From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-A fact-filled, accessible study of solids, liquids, and gases. The book gives examples of each state of matter and some simple activities that demonstrate the attributes of each. The last page presents three related science experiments. The author's use of sentence fragments, such as "Water flowing in the creek," is bothersome, but the humorous illustrations add to the text and provide a good mix of children of both genders and various races enjoying science. The page layout makes this title suitable for use with groups; the easy-to-read text makes it a good choice for independent reading and research. Teachers will delight in the clear definitions and examples used to introduce concepts that are often offered on a much higher level.Marty Abbott Goodman, L. J. Bell Elementary School, Rockingham, NCCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Once again the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out-about Science series takes on a really difficult concept and dramatizes it with hands-on examples from everyday life. This time, the concept is the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. The explanations are clear with a simple, informal text for the new reader, and the lively line-and-watercolor pictures bring in humor and commonsense ("Did you ever drink a glass of blocks?"). Water is the central example of how some things change from solid to liquid to gas, but words and pictures show that most things in the child's world stay in one state or another ("And it's a good thing they do! Can you imagine a world where . . . ?") A final page includes simple activities to do to find out more. Hazel Rochman
Book Description
Did you ever walk through a wall? Drink a glass of blocks? Have you ever played with a lemonade doll, or put on milk for socks? This latest addition to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series introduces the youngest readers to an important science concept: the differences between solids, liquids, and gases. Any child who wants to know why he can't walk through a wall will enjoy Kathleen Zoehfeld's simple text and Paul Meisel's playful illustrations.
Card catalog description
In simple text, presents the three states of matter, solid, liquid, and gas, and describes their attributes.
About the Author
Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld has written many books for children, including How Mountains Are Made, What Is the World Made Of?, and What Lives in a Shell? in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Ms. Zoehfeld lives in Norwalk, CT.Lucia Washburn's first book for young readers was Look to the North by Jean Craighead George. She lives in Petaluma, CA.
What Is the World Made Of?: All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases ANNOTATION
In simple text, presents the three states of matter, solid, liquid, and gas, and describes their attributes.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Did you ever walk through a wall? Drink a glass of blocks? Have you ever played with a lemonade doll, or put on milk for socks? This latest addition to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series introduces the youngest readers to an important science concept: the differences between solids, liquids, and gases. Any child who wants to know why he can't walk through a wall will enjoy Kathleen Zoehfeld's simple text and Paul Meisel's playful illustrations.
Did you ever walk through a wall? Drink a glass of blocks? Have you ever played with a lemonade doll, or put on milk for socks? This latest addition to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series introduces the youngest readers to an important science concept: the differences between solids, liquids, and gases. Any child who wants to know why he can't walk through a wall will enjoy Kathleen Zoehfeld's simple text and Paul Meisel's playful illustrations.
Author Biography: Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld has written many books for children, including How Mountains Are Made, What Is the World Made Of?, and What Lives in a Shell? in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Ms. Zoehfeld lives in Norwalk, CT.
Lucia Washburn's first book for young readers was Look to the North by Jean Craighead George. She lives in Petaluma, CA.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Linda Uhlenkott
Solids, liquids and gases are the simple building blocks of science offered in this nonfiction trade book. With familiar scenarios and everyday items, children learn about the concepts of solids, liquids and gases. "If your sister spills milk on the table" shows how liquids spread out. A simple experiment, using a borrowed bottle of perfume and an empty room, demonstrates how gases spread through the air. When a demonstration demands more complex activities (such as using a hot stove to boil water) children are warned that they'll need an adult's help. In addition to showing children how to demonstrate several of these properties for themselves, this book also asks them to extend their thinking by imagining what the world would be like if heat and cold turned everything into solids, liquids or gases. "Can you imagine a world where your toys would melt when it gets too hot?" Familiar scenarios and items make the concepts understandable. Also, the predictable word patterns and pictures that are tied to the text aid comprehension for the youngest reader. The last page in the book offers several simple experiments that children can conduct with very little help from adults. Also included is a method of charting that introduces record keeping. This book is especially recommended for teachers who are looking for appropriate nonfiction books for primary-age children. Parents will find it interesting and useful as a supplementing to the science curriculum.
Horn Book
"Have you ever seen anyone walk through a wall? Did you ever drink a glass of blocks? Have you ever played with a lemonade doll, or put on milk for socks? Walls and blocks, dolls and socks. Milk and lemonade.... All of these things are made of matter." Zoehfeld and Meisel add competently to the venerable Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series as they comfortably explain the three states of matter to beginning readers. Solids, hard or soft, hold their shape. Shapeless liquids take on the shape of whatever they're in. Invisible gases spread out to fill any container they're in, too. Children are invited to make personal observations of water as it changes from one state to another, and the homey experi-ments are demonstrated by a cheerful cast of boys and girls, parents and animals. Meisel deftly mixes media to color his energetic line drawings, and conversation balloons add to the humor. A final page of simple ob-servation exercises rounds out the handy lesson in fundamental science that will be appreciated by teachers and enjoyed by children.
Art & Photography
Book Info
