I Get Wet

by Vicki Cobb

Know the fastest way to cool off on a hot summer day? You get wet!Know what happens when you stay out in the rain? You get wet!But do you know how and why you get wet? You will!Renowned science author Vicki Cobb has concocted just the right formula for making scientific principles easy for even the youngest kids to understand. Follow this book with a young child who loves to play, just add water, and -- presto! -- you have a science discovery that will forever change the way your child looks at the world.Discover science, and the world will never look the same.Fun hands-on activities and irresistible illustrations by Julia Gorton make this book a perfect excuse to learn about science...just for the fun of it!

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens

Unknown Binding

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Vicki Cobb, the “Master Chef of Hands-on Science,” a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia’s Teachers College, is a former science teacher with a M.A. in secondary school science. The publication of her classic book, Science Experiments You Can Eat, (an updated, revised edition was released in 2016 by HarperCollins) established her as an innovator in hands-on science. Take a look on her website www.vickicobb.com to get a sense of her playful and accessible approach to science in her 90+ books for grades K-8 that cover physics, chemistry and biology, biographies, geography, and the human body.

She is also pioneering a video project based on her book We Dare You! Check out the hilarious videos at www.wedareyouvideos.com

She has performed “Science Surprises,” her interactive and engrossing show for kids, in 49 of the fifty states (missing only North Dakota) as well as internationally. A veteran motivator/professional development presenter of day-long in-services/keynote speaker, Vicki uses her expertise, humor, wit and background as an educator to inspire teachers to make science teaching the highpoint of their day. Currently she is president and founder of iNK Think Tank, Inc., a nonprofit company that focuses on the contribution that nonfiction literature and its authors can make to education. She contributes to: The Nonfiction Minute, www.nonfictionminute.org/ (which has had 5+ million page views over the past five years) and has been a Contributor to the Huffington Post and has recently launched www.vickicobbsblog.com in connection with the Nonfiction Minute, where she writes commentary on education and reviews nonfiction books as inspiring reading for children hungry to learn about the real world. .

Vicki Cobb received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012.

Reviews

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduces the properties of water to little kids.

I taught Biology for many years and one of the first sections I taught every year was on the properties of water. This book covers almost all of those things I taught high schoolers, it just doesn't use the fancy words (hydrophilic, water tension, cohesion, etc.) or go to the molecular level to explain why it happens. There are several activities that kids can easily do in a house or classroom to see the principles in action. Highly recommended to lower elementary or preschool science classes or curious kids.

[Nicole Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches kids about water and gives ideas for experiments using water so that kids can see in real life the things the book explains. My kids liked it. I would've liked it to have been longer.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not ST. Great beginning science intro.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigued by the title, I had to read it. The book is highlighting experiments with water for kids. I plan to use it.

[Abigail Hostetler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book about water and the shapes that water can take.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes a simple concept and turns it into science for kids. Simple. But doable and believable experiments that explain the world. With good enough art.

[Ashley Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about the science of water. I like how it’s interactive and has built in, easy experiments to complete with it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first title in Vicki Cobb’s amazing “Science Play” series, I Get Wet is a brilliant first informational book for preschoolers and kindergartners. Julie Gorton’s bright and colorful, kid-friendly illustrations—large, bold, and easy to see against the stark white backgrounds—work in concert with Cobb’s simple, but informative text to make scientific principles about water easy for even the youngest readers to understand and apply. Creative image placement and changes in perspective—here we see a close up of half of a face, there an overhead view of a bathtub, here again, an extreme close-up of a wrinkly, prune-like finger left in the bathtub too long—add visual interest and keep the reader’s attention throughout simple explanations of complex concepts. Cobb and Gorton also play with the size, shape and placement of the text to help illustrate some of the principles being explained. For example, to illustrate the idea that water takes the shape of whatever container it occupies, the text takes on the “color” and shape of water in a glass. To illustrate the concept of water “sticking to itself” to form droplets, the text again takes on a watery appearance in the form of a drop dripping from a faucet. Families will enjoy the interactive nature of this book as it includes hands-on, mini-experiments within the text for readers to try “in the moment.” In this way, the principles being taught are illustrated outside of the book as well as within! A note to the reader at the beginning of the book suggests that it was designed with the idea that readers would conduct the simple, hands-on experiments while simultaneously sharing the book together, doing the activities “without rushing, as they come up during your reading,” and having the child turn the page only after making the discovery so as to use the book to “reinforce what the child has found out through experience.” This type of active learning through experience is perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners who often learn best kinesthetically. Also listed within the initial note to the reader are the materials needed for conducting all of the experiments in the book, with the suggestion that the book will work best if the reader has all of the items from the list close-to-hand, including easy access to a sink with running water. This would not be a book to share within the typical storytime setting. It would be much more appropriate for sharing within the context of a “hands-on-science” family program. When sharing this book with children, we would certainly follow the suggestions at the beginning to conduct the experiments in concert with the book share. Because there are so many activities included in the text, extension activities wouldn’t really be necessary or very productive, however, one might consider extending the idea of water experimentation and play with a game of “Sink or Float?” where children must guess whether an assortment of objects would float on top of the water, or sink to the bottom and then test their hypotheses by placing the objects in the water. Also, if the weather is warm, it could be fun to conduct these water experiments outside and then we could provide additional water play experiments and activities.

