This is a collection of a dozen short stories where there is a scientific mystery presented. At the end of each story there is about a half page synopsis of the science based solution to each situation. This would be a great tool for a teacher to use to both introduce and verify scientific ideas in a classroom. Each story is no more than a few pages and easy to read. The explanations are easy to follow as well. Very nice book!
Everyone in my household loves it when I bring a book home by this author. Many of them have been shorter picture books, but we have also found a few chapter books as well. This is kind of in between and has definitely made it to our favorites list! I read this with my 8- and 12-year-old and the first thing they noticed was the illustrations. They are simple yet beautiful, and I feel they are helpful to my younger kiddo who can get distracted easily. The mini mysteries are marvelous in length and content! If you’ve ever had a kid in their ‘why’ phase, this book is a great choice for you. I love it when they ask questions, and this book is here to answer them. We really enjoyed all of the facts after the mysteries and even experimented with some that we noticed. I highly recommend having this in your library, daycare, or home to experience with the young ones in your life!
5 Stars The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom
The Amanda Mini- Mysteries is a wonderful collection of science based mysteries that Amanda and Elaine set out to try and solve. My son and I loved reading this book and learning different things. He went and put his mystery solving hat on and was acting out as I read aloud. We never hesitate to pickup this author books. We’re huge fans. This is aimed at children ages 5-8 but I honestly think anyone can enjoy this book. We highly recommend reading this book and look forward to reading more from this Author
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Dawn Daughenbaughhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDawn Daughenbaugh2024-07-11 20:29:592024-09-26 13:52:32The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh
I love this book! It’s a series of 12 very short stories (1-2 pages each) about a particular problem that Amanda is facing. These problems are pretty common amongst people. At the end of each story, there is an explanation of why or why not the problem worked out the way Amanda was wanting it to. There are some pretty cool things explained!
I highly recommend this read, especially for those who are very curious about science and the body and the way everything works.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Julie Johnsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJulie Johnson2024-07-11 19:25:192024-09-26 13:52:05The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson
I think a lot of young people would enjoy this book. I really enjoyed how for each mini mystery was followed by an explanation as to why it didn’t work. I think many girls who love science and experimentation will have a blast trying to understand the different mysteries and finding out why they didn’t work. This author writes children books that are enjoyable to read and also have some opportunities to learn something new. I recommend this book to parents for their child who likes science.
Explore the wonders of science and mystery with this engaging children’s book series, designed for ages 7-10. Each story is crafted to encourage discussion and curiosity, offering answers to thought-provoking questions in a fun and captivating way. My young child always enjoys this author’s work.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angelahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela2024-07-11 18:29:532024-09-26 13:51:30The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Angela Plate, July 2024
I have read several books by Lois Wickstrom and she never seems to disappoint. She truly amazes me with each book. I love how all her books educate kids with the storyline. They may not know they are learning something in her books. My daughter said Amanda Mini Mysteries was her favorite so far. The world building and character building was good. This was a page turner for me.
This Lois Wickstrom book is super perfect if your little ones are Some curious little bumblebees. If they are always asking, why does this happen?What happens if you do this? I would highly recommend you get and read this book with them. This has several different fun facts/ what happens when short stories. It’ll also be fun to ask your little one what they thought like I did. I’d say it was a hit in our house. Always a great time reading this author. Can’t wait for more 🥰
The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom is a book that teaches children in an age-appropriate way about different scientific processes. The lessons are tried out and pondered upon by Amanda and her friend Elaine. Children then get an explanation of what went wrong and what would help. There are a variety of lessons and kids can try them out or learn why they would not be able to do them. The illustrations are fun, they remind me of illustrations from older books and newspapers. This is a good way to get children excited about science.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00La Toya Lewishttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLa Toya Lewis2024-07-10 15:34:322024-09-26 13:53:36The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by La Toya Lewis
The Amanda Mini-Mysteries is a good idea, but not well delivered in my opinion. There are two girls, Amanda and Elaine, who discuss various “mysteries” and try to understand the science behind them. The situations are each too short and abrupt to really be stories at all. Then after each story is laid out, there is a page that explains the science behind it. I think the stories needed to be each their own book within a collection, or written in more of a non-fiction type way. With the situations being Did you every wonder why …..? Well, this is why….. As is, its a little choppy and doesn’t flow well. It also seems to be geared toward young children, but has a lot of words the readers likely wouldn’t understand- tincture, iodine, magnetic field, molecules, etc. The stories need to be spread out, and with more pictures to appeal to younger audiences. My 8 year old had very little interest- some of the experiments/mysteries he liked more than others.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Elizabeth Sanchezhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngElizabeth Sanchez2024-07-10 13:19:022024-09-26 13:53:21The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez
Once again this author has impressed me. In this story Amanda and Elaine take us on a different type of mystery. Not who did it? But why is it? Such a fun unexpected story from a child’s perspective. I love that this story answers questions like Why does my blood look blue through my skin, but red when it comes out? So many other questions will be answered in this fast paced informative story. This author and her characters will be fun to read and learn from. Everytime this author brings out a new story, I know it will be another five star read. I look forward to reading her next story. As I know it will be a must have for my child’s library.
