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#1 in Mad Scientists Of New Jersey Series

The Mad Scientists of New Jersey (Volume 1)

illustrations by
4.10
on Goodreads (10)

What’s inside...

Ever since his father went missing, Eddie Edison has suspected that Lake Mohawk held dark secrets. But when he and his friends fish a strange, mechanical device from its murky depths, Eddie's suspicions are confirmed. Pursuing the device's origin, Eddie stumbles upon a mysterious, fantastical stranger who might have answers about his father's disappearance as well as his own remarkable connection to the long lost Mad Scientists of New Jersey.
In series
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
208 pages
Text complexity

Discussion points

What do you think motivated the characters to become mad scientists?
How would you solve a problem like the one in the story?
What did the characters learn by the end of the book?
If you were a scientist, what kind of experiments would you want to conduct?
How do you think teamwork helped the characters achieve their goals?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences by asking how they would feel in similar situations.
Praise creative answers to foster an environment where your child feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas.
Discuss the importance of curiosity and experimentation, relating it to everyday learning opportunities.
Use the book’s illustrations to ask your child to describe what they see and imagine what could happen next.
After reading, relate the story’s themes to real-life examples of scientists and inventors, enhancing the learning experience.

Key lessons

Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: Throughout the story, the characters must work together to solve complex problems and overcome challenges.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to cooperate with peers in group projects or shared tasks at school or during play.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and exploration
Explanation: The book features young scientists who are driven by their curiosity about the world, leading them to explore and experiment.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to ask questions, seek out new information, and engage in hands-on exploration in their daily lives.
Example Lesson: Perseverance in the face of failure
Explanation: Characters in the book often face setbacks in their experiments, but they continue to try and learn from their mistakes.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of persistence and resilience, understanding that failure is a part of learning and growth.
Example Lesson: Ethical responsibility
Explanation: The young scientists learn to consider the consequences of their inventions and actions, understanding their impact on others and the environment.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to think about the ethics of their actions and decisions, promoting responsibility and empathy in their interactions with others.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: The narrative presents several scenarios where the characters must use their knowledge and creativity to solve problems.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to use critical thinking and creativity to solve problems they encounter in schoolwork or in everyday situations.