Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge proponent of science education and am always rooting for science books to do well, but I just could not give this book a higher rating, much as I wish I could. I'm quite familiar with Archimedes' Principle and yet, because of all the intervening, semi-poetic (and somewhat unnecessary) words, it didn't even occur to me that that was what was being conveyed. I think the story would have read better if the author had cut ou 50+ words.Another issue I had with it was that it seemed to be trying hard to achieve the quirkiness of books like "Stuck" or "This Is Not My Hat" but misses the boat (and lands in the moat). I don't really fault the author too much for that. Not everyone can be a Jeffers or Klassen (or Dykman or Barnett). But, ultimately, it *was* trying to talk about science so I have to give it 3 stars for Good. Archie the Goat, named in reference to Archimedes, decides to float across a moat instead of taking the drawbridge. First he builds a boat with a full barrel of buttermilk, which promptly sinks. Then he uses an empty barrel, which pitches him into the water. Finally, he decides to use a half empty barrel, though this point is not clearly and obviously pointed out in the story. The boat sails across the moat, where the queen promptly fusses at Archie for failing to deliver her buttermilk. I enjoyed the charming, snappy dialog and Archie's cries that his work is "All in the name of science." The actual connection to Archimedes is a bit of a stretch, though I guess that between the goat and floating across the moat, it's enough to tie in Archimede's understanding of the displacement of water. The author note at the end of the text explains how Archie finally built his boat to sail across the moat. Younger readers will enjoy the story; students in grades 1 - 3 will be able to grasp the science connection with teacher/parent support.
What do You think about What Floats In A Moat? (2013)?
Goat and hen set out to float the moat to the castle. A good science book for next summer's theme?
—ilBOOKS
this would pair well with a "floating" science program
—tilda
