Science is made fun in Magic School Bus Rides Again: Monster Power: Exploring Renewable Energy (based on Joanna Cole’s original series). This time Judy Katschke takes this new series for higher chapter book readers through the types of renewable energy. Due to this being the second book, there are a few characters the reader from the original series or the original cartoon watcher might not recognize. However, that does not take away from the story plus it is a stand-alone title as well. What we loved (friendship, loveable teacher, a crazy lizard and, of course, a magical bus) are still there. The stories about learning science in a way that makes it not seem like learning is still there. These are a modernized edition to the classic.
Ms. Frizzle is no longer teaching the class, but Fiona (her younger sister) is. They still go on the same type of adventures in the bus as before. This time they are learning about renewable energy. And when Arnold cannot sleep without a light (due to a scary movie he has seen) how can he survive on a camping trip without any place to plug in his light and not make pollution as well? As Ms. Frizzle says, “Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!” and that is exactly what they do.
There are highlighted words throughout the story and at the end there is a glossary. There is also a “question and answer” section and some journal/activity questions you can write about as well. Over all, it would be a good book for the child that is science minded, but not necessary for a classroom setting, but as “addition to” their already interest in the subject.