『科学でナゾとき！〜 わらう人体模型事件』（読み物）をおすすめします。

科学の知識を盛り込んだ、学校が舞台の物語。６年生の彰吾は、自信過剰な児童会長。中学教師の父親が、小学校でも科学実験の指導をするために彰吾の学校にもやってくることに。父親を評価していない彰吾は、学校では家族関係を隠すようにと父親に釘を刺す。

ところが彰吾の学校では、次々に不思議な事件が起こる。最初は、理科実験室で人体模型がギャハハと笑ったという事件。生徒たちが脅えているのを知ると、彰吾の父親のキリン先生（背が高くポケットにキリンのぬいぐるみを入れている）は、みんなを公園に連れて行き、準備しておいたホースを使って、実験室の水道管が音を伝えたことを実証してみせる。

2つ目は、離島から来た転校生が海の夕陽を緑色に描いて、ヘンだと言われた事件。３つ目は、なくなったリップクリームが花壇に泥だらけで落ちていた事件。最後は、図書館においた人魚姫の人形が赤い涙を流す事件。どれもキリン先生が謎を解き明かし、光の波長や、液状化現象や、化学薬品のアルカリ性・酸性の問題など、事件の裏にある科学的事実を説明してくれる。彰吾も父親を見直す。科学知識が物語のなかに溶け込んでいて、おもしろく読める。

11歳から／学校　謎　科学　父と息子

 

Solving Riddles Through Science!

Set in a school, the story relates four episodes rich in scientific knowledge. Shogo, a cocky sixth-grader, is head of the children’s association. His father is a science teacher who teaches at many different schools, one of which is Shogo’s. But Shogo is embarrassed by his father’s clumsiness and begs him not to let anyone know they are related.

However, mysterious things are happening at Shogo’s school. First, the anatomical model in the science room bursts out laughing. When Shogo’s tall, lanky father, who carries a giraffe toy in his pocket and has been dubbed Professor Giraffe, hears that the children are frightened, he takes them to a park and uses a hose to show them that sound travel can long distances. It becomes clear that the sound of laughter must have traveled along an unused water pipe from another location.

The second mystery surrounds a transfer student from a distant island who is upset that his classmates laughed because he painted the sunset green. The third mystery involves a tube of lip gloss that disappears from the classroom and shows up in a flower bed. In the final episode, a mermaid doll in the school library weeps red tears. Professor Giraffe conducts experiments to solve each case, explaining the scientific facts behind them, such as light wavelength, liquefaction, and the alkalinity and acidity of chemicals. During this process, Shogo’s opinion of his father changes. The author expertly weaves scientific information into the story to make this a fascinating and informative read. (Sakuma)

• text: Asada, Rin | illus. Sato, Odori | spv. Takayanagi, Yuichi
• Kaiseisha
• 2020
• 208 pages
• 19×13
• ISBN 9784036491407
• Age 11 +

School, Mystery, Science, Father and son

（JBBY「おすすめ！日本の子どもの本2021」より）