Kids who wonder why their fingertips get wrinkly in the bathtub will find the answer to this question and other scientific stumpers in this simple but not simplistic study of the ways of water. Cobb (I See Myself, below, etc.) is well known for her collections of science experiments and concise explanations of scientific principles. She uses this talent in her new Science Play series, designed for parents to use with young children at home. In this volume she explains the most basic properties of water: how it flows, adheres to itself but not to waxed or oiled surfaces, and how it is absorbed through skin. Easy, quick experiments are interwoven into the text, delivered in a chatty style in the second person. Parents who want to interest their children in basic scientific concepts will find this series useful, as will teachers from preschool level through first grade. Gorton’s attractive computer-generated art features a young Asian boy performing the activities described in the text. Her illustrations utilize uncluttered pages, bright colors on white backgrounds, and creative type treatments that flow together into a lively, informative treatment. (author’s note) (Nonfiction. 3-6)
