Pirate, Viking & Scientist

October 6, 2014
Scientist, a boy in a white lab coat and big blue spectacles, has a problem that many kids face: his two best friends, Pirate and Viking (full-grown adults who are exactly what their names suggest), can’t stand each other. Faced with the prospect of his birthday party turning into an extended brawl, Scientist tests out various hypotheses as to what could unite Pirate and Viking (“Maybe PARTY GAMES could help turn these foes into friends!”). He finally hits on what his friends have in common—boats, sleeping with a sword under their pillows, and “pillaging and plundering!”—but there are plenty of party fouls and pratfalls before he gets there. Audiences still too young for the Friendship Algorithm Sheldon Cooper popularized on The Big Bang Theory should find Chapman’s debut just the STEM-themed ticket. With boisterous drawings that would be right at home in an old Jay Ward cartoon (Scientist is basically one part Mr. Peabody, one part Sherman) and a preface providing key terms in the scientific method, it’s great inspiration for classroom science units or at-home Venn-diagramming. Ages 3–6. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

September 15, 2014
In a clear triumph for the scientific method, a young researcher systematically discovers how to keep his two close friends from punching each other out every time they meet.Appropriately if stereotypically clad in a white lab coat, Scientist enjoys playing separately with his much bigger, likewise conventionally costumed buddies Viking and Pirate-but when the two come face to face at his birthday party, disaster is plainly in the offing. Time for "scientific instinct" to kick in. Hypothesis: Will cake bring the combatants together? Yes, but not in a good way. Will party games improve the outcome? Uh, no. Time for a new approach. Chapman's narrative has an adult ring ("Viking was seething. Pirate was fuming"), but younger audiences will be hooked by the generous measures of exaggerated cartoon-style brawling. They should also come away with a greater appreciation for Scientist's logical, nonviolent method of problem-solving. Scowls turn to smiles after a round of leading questions-"What's your favorite way to spend Saturday mornings?" // "PILLAGING AND PLUNDERING!"-sparks a new amity founded on common interests. Waging peace through...science! That this debut is as funny as it is sneakily informative is icing on the cake. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-7)

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December 1, 2014

K-Gr 2-In this quirky story, young Scientist is friends with Viking and Pirate, but the latter two absolutely do not get along. Tensions run high at Scientist's birthday party, so he turns to science to try to bring his buddies together. He forms a hypothesis, conducts an experiment, studies his results, and adjusts his calculations. After reflecting on his work, Scientist ultimately unites Viking and Pirate around their shared interests: boats, swords, pillaging, and plundering. Scientist's final experiment is a success, and all three characters become friends. The accessible text, silly premise, and simple yet accurate incorporation of scientific principles make this a unique gem for elementary collections. Onomatopoeia features prominently in action sequences that invite inferences, and the ink and digitally colored illustrations employ a fun and funky use of color. The graph-paper background and Venn diagram on title page are delightful references to the scientific theme. This is a great read-aloud to foster discussions around the scientific process and important lessons about friendship. An excellent addition.-Whitney LeBlanc, Staten Island Academy, NY

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