Thorndyke’s Portal to Hidden Toy Bath Bomb

Hi Kids,

Did you know that most bears love to take baths? It’s true! Somedays I enjoy taking a nice soak after the library closes. If I really want to pamper myself, I use a special bath bomb that I made with my librarian friends. They like to put surprises inside them for me to find during bath time.

Why don’t you try making some at home with your grown-up?

Bear Hugs,

Thorndyke

Materials

• 2 oz citric acid (about ¼ cup)
• 2 oz corn starch (about 6 tablespoons)
• 2 oz Epsom salts (about ¼ cup)
• 4 oz baking soda (just under ½ cup)
• ½ tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon oil (almond, avocado, grapeseed, hempseed, coconut, olive)
• Essential oil (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Small toys
• Muffin tray

Instructions

1. Measure out the dry ingredients into a large bowl and blend with a whisk or fork.
   
2. Measure out the water and oils in a separate container and blend with a whisk. You can add the food coloring at this point, or you can wait until you’re about to mold the bath bombs.
3. Very slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Pour a couple spoonfuls at a time. Mix with a fork before adding more.
   
4. The consistency will become like a pastry dough. As it comes together you will need to use your hands instead of the fork.
5. Grab some mixture and make a fist to test if it's ready to be molded. It is ready if it keeps its shape when you open your fist. If it is still very crumbly, add a little more oil (not water).
6. Fill one of the muffin molds halfway. Pack it as tightly as you can before adding the toy. Once you add the toy, pack more mixture on top of it.
   
7. Let the bath bombs sit for an hour in a cool space.
   
8. If it breaks apart when you remove it from the muffin tray, you can spritz it with witch hazel or rubbing alcohol and reshape it.
   

Enjoy finding all the surprises in your bath bombs!