Kids guaranteed to love 'Irresponsible'

"THE BOOK OF TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE SCIENCE" by Sean Connolly, Workman Publishing, 205 pages, $12.95 (hardcover)

Don't be fooled by its title, mom and dad.

While some of the experiments in "The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science" may appear a little naughty, this is actually an educational book filled with creative science experiments and lessons.

But your children are guaranteed to love it. This book is written and designed in a way that's engaging and easy to understand. There are 64 experiments, and each includes step-by-step instructions, illustrations and a brief explanation of the science behind each reaction or explosion.

At 7 p.m. tonight, the book's author, Sean Connolly, will be at The Kings English Bookshop in Salt Lake City to sign copies of "The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science" and also demonstrate some experiments.

He said during a telephone interview from Phoenix (one stop on an eight-city tour), that he wrote the book as a way to help his own children get excited about science. While his background is in publishing, Connolly said he was exposed to science as a teenager in Boston when he got to visit the labs at MIT and see some experiments.

Those visits helped demystify science for him, said Connolly. And he believes "The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science" can do the same, particularly for boys who may be disinclined to read and girls who are not interested in science.

"I hate to bring up gender, but this is a book that kills two birds with one stone," Connolly said. "It gets girls interested in science and it's not as intimidating as a textbook, so it can get boys interested in reading. I have boy/girl twins and that gender stereotype or preconception does exist with my own children."

Some of the experiments in Connolly's book involve making rockets, turning a chicken bone into "rubber," undressing eggs and resurrecting Frankenstein's hand. Connolly drew from his experience as a Boy Scout and also solicited ideas from friends to come up with the experiments.

His book was originally published in England where Connolly lives with his wife and children. It came to the United States about five weeks ago, and Connolly said he is now working to bring a sequel to the states for publication.

Copies are available online or at any major bookstore.

"If a child did every single experiment, and lots of kids do, there are literally hours and hours of fun," Connolly said. "This book opens a door for them and it's a journey of discovery."

If you go ...

What: Book signing and presentation by Sean Connolly, author of The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science.
Where: The King's English Bookshop, 1511 S.1500 East
When: today, 7 p.m.
Web: kingsenglish.booksense.com

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com