Zoey and Sassafras: Unicorns and Germs (Zoey and Sassafras Book #6)

Zoey and Sassafras: Unicorns and Germs (Zoey and Sassafras Book #6) by Asia Citro, Illustrations by Marion Lindsay  96 pages

In this episode, Zoey and her best friend, her cat, Sassafras, learn about bacteria. The story opens with Zoey and her mom making homemade yogurt. The look on Sassafras’s face when Zoey stirs some store-bought yogurt into some warm milk is s cute. She may like yogurt, but there’s no way that stuff is touching her tongue.

Suddenly, the science project they are working on is interrupted by an earthquake!  A big one! The shaking got worse before it eased. Then the magic doorbell rings. Mom stays behind to clean up the mess while Zoey and Sassafras run to the barn. As she opens the barn door, Zoey encounters a huge, rainbow hoof.  Her eyes travel up, up, up and up until she sees a rainbow mane and a shiny golden head, all attached to a ginormous horse.

The horse, a magic horse don’t forget, says to Zoey, “HELLO. I HAVE OW. GIRL HELP? The unicorn, whose name is Tiny because it’s a baby unicorn, is hurt. To help him, Zoey and her mom must figure which bacteria is causing the infection on Tiny’s leg. They conduct experiments in to determine what the best course of action should be.

Unfortunately, it seems to take forever for the bacteria to grow, leaving poor Tiny in pain.  That’s the part I didn’t like and why  why “Zoey and Sassafras: Unicorns and Germs” receivs 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Zoey and Sassafras: Books 3, 4 and 5

Zoey and Sassafras, Books 3, 4, 5 by Asia Citro, illustrated by Marion Lindsay    285 total pages

I love these little books aimed at children ages 6 to 10 because they feature a girl using science to solve problems. American cultural has made significant improvements in breaking glass ceilings since the 1960s, but we still have a long way to go. It’s books like these that will help overcome stereotypes and, hopefully, lead more girls into fields that don’t rely on beauty or body type.

Each book is basically the same format, and yet is it not: a magical creature shows up at the barn behind Zoey’s house with a problem. Zoey’s mother has been helping the wide range of creatures for years, and now Zoey, along with her best friend, Sassafras the cat, gets to help too. She has Thinking Goggles (protective eye wear) that she wears to help her think…and without realizing protecting her eyes…and a journal where she keeps all her scientific notes.

The difference between each of the books is the scientific approach Zoey must figure out to use, Sometimes she needs to do some investigation, other times research, and other times she must run experiments.

In Book 3 “Merhorses and Bubbles,” the story opens with Zoey and Sassafras creating a tool to use to see the mayfly babies who live in the water. I love this!  Parents and caregivers learn how to duplicate this tool before they’ve reached page ten. But when Zoey heads to the stream, she isn’t able to find any stream bug babies anywhere. Then Pip, her mother’s old friend and a talking purple frog shows up, alerting Zoey that the merhorses are in danger of starving to death. Zoey must use her research and investigative skills to learn why the stream no longer has any insects and how to fix it. “Merhorses and Bubbles” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

In Book 4 “Caterflies and Ice,” two of tiny caterflies (wait until you read their descriptions; they are so cute!) ring the barn’s magical doorbell needing help. An unexpected spring snowstorm has created danger for the caterflies’ eggs. They are trapped in a cave behind a frozen waterfall.  Zoey knows she must hurry to save the unhatched babies. When her first attempt fails, she relies on her experimental skills to solve the problem. “Caterflies and Ice” is a little less captivating, receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

In Book 5 “The Pod and The Bog,” Pip the purple, talking frog, returns with a glowing rainbow stone.  Pip explains that it’s a seed pod from a magical plant. Zoey and Sassafras have been watching and recording the growth of a pea plant.  Zoey must use her research and experimental skills determine what the pod is. Tension rises as experiment after experiment fails. “The Pod and The Bog” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Zoey & Sassafras: Monsters and Mold

Zoey & Sassafras: Monsters and Mold by Asia Citro, illustrated by Marion Lindsay  96 pages

This is the second book in the Zoey and Sassafras series..

Ever since Zoey and her cat, Sassafras, helped a baby dragon she named Marshmallow, she has been waiting for the magic doorbell to ring. In the meantime, Zoey is experimenting with mold, how it grows in various conditions.

It’s the perfect setup when the doorbell finally rings. Poor Gorp has an embarrassing problem: his fur is moldy. He’s tried everything he knows to do and has taken all the advice he’s been giving, but nothing works. He’s heard the stories in the forest that Zoey can cure so he has come to her for help.

In addition to the moldy fur, which is a source of bullying from other forest creatures, the annual Monster Ball is in just a few days. Gorp has never been, but he wants so badly to go. Sassafras reminds Zoey to put on her Thinking googles and try to help him.

Using scientific methods to conduct and collect the data, Zoey does her best to help Gorp. 

There seemed to be a lot more science in this episode than in the first one. The book is geared toward ages 6-10 in grades 1-5. I worried that may be it was a little too advanced, so that is why Zoey & Sassafras: Monsters and Mold receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.