Drip (Little Life Cycles)

PreS-K--This board book is inviting right from the start, with a bright cover that has a cutout of a drip that goes from the front to the back cover. Little fingers will be drawn to this textural feature and will be captivated throughout the book. Little ones know what a drop of water is, and this story will help them understand how a drop morphs into a drip. A young boy wants to water his thirsty flowers, but when he turns on the faucet, only one drop of water appears. "But what's this?" More questions appear throughout that encourage children to engage with the text repeatedly. The drop, now a drip, falls into pipes that carry it along until it splashes into a stream. Streams join rivers and they carry drips and drops into the sea. Evaporation is introduced, although not named, as the sun beats down on the water and drops of water float up into the air to forms clouds in the sky. Clouds blow over the earth and rain down on thirsty gardens. This is the water cycle for beginners and can connect preschoolers to this important and fundamental aspect of our world by using language they know. VERDICT The water cycle is a complicated process, but this book opens it up to the youngest of readers with beautiful graphics and a story line they can understand. This would be a strong book to start, or add to, a nonfiction board book section for children who are always asking questions about the world around them.--Joan Kindig