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Reviewed by Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers' Favorite
Monster Science: Create Your Own Genetic Masterpiece is a children’s educational picture book written by Victoria Cerdeira with illustrations by Anna Pomelova. It follows siblings Maya and Jordan, who wish to create their own unique pet monster to play with. They discover that they need the building blocks of all living organisms, genes, to make their monster. The genes define the fur and skin color, eyes, and even the personality of the monster. They choose to give their monster traits like Maya’s vitiligo marks and Jordan’s afro hair. Despite selecting the traits for their monster, the siblings soon find out that more needs to be done. They learn that they require a cloning machine and have to connect the genes into strands of DNA, wrap them into something, and then twist and turn them into shorter strands because the length will be too long. The siblings get to work, and in the process, they learn how to create their own monster.
Monster Science is a fun read that aims to teach children about genetics. It also makes science inclusive and accessible to all kids. I love how this book simplifies scientific terms like DNA, chromosomes, and nucleosomes. By likening genes to building blocks used to construct a Lego castle, and explaining that children inherit genes from their parents—which accounts for shared traits like Maya and Jordan’s afro hair—the author brings everything to a child's level of understanding. Victoria Cerdeira has included interactive elements such as a catchy song and a step-by-step guide that readers can use to create their own monsters. The story is also humorous, with funny moments and creative names for machines and monster characters. The illustrations bring everything together. They are colorful and bright, and remind me of STEM comics and cartoons. This is a great read, and I recommend it to parents who are looking for a book to share with their young upcoming scientists.