This book is filled with little mini stories that are a mystery. From blue blood to rainbows, science has a way of tricking us into not always seeing what is really happening behind the scenes of unusual events. Amanda takes us on this journey while she figures the mystery out.
I really enjoyed this one. For me this had some nostalgia in the illustrations for this book. I liked that it made you think and try to solve the problem and then gave you a brief rundown of the science behind it. I think kids and adults will really enjoy this one.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Emily Heislerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngEmily Heisler2024-07-08 13:10:022024-09-26 11:52:52The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Emily H
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Roxsanne Lesieurhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRoxsanne Lesieur2024-07-06 07:08:382024-09-26 11:48:37The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom and Jack Kershner – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
This book is such a clever idea from an amazing author! It is a collection of science based mysteries that two characters set out to try and solve. The author has done an amazing job of picking things that kids are genuinely likely to ask about, and most adults are probably curious about! This book is aimed at my daughters age range and I can say the author has nailed it! It was lovely to watch my daughter light up with curiosity as we read more of the book and her excitement as the characters set about trying to solve the “mysteries”. Even my son (who is younger, but his favourite word is “how”) enjoyed discovering the things between these pages. This author has become one of those that I never hesitate to pick up. All of her books have been an absolute success and every new one is met with excitement. Each book is read multiple times and we enjoy each and every one of them as a family. I would highly recommend both this book and the author.
An informative, yet fun way of figuring out some of life’s random queries. Why do our veins show blue when our blood is red? What is saliva for except making our mouth wet? These are just a couple of the questions that Amanda and Elaine discuss and answer in this book of mini-mysteries. Informative and fun with cute illustrations. Great book for 7-11 year olds.
My 7yo son and I have read so many books by Lois Wickstrom. Almost all of her books include a moral or some education that will teach children something. The difference between her stories and others, kids may not even know they are learning. They are too busy having fun while reading a great story. This book is no different. This is a set of mini mysteries that follow Amanda and her friend Elaine as they learn about the little things in life that kids often wonder about. This is a great book for all of those inquisitive kids out there. (My son is one of them) He says on a daily basis “hey mommy can I ask google a question on your phone?” I love gathering books like this for him to learn while reading instead of always asking Google. We enjoyed this book.
This was a cute mini story about science and doing science experiments. Each one went thou different steps on how they would figure out what each one would do, and how they figure this out. This was a really good detaching book that thou experimentation that you can find out different things. My kids really liked these short reads, and of course we had to out some of them to the test. There were 12 altogether that Amanda and her friend Elaine go through to figure out what they could figure out. At the end of each experiment there’s a little comic like story that goes back thou it again, my kids really liked this part the best, and the illustrations were done very well to go along with what the two girls were doing. Super cute and super easy to read book, highly recommend if you have kid like mine that ask questions about everything and can do easy simple experiments to try out.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Reimerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Reimer2024-07-03 12:47:202024-08-20 13:10:38The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jennifer Reimer
Amanda and, her friend, Elaine go through a series of science experiments. This book goes through twelve different experiments and does a wonderful job explaining things. At the end of each it explains how or why it did or didn’t work. The experiment with the magnet I did laugh at the magnet on her head. There are some bigger words than younger children would know or fully understand, but easy enough to explain them if need be. This is such a fantastic read for little ones with curious minds on how things work.
What a neat book. I found the little mini stories to be perfect for my ADHD soul. I found them to be perfect to help guide kids to jump further into studying other science topics. My grandaughter told me that she loves science and I think she would enjoy this book. It’s perfect with it’s little chapters. I love the answers at the end of the chapter. Amanda is a good character as she asks the perfect questions to delve deeper. We’ll be adding this to our library.
