Water Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas

Water Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija. Millbrook, 2014, 32 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Book
Maturity Level: All

Water Can Be is a fun science picture book for little ones that uses a simple poetic structure to describe the many practical and creative ways that water may be used in its various forms. For example:

Water can be a
Thirst quencher
Kid drencher
Cloud fluffer
Fire snuffer

Other interesting examples include “bruise shrinker” (ice) and “valley cloaker” (fog). While the text alone may not seem clear to a young child, the great illustrations clarify their meaning. Further explanations and resources can be found at the end. See also A Leaf Can Be by the same duo. I do hope there will be more to come.

Literary Quality: 4.5 (out of 5)
Worldview: 4 (out of 5)

Cautions: none
Audience: parents, educators, grandparents, children (0-4), children (4-8), pre-readers, boys, girls
Recommended use: group read-aloud, independent reading choice, read-aloud, science enrichment, information