subi Bosa
Puffin Books

TikTok sensation, Emanuel Wallace, aka Big Manny, is on a mission: he wants to make chemistry as accessible and fun as possible for children. In this book comprising eight chapters, he presents twenty experiments with differing degrees of challenge from ‘Simple’ to what he calls “Big Science’. First though is an introduction in which there are definitions of what chemistry is as well as brief paragraphs defining elements, atoms and molecules. These are followed by a zanily illustrated look at key elements oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, sodium and chlorine. with portraits by Subi Bosa.

The first chapter starts by introducing readers to the way to approach and carry out an experiment with safety rules and the scientific principles of conducting any experimemnt. Then comes experiment one itself – a comparative test to determine which of three surfaces – sand, grass or concrete – is easiest to cycle on.

The hypothesis (you always need one of these) is that concrete will be easiest, then grass and the hardest will be sand. Now off you go on the bike testing each surface. After this comes the write up: method, results, conclusion and an evaluation.

I won’t go into detail about the other experiments other than to add that I never knew there was a way of turning milk into plastic before reading how to do so in chapter 7. The book concludes with some fun questions, a quiz and a final glossary.

Had I been taught by Big Manny when I was studying O-level and A-level chemistry I certainly would not have been bored like I was back in the day.