Susan Devins, the author of Makin’ Muffins, has created a make-your-own bubble gum book and kit.The book is slim, colourful, and glossy. It contains history (Santa Anna, the Mexican general who conquered the Alamo was instrumental in introducing chewing gum to America), jokes (What do you call a robbery at a bubble gum factory? A sticky situation), and interesting facts (In Singapore, possession of gum is punishable by a year in jail). There are also points of gum etiquette, how to blow bubbles, and how to make your own gum and wrappers. The writing level is about right for the older end of the target age group, although nothing is covered in great depth.

The accompanying kit contains gum base, syrup, sugar, stir stick, and tray – enough to make about 50 pieces of gum. Parental assistance is required since the ingredients must be microwaved and because the gum base is extremely sticky. The kit promises “scientific fun,” and certainly the process of making the gum is simple enough. However, there is not much science to be learned from it and, since all the ingredients are used at once, there’s no scope for experimenting (my daughter thought of adding food colouring to brighten the gum). The gum itself is tasty and both I and my kids managed some passable bubbles. Chew on This! will provide an afternoon’s fun, but there is little in either the book or kit to hold a child’s interest beyond that.