ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Without my family and friends, this book wouldn’t exist. Thank you especially to the following people:

My science consultant, Ron Lee, who suggested several of the experiments in this book and made sure that I explained the physics correctly. Not only is he brilliant, he’s my dad.

My kids, Sarah, May, and Charlie, and my husband, Ken, who helped out with numerous photo shoots and spent the summer in a house that looked like a science fair gone wrong.

Holly Lipelt and Lali Garcia DeRosier, who shared some of their students’ favorite biology experiments with me, and Dr. Raychelle Burks, for making sure I got the science of lip balm right. Greg Heinecke, my education adviser, who told me what teachers want to see in a book.

Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, where we netted insects with the naturalist Heidi and were guided on a spectacular full-moon hike by Pauline. Thank you to Michael for coordinating.

Marion McNurlen, our neighborhood monarch guru, who raises a kaleidoscope of butterflies on her porch every summer and inspires us to learn more about their plight.

My incessantly cheerful photographer Amber Procaccini, who braved mud, worms, and rough terrain to create the fantastic photographs in this book.

Jennifer, Karen, Tim, and Molly who let us invade their backyards with hordes of young experimenters for the sake of science.

The amazing, smart, funny, and beautiful kids whose smiles light up the pages of this book.

Jonathan Simcosky, Renae Haines, David Martinell, Katie Fawkes, Lisa Trudeau, and the entire team at Quarry Books for your helpfulness, patience, and creativity.

And my mom, Jean Lee, who always made me go outside to play.