[Emily Petering · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little boring at first but it got more and more interesting. I think kids who love to know how things work would absolutely love this book. The author almost leads the reader through experiments and I think kids would love that. The author also used an out-of-the-box way to put her words on the page. Instead of straight lines, she morphed them into shapes, and had words going everywhere on the page. The illustrations were simple. In my opinion they could've been more effective if they were done differently.

I'm not sure how often I would use this in a classroom, but it would be perfect for the kids who love science. It would also be fun to do a read aloud and have all the students do the experiments the author gives.

[Caitlin Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read I Get Wet by Vicki Cobb. This book explains the properties of water in a very simple way that will be easy for children to understand. I loved that the book was filled with instructions for experiments the child could do to reinforce what was being explained. I also really liked how the words in the book often were drawn in different patterns to reinforce what was being learned. On one page, the words twist and curve down the page as it describes water flowing down holes and cracks. I really enjoyed this book. It would be a great book to read in a science lesson where you could complete the experiments as you read it.

[Mikayla Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super cute. It takes you through different ways you get wet and different reasons you would want to get wet. Then it goes on to explain how and why you get wet. It has different experiments that you can do right then.

The illustrations in this book were adorable. I liked how the words were not just straight across the page. They took different forms just like water does.

This book would be good when you are talking about water. While you are reading the book you can stop and do the experiments in the book to show how water works.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm recommending this book as representative for the whole series. The books are fantastic. The science is clearly explained, the experiments are child friendly with materials you (mostly) have on hand, and the books are a lot of fun. I would prefer that the text were standardized rather than arty so my preschooler could recognize sight words more easily, but the words play into the story and the illustrations are fun and informative.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the ways we use water every day. Washing, pouring, painting, and hosing off. Creative use of text in illustrations and inviting questions to involve the reader. It also ends with some experiment ideas that will extend your learning further. I also love that a list of materials to have handy are included on the front page, Note to the Reader section. This is a fun non-fiction book for little ones about the water in their world.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book written for preschoolers/kindergarteners about the properties of water. The text is simple but informative and the illustrations do a good job supporting the ideas being presented. The book also presents the ideas in a way that would allow children to stop and do simple "experiments" to see the principles being taught.

[Yiovana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an introduction to water for children that are curious about it. It is more about experimenting with water, what is water? the shapes of water, etc. This can initiate activities to explore water and make it more into a discovery as well as a science lesson. I think children will engage to the book and be more curious to experiment. I recommend this book for ages 4-6.

[Kaylee Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Get Wet is an interactive children's book. A child gets to experiment as they read this book by putting water into different containers and feeling water. This book explains in great detail why water sticks to objects and why water is important. This book was cute! I would use this book in a future classroom to discuss water and how things get wet.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cool way for young children to learn about how water works. This is a very hands-on, inquiry-based series that gets kids to actually do experiments to find out why things are the way they are. Very cool!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to learn about the properties of water for science. It has some simple hands on experiments to try. I plan to use this in my field placemet when we talk about water. Great illustrations that encourage you to GET WET!

[Emily Hamstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great book to introduce to younger children on how water works. It explains it simply and the illustrations go well with the text. The book also has hands-on experiements so it would be great to use this in a preschool classroom.

[Brigid Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid science book about the science of water, including some fun and easy hands-on experiments kids and adults can do together. The text is simple and easy to understand, with some interesting artistic typography in places. The illustrations are fun, too.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book in my neighborhood preschool today and the kids were enthralled with the water experiments. Great basic information on the science of water.

[Colby Sharp · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is neat. Great book for a parent to read with their child. Lots of little water experiments throughout, that would be perfect to do with your son or daughter.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as informative as "A Drop of Water" by Walter Wick, but simple and gives much of the same information. This book would be a great quick introduction before some water experiments.

[D Nine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Water experiments! Great fun with the readers.

[Saidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like this book because they show diffrent activities when water is being used in anyway. like when it touches a broush , or when its poured in a container or simply just showering in it.

[Kelsey Yates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good kids science book with experiment suggestions. 5 and up.

[Madison Stockbridge]

This book is about water and how water works. I think this book would be good for k-3rd for science. I think you could use this book with a science experiment with water.

[Christine Turner]

Know the fastest way to cool off on a hot summer day?
You get wet!
Know what happens when you stay out in the rain?
You get wet!

But do you know how and why you get wet?
You will!
Renowned science author Vicki Cobb has concocted just the right formula for making scientific principles easy for even the youngest kids to understand. Follow this book with a young child who loves to play, just add water, and -- presto! -- you have a science discovery that will forever change the way your child looks at the world.

Discover science, and the world will never look the same.

Fun hands-on activities and irresistible illustrations by Julia Gorton make this book a perfect excuse to learn about science...just for the fun of it!