Vicki Cobb's Why do I dry off? STEM kids discover the science of evaporation, illustrated by John Kurtz

Vicki Cobb has written a wide variety of science-themed books, primarily expository and hands-on. We've got several of her collections and I wasn't sure there was a need for this newer series, which is slim paperbacks, but having read one I think it's the perfect thing for many of our parents who are doing virtual or homeschooling.

It starts with a note for adults, encouraging them to allow their kids to ask questions, experiment and fail, and some simple supplies to have on hand as they work through the book.

Simple, easy-to-read language walks kids through basic experiments, some as simple as dipping a hand into water and letting it dry in different ways, to explain the science of evaporation. Colorful cartoons, featuring an Asian girl, Black boy, and several red-haired white children, demonstrate the concepts, showing how molecules interact. At the end of the book, there are more questions and experiments, and a glossary of STEM words.

It's not perfect; I felt the flow of the explanation and experiment jumped around a little, going from molecules to how refrigerators work, but it does follow more of a process of thought than a lesson plan. The text is simple enough for elementary kids to read with a little help and a self-motivated child could probably handle this on their own, although an adult to lead discussion would be useful.

Verdict: A good choice for parents and teachers looking for more resources for kids studying science at home, especially with minimal resources.

ISBN: 9781631583469; Published June 2020 by Racehorse; Borrowed from another library in my consortium