The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom is a 42-page children’s chapter book that contains 12 very short ‘mysteries about ‘everyday things’ – teaching some interesting facts along the way Amanda and her best friend, Elaine, unravel and help explain these ‘mysteries’ through science, and a little imagination- and through all the different experiments they do. The story isn’t a fully illustrated book- but does have a few (comic-book-style) illustrations sprinkled throughout, usually at the beginning of every ‘mystery’, to help the reader visualize things, as well as keep things interesting. There are twelve mysteries to follow, which are: –Amanda and the Blue Blood This explains how/why blood appears blue beneath our skin –Amanda and the Wet Cracker Helps to explain a little about how digestion works, and the role saliva plays in it. –Amanda and the Flashing Light Touches a little of the speed of light and how scientists measure it –Amanda and the World’s Biggest Magnet Helps to explain a little about how birds (and some other animals) use the earth’s magnetic field to navigate- and how magnets can affect their sense of direction. Then reveals the ‘World’s Biggest Magnet’. –Amanda and the Dizzy Pencil Helps to explain how our inner ear helps us keep our balance, and why when we spin quickly, we lose our balance. As well as touching a little on the speed of sound. –Amanda and the Rainbows Explains photons, and how we see colours, and how different that is to how colourblind people, and animals, see. –Amanda and the Recorded Voice Touches on how we ‘hear’ our voice (internally), and why that sounds different to when we hear a recording of it. –Amanda and the Suntanned Sheet Explains how bleaching works, and how/why people tan in the sun, instead of bleaching. –Amanda and the Secret Spoon Chime Touches on how sound travels. How different sized spoons make different tones. And how to set up and perform your own ‘sound’ experiment. –Amanda and the Taste Flower Touches on how taste buds work –Amanda and the Snakelike Arms Explains how bellydancers can move and undulate their arms, and bodies, in a snake-like way. –Amanda and the Broken Balloon Touches on how plants make oxygen, and a little on how our lungs work
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2024-06-30 00:01:082024-08-20 12:52:19The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Angela Hayes
The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom. This is such a fun kids book filled with scientific experiments. Its a read that would better suit ages 9-12 and could be a fun family read. I read this with my 11 year old nephew and we both enjoyed it. Its about Amanda and her friend Elaine as they investigate mini-mysteries and find out why things turn out certain ways. If you love science and mysteries this book is for you and the child in your life. We really enjoyed it and will do some of the experiments mentioned. This book would make a great gift for a elementary teacher for her class.
The Amanda Mini-Mysteries is an educational, fun, illustrated set of different “science mysteries” as we get to learn along with Amanda and Elaine. Each mystery brings senarios like taste, hearing, sound, light and colors along with other things as Amanda and Elaine (along with myself) want to also learn the “why” things turn out the way they do.
This is a fun collection to read that is very engaging and also to learn new facts, which was neat. I love how the science is incorporated into each of the mysteries that Elaine and Amanda try to learn and solve.
I enjoyed this book, I like that there are many different mysteries for Amanda to discover, this is what holds my interest. My favorite mystery was the “The World’s Biggest Magnet” I can’t lie, I laughed along with Amanda realizing that the magnet was on Elaine’s head, the reason she could never find the north wall. The art throughout the book is lovely, reminds me of the old newspaper cartoons. This is a great book to read with kids, to teach them many new things and how things work.
The Amanda Mini-Mysteries is a unique science-based picture book that is interesting. It is a children’s picture book full of interesting facts not often thought about. This book is for those between the ages: 7-12. The book contains a collection of short stories full of mysteries, espionage, & science & nature and at the end of each story is an answer to questions within the story. Kids are curious and want to know everything and how it works that’s why “Why” is the most common question asked in the history of man. Join Amanda and Elaine her BFF as they discover, learn, and imagine together some of the strangest things. 42 pages of fun and learning.
“The Amanda Mini-Mysteries” series is a delightful and engaging collection of science-based mysteries that will captivate young readers’ curiosity and sense of wonder. Written by Lois Wickstrom, this series follows the adventures of Amanda and her friend Elaine as they investigate the whys and hows of everyday life.
Each mini-mystery presents a relatable problem or phenomenon that children may encounter in their daily lives, such as why blood looks blue on the back of their hand or why sheets don’t get tan in the sun. The mysteries are carefully crafted to be accessible and easy to understand, making them perfect for early readers or for reading aloud to younger children.
What sets this series apart is its unique approach to science education. Instead of presenting dry facts and figures, Wickstrom uses storytelling and imagination to make science fun and engaging. The mysteries are presented as puzzles to be solved, encouraging children to think critically and develop their problem-solving skills.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Crainhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Crain2024-06-27 14:29:042024-08-20 13:04:57The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jennifer Crain
I really love the way Wickstrom has introduced science and imagination to children in the Amanda Mini-Series. And it’s exactly what it sounds like…a bunch of short stories about Amanda and her friend Elaine solving mysteries. But not your typical whodunits…these are mysteries of the scientific sort. You can really see Wickstrom’s love for science and children through her writing and I love how relatable the characters are. I would say the audience for this book would be upper elementary. I loved the old-school illustrations too. Fantastic addition to your Wickstrom library! Reviewed by @meggs1717
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Megan Kimleyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMegan Kimley2024-06-27 12:51:032024-08-20 13:04:24The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Megan Rea
SCIENCE FUN FOR CHILDREN! Follow along with Amanda as she uses science and imagination to solve mysteries with her friend Elaine. These aren’t your typical whodunits: Amanda is more interested in Why and How of things, and children will learn along with her. Jack Kershner’s joyous illustrations add humor and zest to these explorations and mysteries of daily life. Voted the most popular series in Child Life Magazine.
Lois is a former science teacher. She has written a series of science-based folktales. In each modernized tale, the protagonist achieves a better ending because of learning scientific principles. Lois likes to garden, ride her bike with her husband, cook, and she votes in every election.
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