A DROP OF WATER

Something as simple as a drop of water hardly seems the stuff of extraordinary science. Yet exceptional photography from Wick (with Jean Marzollo, the I Spy series) shows fundamental science experiments in a fresh light. In a note, Wick explains that many of the experiments he shows were swiped from science texts from the 1800s. Without trickery or sleight of hand, through the meticulous photographing of the transformations of water, Wick displays the dual thrills of science and photography. The experiments explore various subjects: bubbles, the surface tension of a drop of water, snowflakes, steam. Instructions include fascinating tips on how to catch a snowflake on a mirror, and how to find a rainbow in dew-laden spider webs. In these pages, the prosaic becomes wondrous as readers see the marvels of H2O. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-10)