Reviewed by Melanie Andres
5th Grade Teacher
Although Water, one of 11 titles in the Materials, Materials, Materials series of books, is marketed for K-2 students, I find it has a much broader appeal. I would use this series with my reluctant readers and second language students in grade 5.
Water has a simplified text; but it is not simple. The text is large and written in clear, short sentences. Yet there is ample information presented. Topics range from properties of water to clouds and rain to water power and pollution. Key words, such as transparent and dissolving, are in bold type and can be looked up in the glossary. A table of contents and an index give this book the same format as many higher level texts. Students may also find the “Fact File” and “Can You Believe It?” sections fun to read. For those children whose interests are piqued by this topic, teachers or parents will also find a list of more books to read.
High-quality photographs feature animals, children, and men and women from around the world. One thing I found a bit frustrating was that I wanted to know where each photograph was taken! The pictures reinforce the text, but there are no specific captions giving this information about the photos. However, I believe that children will be less bothered by that than I was.
This book is appropriate for primary students studying water, weather, or pollution. I would also recommend this book as an addition to a classroom library or a home library for children who really love to read non-fiction. The information is accurate and comprehensible for these students, and it would also be a great book for older students who have lower reading abilities. This series could reinforce state standards in accessing information from various sources as well as science standards.
Review posted on 8/13/2002
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