The story feels a bit contrived, but Ada will be a welcome addition to the small circle of science-loving girls in the chapter-book world. Peebles, an inventor who lives nearby, is black. There are no ethnic indicators in the text, but the illustrations reveal that Ada, her family, and bratty neighbor Milton are white Nina appears to be Southeast Asian and Mr. This installment incorporates drones, a wireless camera, gecko gloves, and the Turing test as well as the concept of an ecosystem. As part of the series formula, science topics and gadgetry are integrated into the stories and further explained in a “Behind the Science” afterword. Story-crafting takes a back seat to scene-setting in this series kickoff that introduces the major players. Nina does the legwork and Ada provides the technology for their search for the dognapper. Reed’s dog, Marguerite, is missing, they leap to the conclusion that it has been stolen. She records her observations in a field journal, a project that intrigues new friend Nina, who lives nearby. Temporarily housebound after a badly executed bungee jump, Ada uses binoculars to document the ecosystem of her new neighborhood in San Francisco.

Using science and technology, third-grader Ada Lace kicks off her new series by solving a mystery even with her leg in a cast. (water facts, further reading, bibliography) Backmatter tells more about each step in the cycle, using solid explanations and science vocabulary.Īn engaging and lyrical look at the water cycle. The water cycle’s importance is brought home in the closing pages, snow leading to spring to mud to roots to apples to cider. Put on the brakes! / Ice is ice unless… // it forms flakes.” Much like Deborah Lee Rose’s illustrations for her Twelve Days books, Chin’s realistic watercolor-and-gouache illustrations offer repeat readers seemingly endless new details, like the brother’s propensity for finding small animals with which to torment his sister. Splash to your knees! / Puddles are puddles unless… // puddles freeze. From drinking a cup of water to watching the steam rise from their hot cocoa, the two notice the water around them, letting the turtle go again under a gorgeous cloud-filled sky before a page turn signals autumn, school, falling leaves and fog. The book begins in summer as the siblings catch a turtle in the pond near their home before rain drives them indoors.

A biracial brother and sister explore the out-of-doors (and a bit of mischief) through the four seasons in this poetic look at the many forms water takes on its trip through its cycle.

Water Is Water by Miranda Paul