Jeanne

Bean is bored to death during a reading class until the teacher gives her an Amazing Book of World Records. Since then Bean can’t think of anything but breaking a world record. But nothing works until Ivy proposes to follow in the footsteps of Mary Anning, the famous paleontologist, and look for dinosaur fossils in Bean’s backyard.

The story has great characters, funny situations (like chasing of a dog wearing a pants-scarf and accidental activation of a bug security system) as well as strong messages about gender stereotypes, honesty, team work and friendship. Ellie is a smart budding engineer. She wears a tool belt over her skirt, considers a cordless drill the best Christmas present and even has her own workshop.

The story is a great combination of funky inventions (e.g. SnakeAway, a snake-scaring machine), quirky characters (like Rosie’s great-great-aunt flying on a cheese-copter or her joyful friends, the Raucous Riveters, who built airplanes during the World War II), as well as great messages (dealing with pressure, the power of friendship, overcoming fears).

It’s an exciting mystery adventure full of modern technology (wireless camera, tablet, drone, robot) and great scientific concepts, such as Occam’s razor and Turing Test, which are introduced in a fun and engaging way.
I really love the main character Ada. This 8-year-old girl has an analytical mind, loves field guides and always refers to scientific evidence.

The story wonderfully combines science and magic, introducing the scientific method in such a natural way that kids will learn it without noticing that they are being taught. The scientific facts covered in the book include eating preferences of reptiles, the difference between a carnivore, an herbivore and an omnivore, and a cold-blooded and a warm-blooded animal.