Oh No!: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World
Oh No! Series
What’s inside...
Some kids are too smart for their own good...and maybe for everybody else's good. When an overly ambitious little girl builds a humongous robot for her science fair, she fully expects to win first place. What she doesn't expect is the chaos that follows. Mac Barnett, a new picture book author on the rise, and Dan Santat, illustrator of Rhea Perlman's Otto Undercover series, combine forces to create a hilarious kid's eye account of the kind of destruction that comes only from a child's good intentions. This book is sure to appeal to kids and parents familiar with the ordeal of science fairs.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you do if your science project accidentally caused chaos like in the story?
How do you think the girl felt when her robot started causing trouble?
What are some ways the girl could have tested her robot before bringing it to the science fair?
Why is it important to think about the consequences of our inventions or actions?
What would you have done differently if you were in her place?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves as the main character and ask how they would handle the situation.
Discuss the importance of responsibility and foresight when creating or inventing something new.
Talk about problem-solving and ask your child to think of different ways the character could have resolved the situation.
Relate the story to a real-world scenario by discussing the role of technology and its impact on our daily lives.
Praise your child's responses to foster confidence and deepen their engagement with reading.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The story showcases the consequences of the protagonist's science project going awry, emphasizing the importance of being responsible for one's creations.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of taking responsibility for their actions and projects, understanding that their decisions can have large impacts.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: When the robot created for the science project causes chaos, the protagonist must think quickly and devise a plan to mitigate the damage.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to develop critical thinking skills and become proactive in solving problems they encounter in their daily lives.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Innovation
Explanation: The protagonist's science project is an innovative creation, which inspires creativity and the pursuit of scientific knowledge.
Real-World Application: Children are motivated to explore science and technology, potentially sparking an interest in these fields through creative projects and experiments.
Example Lesson: Accountability
Explanation: As the story progresses, the protagonist realizes the importance of accountability for the mishaps caused by her science project.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the value of owning up to their mistakes and learning from them, which is crucial for personal development.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: To resolve the chaos caused by the robot, collaboration with others becomes essential, highlighting the value of teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of working with others to achieve common goals, a skill that is valuable in both school settings and later life.