Book Preview: Superhero Science by Cris Johnson

Cris Johnson is an accomplished elementary school assembly presenter.  In pre-pandemic times, Cris typically performed approximately 400 curriculum based school assembly programs across the states and in Canada, using a fast-paced combination of magic, music, audience participation, humor and fun to reinforce his messages and present education in an accessible manner.

When Covid-19 hit, Chris got busy, performing virtual shows and extending one of his shows into a book.  He recently sent me the first three chapters of that book SuperHero Science, and it really succeeds in creating a fun and funny intro to science in a way that kids are bound to enjoy.

Cris at work in one of his shows.

The basic premise is that he presents experiments that attempt to replicate, imitate, or simulate super powers.  Along the way he explains the scientific method, explains the idea of experimentation, and lays out each experiment in a casual yet professional manner.  Each experiment is laid out with the materials required (usually stuff that is around the house), the hypothesis (which, he explains, is a fancy word for educated guess) and any dangers or pitfalls that might require adult supervision (most of them do not, although don't check out parents-- you will be entertained and amazed as well!)  

And when he asks you whether or not the President of the United States may or may not have stolen your bike-- well, look out evil-doers!

Some of the experiments include forays into x-ray vision,  telekinesis, shrinking, invulnerability, and a lot more.  He explains it all in a folksy and slightly goofy way, asking people if they were aliens, how they would know if a hot dog wouldn't fly.

Cris is an experienced and entertaining performer, and that experience shows in his book.  The book is funny, relatable, and accessible to everyone.  Adults and kids alike will enjoy this adventure into science, experimentation, and imagination.  

Who knows, maybe you will even get bitten by a radioactive spider!  (My understanding from Cris is that radioactive spiders are not included with the book purchase.)

Superhero Science will be available in September 2020.  To find out more, visit Cris's website: https://elementaryschoolassemblies.com/

REVIEW: An Epic Tale of Scale- Through April 8

An Epic Tale of Scale is an interactive kids theatre show that makes great use of the Chicago Children's Theatre space to create a site specific performance that roams all over their new venue The Station.  It's fun, imaginatively done, and a great use of theatrical architecture.

Unlike most plays, the show is done by appointment- audiences are limited to groups of 20, with entry times every 15 minutes.  The show itself goes through 8 or 9 different areas of the theatre, using non-conventional theatre spaces in the theatre.  The design of the different areas is mostly fantastic (designed by Chicago Children's Theatre Community Programs Artistic Director Frank Maugieri)

After checking in, you first enter into a strange curio shop, manned by a curious Professor character.  The curios, are all on loan from the Field Museum and feature crazy collections of bugs, old-fashioned skulls, a couple of ancient typewriters. The space (usually the lobby) is completely transformed.  There, one person in your group accidentally swallows an important object that we are told is essential to the saving of the universe, and the rest of the show is a tour through the body (using a shrink ray) to try and find it. Later, you are unshrunk and sent via transport into outerspace, and you learn (SPOILER ALERT) that the thing your compadre swallowed was a message that needs to be given to a weird alien disco race.

The scenic design is fantastic, especially in the first three spaces.  The curio shop, followed by the shrink ray area (done with projections) and then the elevator, which is beautifully repurposed with a puppet element that is surprising and amazing.  After this, the design gets a little more pedestrian. There's a couple of obstacle courses through the intestine,   It's functional and fun, but not nearly as surprising.  By the end of the show (which ends as an intergalactic dance party in a black box room), the design is barebones.  I felt it was almost as if they ran out of build time, so the last half of the spaces got short shrift from the designers.


The acting is fine throughout, with a special kudo to the professor in the beginning, who was a great improviser. The second actor (who shrunk people) wore a clown nose, which I thought was a weird choice. No one else wore a clown nose, and it was not clear why she was wearing the nose other than one joke she made.

The story is serviceable, bordering on clever,  but I was disappointed by the ending.  At one point you are invited to create messages to give to the aliens, but then those messages are not incorporated into the show.  I would have loved it if they had been able to incorporate the messages (which were supposed to save the universe) into the show, and actually make it important.  Somehow, this message, which was supposed to be so important throughout the show, turns out to not be very important at all.

Overall, the show is ingenious and well worth checking out.  It ends on April 8, so make sure to check it out.  Tickets are $47 to attend, which is a little pricey, but they have over 20 performers working the show, so it makes sense. I do wish that for that kind of money a snack was included. The day we went we were pretty hungry and paid extra for snacks. (which are available at the beginning and at a middle part of the show)

Here's a little video of some snippets of the show that I took while watching the show.

An Epic Tale of Scale

March 10 - April 8 
Recommended for Ages 6 and up

Created and Directed by Jo Cattell and Henry Wishcamper
Designed by Frank Maugeri
Music and Lyrics by Gabe Ruiz
Special thanks to The Field Museum

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BOOK REPORT: The Curious Kid's Science Book

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I recently received a book for review called The Curious Kid's Science Book by Asia Citro, a former teacher turned mom blogger (her blog is Fun At Home With Kids )  The book features over 100 cool science activities for kids ages 4-8.  It's the type of book that I wish I had created.

The book is chockful of science and experiments, and questions to ask yourself about the experiments, and why things happened the way they did.  The experiments and science are all around interesting things like growing mold and fungus, or planting seeds and watching them grow day by day or how to raise a praying mantis, or how to protect an egg from a fall.

I want to be this parent.  I really do.  I am sad to say that I am more likely to be the parent that watches America Ninja Warrior with their kid and takes him out to pizza (which is something we do far more often than is probably healthy.)

Artwork by Tiffany Ard

The book has a great discussion of the scientific method, of how to design experiments, and MOST IMPORTANTLY how to interact with your kid while they are conducting the experiments.  It also talks about how to acquire the supplies necessary (many you already own)  Even if you were a science duffer in school, the book makes it easy to help your kid fall in love with science.

While the book says the activities are for ages 4-8, I really think that kids of any age would like them.  After about age 12, they may have already been exposed to most of this stuff, but the experiments and ideas behind the experiments are really good.

 There are also opportunities for you (and more importantly your kid) to design your own experiments.  Because, the point of this is not for you to learn to love science.  It's for your kid.  (But the truth is, you have to do it with them.  Otherwise, they just aren't going to do it!  Loving science doesn't just happen by magic.  Kids are sponges and parrots, and they model their behavior on yours.)

Below is a sample of just one of the experiments available in the book.  Click the image to make it larger.  There are 99 more just as good.

If you want your kid to like science, this is a great book to entice them to do so.  And if your kid already likes science, then you just got yourself a goldmine of cool activities! (and the first draft of a killer science fair project.)

So when your kid accepts that Nobel Prize years from now, they might be able to thank Asia Citro and her book (and hopefully you for working with them on it!)

PLEASE NOTE: This copyrighted excerpt is provided with explicit written permission from the publisher.  This excerpt may not be shared on any other sites without first obtaining permission from the publisher

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Find out more about Asia Citro on her website Fun At Home With Kids