Thank goodness for 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! If this book had been around in my youth, it would have been just the thing to get me hooked on science while my brain was still open and pliable.

Authors Eric and Natalie Yoder are a father-daughter team who’ve put together an educational and FUN set of short stories aimed at readers aged 8 to 12 years. Says Eric, "I wanted to emphasize [science’s] widespread, real-life applications."  Natalie’s youthful and enthusiastic contribution to the book keeps the stories interesting for younger readers—or for older readers like me.

The mysteries are broken into categories such as Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Physical and Chemical Science, and General Science. Each story is brief, easily read in a minute, just as the title suggests. The clues are smoothly integrated into the story, but readers must be attentive in order to solve the mysteries. Solutions are included, so even if your scientific knowledge is as limited as mine, you’ll be both satisfied and educated.

One note of warning—the final section is called ‘65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math’. This is a sample of the second book in the series and includes only five math mysteries.

65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science is an excellent book for young people, combining reading skills with science and math skills. Give this one to your children and grandchildren—it will delight young scientists and may very well create an appreciation for science in those who haven’t yet discovered the wonders of the natural world. Highly recommended!