Salvatore Tocci’s Science Fair Success Using Supermarket Products is a clever twist on the traditional “science experiment” genre of non-fiction. Obviously, the novelty factor for this book is the use of everyday objects in science experiments, most of which we would not normally associate with science. In fact, Tocci divides the book into five sections: “Beverages,” “Dairy Products,” “Fruits and Vegetables,” “Meat Products,” and “Snacks, Desserts, and Candies.” While the premise might seem a tad contrived at times, Tocci keeps the prose academic and scientific, but also (more importantly) very accessible for his readers.

The book begins with a brief explanation of scientific analysis and terminology (“control,” “variable,” etc.), then progresses into the five aforementioned sections. Each section includes a variety of experiments, all covered in roughly two to four pages worth of text; within each section, Tocci includes the following (where applicable):
*Materials used
*Diagrams
*Explanations
*Mathematical formulas
*Charts

All of these “textbook organizers” help to convey the concepts and ideas in an easy-to-use manner. Because science can often seem like an intimidating area of study, it is refreshing to see science experiments presented in such an accessible fashion. My favorite chapter: “Why Is Making a Pineapple Gelatin Dessert Not a Good Idea?” The sheer absurdity of the juxtaposed items helps bring a sense of humor to the text, and actually (*gasp*) makes science seem fun!

The author, Salvatore Tocci, has almost three decades of teaching experience under his belt; clearly, he has learned a thing or two about conveying abstract scientific ideas to younger audiences. While I may not be trying out any of these experiments in the near future, I have enjoyed looking at Science Fair Success Using Supermarket Products, and I respect the fact that Tocci has actually brought joy and fun to the subject area of science.

Citation:
Tocci, Salvatore. Science Fair Success Using Supermarket Products. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2000. Print. ( )