Magnetic Magic

K-Gr 3—Big kid Dena knows how to make magnetism look like magic, especially in front of little ones, who are awed by her mysterious tricks. She understands magnets can attract and repel each other. Enrique, who also knows about magnetism, challenges Dena to reveal the "secrets" of her "magic" to the kids. Jennings uses a fictional narrative to teach primary grade children about magnetism. Readers will follow Dena as she experiments with magnets and goes on a treasure quest using her compass. With a large, bold font, this book can be used in a science class unit on magnetism or during a classroom read-aloud activity. The illustrations are successful in moving the narrative forward and conveying the meaning of the text. However, the illustrations, though colorful, lack the look and style of contemporary children's literature—a potentially unappealing element for curious children. The book contains activities and further information.