WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

An attractive overview of the water cycle and the importance of water to life on earth. Beginning with a photo of ``the water planet'' from space, from which clouds and oceans are its most visible features, the authors touch on water's states (saying in a scientific context that ``we can see'' steam issuing from a teakettle is an unfortunate imprecision in an otherwise clear presentation; water vapor is visible, but technically steam is not), its distribution (most water is salt; most fresh water is in glaciers at the poles), its uses, and the importance of keeping it pure. Brief but more comprehensive than the many books focusing on the water cycle; handsome color photos add to the immediacy of this useful summary. (Nonfiction. 6-9)