Ada Twist, Scientist (Questioneers Collection Series)

by Andrea Beaty, David Roberts (Illustrator)

Overview

Inspired by mathematician Ada Lovelace and physicist Marie Curie, this #1 bestseller from author Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts champions STEM, girl power, and women scientists in a rollicking celebration of curiosity, the power of perseverance, and the importance of asking “Why?”

Now a Netflix series!
#1 New York Times Bestseller
A Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A USA Today Bestseller

Ada Twist’s head is full of questions. Like her classmates Iggy and Rosie (stars of their own New York Times bestselling picture books Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer), Ada has always been endlessly curious. Even when her fact-finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments don’t go as planned, Ada learns the value of thinking through problems and continuing to stay curious.

Ada is an inquisitive second grader who was born to be a scientist. She possesses an unusual desire to question everything she encounters: a tick-tocking clock, a pointy-stemmed rose, the hairs in her dad’s nose, and so much more. Ada’s parents and her teacher, Miss Greer, have their hands full as the Ada’s science experiments wreak day-to-day havoc.

On the first day of spring, Ada notices an unpleasant odor. She sets out to discover what might have caused it. Ada uses the scientific method in developing hypotheses in her smelly pursuit. The little girl demonstrates trial and error, while appreciating her family’s full support. In one experiment, she douses fragrances on her cat and attempts to place the frightened feline in the washing machine.

For any parent who wants STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to be fun, this book is a source of inspiration that will get children excited about science, school, learning, and the value of asking “Why?”

Check out all the books in the Questioneers Series:

• The Questioneers Picture Book Series: Iggy Peck, Architect | Rosie Revere, Engineer | Ada Twist, Scientist | Sofia Valdez, Future Prez | Aaron Slater, Illustrator | Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year
• The Questioneers Chapter Book Series: Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters | Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants | Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion | Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote | Ada Twist and the Disappearing Dogs | Aaron Slater and the Sneaky Snake
• Questioneers: The Why Files Series: Exploring Flight! | All About Plants! | The Science of Baking | Bug Bonanza! | Rockin’ Robots!
• Questioneers: Ada Twist, Scientist Series: Ghost Busted | Show Me the Bunny | Ada Twist, Scientist: Brainstorm Book | 5-Minute Ada Twist, Scientist Stories
• The Questioneers Big Project Book Series: Iggy Peck’s Big Project Book for Amazing Architects | Rosie Revere’s Big Project Book for Bold Engineers | Ada Twist’s Big Project Book for Stellar Scientists | Sofia Valdez’s Big Project Book for Awesome Activists | Aaron Slater’s Big Project Book for Astonishing Artists

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419721373
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/06/2016
Series:	Questioneers Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	16,432
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Andrea Beaty is the author of many beloved children’s books, including the bestselling Questioneers series, I Love You Like Yellow; Happy Birthday, Madame Chapeau; and One Girl. She lives just outside Chicago.


David Roberts has illustrated many children’s books, including bestsellers Ada Twist, Scientist; Rosie Revere, Engineer; and Iggy Peck, Architect.

Editorial Reviews

08/08/2016
Beaty and Roberts return to the classroom featured in Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer as they introduce an insatiably curious girl named Ada Marie, who comes from an African-American family so stylish that its time-out chair is an Eames. As Ada attempts to determine the source of a noxious smell, Beaty’s bouncy rhymes emphasize the qualities that make for a great scientist: “She asked a small question, and then she asked two./ And each of those led to three questions more,/ and some of those questions resulted in four.” Scientific research can be messy and thorny (and smelly), Beaty and Roberts suggest, but it’s well worth the effort. Ages 5–7. Author’s agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. Illustrator’s agent: Artist Partners. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Use this book to jumpstart conversations about scientists, girl scientists, gender roles, forming hypotheses, giftedness and childhood genius, and individual creativity. Or just use it for laughs on a lazy school day afternoon."

NY Journal of Books

"Young Ada Twist and her nonstop intellect might just encourage readers to blaze trails of their own."

Booklist Online

"Beaty delightfully advocates for girls in science in her now-trademark crisply rhyming text."—Kirkus

"Use this book to jumpstart conversations about scientists, girl scientists, gender roles, forming hypotheses, giftedness and childhood genius, and individual creativity. Or just use it for laughs on a lazy school day afternoon."—NY Journal of Books

"A winner for storytime reading and for young children interested in STEM activities."—School Library Journal

"Young Ada Twist and her nonstop intellect might just encourage readers to blaze trails of their own."—Booklist Online

From the Publisher

10/01/2016
K-Gr 2—Ada Marie Twist is an inquisitive African American second grader and a born scientist. She possesses a keen yet peculiar need to question everything she encounters, whether it be a tick-tocking clock, a pointy-stemmed rose, or the hairs in her dad's nose. Ada's parents and her teacher, Miss Greer, have their hands full as the child's science experiments wreak day-to-day havoc. On the first day of spring, the title character is tinkering outside her home when she notices an unpleasant odor. She sets out to discover what might have caused it. Beaty shows Ada using the scientific method in developing hypotheses in her smelly pursuit. The little girl demonstrates trial and error in her endeavors, while appreciating her family's full support. In one experiment, she douses fragrances on her cat and then attempts to place the feline in the washing machine. Her parents, startled by her actions, send her to the Thinking Chair, where she starts to reflect on the art of questioning by writing her thoughts on the wall—now the Great Thinking Hall. Ada shines on each page as a young scientist, like her cohorts in the author's charming series. The rhyming text playfully complements the cartoon illustrations, drawing readers into the narrative. VERDICT A winner for storytime reading and for young children interested in STEM activities. Pair with science nonfiction for an interesting elementary cross-curricular project.—Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ

School Library Journal

2016-07-02
Her intellectual curiosity is surpassed only by her passion for science. But what to do about her messy experiments?Ada is speechless until she turns 3. But once she learns how to break out of her crib, there’s no stopping the kinky-haired, brown-skinned girl. “She tore through the house on a fact-finding spree.” When she does start speaking, her favorite words are “why,” “how,” and “when.” Her parents, a fashion-forward black couple who sport a variety of trendy outfits, are dumbfounded, and her older brother can only point at her in astonishment. She amazes her friends with her experiments. Ada examines all the clocks in the house, studies the solar system, and analyzes all the smells she encounters. Fortunately, her parents stop her from putting the cat in the dryer, sending her instead to the Thinking Chair. But while there, she covers the wall with formulae. What can her parents do? Instead of punishing her passion, they decide to try to understand it. “It’s all in the heart of a young scientist.” Though her plot is negligible—Ada’s parents arguably change more than she does—Beaty delightfully advocates for girls in science in her now-trademark crisply rhyming text. Roberts’ illustrations, in watercolor, pen, and ink, manage to be both smart and silly; the page compositions artfully evoke the tumult of Ada’s curiosity, filling white backgrounds with questions and clutter. Cool and stylish. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews

Narrator Bahni Turpin's spry voice and energetic tone add enthusiasm and a sense of movement to Beaty's phrasing. This audiobook tells a vivid story of a budding young scientist and her experiments. Turpin's voices for Ada and the other characters help to round out the world created in this brief but enjoyable listen. This is a picture book, and listeners may wish to seek out the illustrations, but the story is clear, and Turpin's evocative narration gives listeners plenty of material to picture the tale with their imaginations alone. The musical soundtrack is well matched to the pacing of the story and will help keep younger listeners focused. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2017 - AudioFile