A Drop Of Water (Hardcover)

by Walter Wick (Author, Illustrator)
Key Phrases: droplets form

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The curious, protean nature of water has fascinated people for ages, and Walter Wick--the photographer of Scholastic's highly acclaimed I Spy series--is no exception. Wick is a great admirer and collector of 100-year-old science books where, according to his afterword, "Even the simplest experiments appeared as if improbable or impossible things were happening. Intrigued, I recreated some of the experiments and photographed them with my camera. The results seemed magical, but not because of any photographic trick; it was only the forces of nature at work. It was from these explorations that the idea for this book emerged."

As you're admiring the "crown" created by a water drop splashing into a pool, or how many water droplets can fit on the head of a pin (the smallest droplet on the pin contains more than three trillion water molecules), you'll learn about evaporation, condensation, snowflakes, how clouds form, and more amazing water tricks. Wick's other artfully composed photographs include a "wild wave" caused by a brown egg dropped in a water glass, soap bubbles with a "shimmering liquid skin," a snowflake at 60 times its actual size, and dew on a spider web. Like many old-fashioned science books, A Drop of Water ends with a list of simple experiments may lure the young reader into the world of scientific investigation. Unlike many old science books, this one also stands on its own as a beautiful, notable collection of photographs.

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6. Wick's striking color photographs of water in various states and stages of movement capture moments of change in beautiful patterns that cannot be observed without the advantages of stop action and magnification. These pictures present water drops; soap bubbles; water condensing and evaporating; snowflakes, frost, and dew; and water as a prism. The paragraphs of text that accompany the images read like extended captions; they describe what is being pictured and briefly comment on the phenomenon taking place. A set of short directions for doing the observations and experiments included appears at the end. The photographs are the outstanding feature here; they do stimulate wonder. Perhaps the book succeeds more as an exploration of their use to enhance scientific observation than as a description of the characteristics of water. Wick clearly shows that science and art both offer ways to observe the world around us. However, the visuals may stimulate a level of curiosity that will not be satisfied by the brief text?something that makes the lack of a list for further reading a drawback.?Carolyn Angus, The Claremont Graduate School,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; F edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590221973
• ISBN-13: 978-0590221979
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,104 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will open the world of learning to young eyes!, April 9, 1998

By A Customer

"A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder" is a stunning book that shows water in its many forms. With the aid of stop action photography, Wick reveals water as rainbows, bubbles, drops, steam, ice, and frost. Readers also learn about evaporation and how condensation and clouds are formed.

Except for a few color adjustments, the author writes, no photographs were altered. Most impressive is a snowflake magnified 60 times its actual size, nearly 8 inches tall!

Did you know a bubble's skin is 500 times thinner than a human hair?

Did you know a straight pin can float on a glass of water because of water's surface tension?

"A Drop of Water" is written in simple terms and the accompanying photographs will soak up the attention of children of all ages. The book includes a list of experiments children can do to learn more about the three states of water.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Drop of Water, June 11, 2000

By A Customer

The pictures in this book are excellent, but the reading level is not 4-8 as listed. The level is about 6th grade and above.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Photography of Water, May 25, 1998

By A Customer

A Drop of Water is an amazing book with lots of close-up photography. The facts about water are interesting and fun to read. Walter Wick also covers areas of vapor, steam and ice.