Solid, Liquid, Gassy!

by Ashley Spires

Fairy scientist Esther is experimenting with the water cycle in this enchanting STEM-and-magic-filled follow-up to Fairy Science, a picture book from the award-winning author-illustrator of The Most Magnificent Thing!

When a pond dries up, fairy scientist Esther doesn't freeze under the pressure. She and her friends go full steam ahead for to make a scientific discovery!

Bestselling author Ashley Spires (The Most Magnificent Thing) creates a charming primer to the water cycle. Includes an at-home water experiment for the budding scientist in your house!

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Stem, Fairies, Childrens, Nature, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 8, 2020

About the author

Ashley has written and illustrated many books, most notably the bestselling The Most Magnificent Thing, which is now a short animated film. She creates books that remind kids that making mistakes is integral to learning. She lives in British Columbia with her dog and a growing army of felines.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

We did not realize this was part of a series, but it also works as a standalone book. There are some science experiments in here that we will conduct, as they are fairly easy and don't require a lot of materials that you wouldn't have around the house. Esther and her friends are trying to win an award with science but her classmates will have none of it. When the pond disappears it's up to Esther and her fairy friends to prove what happened...without using magic! Oliver really liked this one and he was excited to learn about condensation. I'll look for the rest of the books when we are at the library next time!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels kinda like a tongue-in-cheek thing for people who are rejecting science in 2021. But it's a nice story that will explain the scientific process as well as the water cycle. I felt like the flow was off a bit for me - the transition from the text to the speech bubbles just didn't work for me with this one.

[Rochelle Melander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This educational adventure sets the the scientific method inside a fairy school--and the results are hilarious!

[Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books that mix magic and science! I also really enjoyed the author's previous book, The Most Magnificent Thing, which addresses frustration and how being angry only makes a problem worse. Spires makes learning - whether it's about science or dealing with emotions - fun and informative. The kids really loved the illustrations in this book, and they also liked making their own guesses about the character's experiments. They had some prior knowledge going into this one (they love Story Bots and Bill Nye the Science Guy), but were still somewhat surprised by the outcome. I was also really glad that everything didn't work out perfectly for Esther and her friends, because life rarely happens exactly the way we want it to. It was realistic despite being fictional.

In a perfect world, Esther would have been able to convince the other fairies that their problem was solved by science. Unfortunately, her fellow fairies want to believe that magic is the solution to everything, even when shown otherwise. It was a good lesson in letting things go and moving on despite not noticing an immediate change in the people around you. People's perceptions and ways of thinking aren't going to change overnight, but it's no reason to give up or stop trying to make a difference. "...she'll have to learn that sometimes discovery is its own reward." (★★★★☆)

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[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of matching magic and fairies with a girl who is more interested in science is a unique one first explored in this author's earlier Fairy Science. In this picture book Esther returns to use the scientific method to solve the mystery surrounding a pond that has disappeared and only contains mud. The opening pages actually provide the steps in the scientific method and show the youngsters working on projects for the upcoming science fair. Last year's fair didn't go well for Esther and her friends Fig and Clover. After all, they live in a magical world where even the teachers look for magical solutions to problems. After a bit of investigation and quite a lot of waiting--as Fig points out, science seems to require a lot of that--Esther solves the mystery and points to the water cycle as the "culprit" since the water in the pond has evaporated and is now in the form of clouds in the sky. While the budding scientists might not win a prize for their work, this picture book provides a different way to introduce the water cycle to youngsters. The digital artwork and conversation balloons help the science concepts go down smoothly, and readers will look forward to Esther and her friends as they explore the fascinating world of science in future outings.

[Storytime With Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the first book in the Fairy Science collection, Ashley Spires helps children see how magical science can be.

In Solid, Liquid, Gassy, Esther, Fig and Clover make some very important water discoveries. They use the scientific method to explore the world and make fascinating discoveries. When the water goes missing from the local pond, the scientists are on it: asking a question, doing research, making hypothesis’s, conducting experiments and drawing conclusions. They discover the water cycle is “sort of” magical and use it to try and convince their fairy classmates to trust the truth of science.

I love using picture books to explore different topics, especially science. Fairy Science helps children make connections to the every day in a really fun and unusual way.

As always, Ashley Spire’s illustrations are full of fairy dust. They are bright and eye catching, using regular text and speech bubble text to convey all of the scientific happenings in Pixieville. A fantastic addition to your budding scientists or budding fairies.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a storyteller, I love to use science and math themes in my early literacy programs so I'm always on the lookout for picture books that I can use and that parents can take home to introduce and reinforce new concepts and principles in these fields. This is a cute story that does a great job introducing the scientific method and the scientific principles of water and evaporation through characters (fairies) and story lines children will love and identify with.

[Ashlyn Ewert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book! This book would be great to use when teaching children about the water cycle or the scientific method. It demonstrates how water can go from a liquid to a solid or gas. The book also goes over the different steps that are in the scientific method. I think that children will think that this book is fun. At the end of the book there is an experiment that children can do at home which would be fun for children to see how the water cycle works in person.

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Esther, the science loving fairy, is back! This time, an entire pond goes missing in Pixieville. The other fairies are sure it is magic, but Esther and her team use the scientific method to determine where the pond might have gone.

Another cute STEAM themed story for kids, this time teaching all about the water cycle. Lots of cute fairy magic and costumes throughout as well.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant picture book, which covers the water cycle while also being a story about Esther, the science-loving fairy, who is having trouble convincing most other fairies that science is a thing. I also really like the experiment the book shares at the end of the book so that kids can see condensation in action for themselves!

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun, and heavy with the science, Fairy Science picture book. These books are always a bit wordy, but they are great for a parent to read to a child. I also love that Spires writes so many girl science books. It's awesome!

[Presley Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book mixes fairies with scientific thinking, showing that fantasy can also support STEM learning. It encourages curiosity and experimentation while keeping imaginative play at the center. It’s ideal for integrating literacy with science and introducing basic chemistry concepts in a fun way.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. Kids that like fairies and/or science will enjoy this book. It’s a little silly but also teaches the concept of the water cycle well. The book of a tad bit wordy.

[Ms. Nigeria Nigeria Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute book.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installation didn't tickle me quite like the orig, but still a delightful read about how fairies would use the scientific method!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Mélanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best picture books I have ever read! It's funny and whimsical but also educational. Plus, the art style is also gorgeous.

[Cathy Ogren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever story about fairies, the scientific method, and the water cycle.

[frogfairie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pages are a bit busy, but I'm always looking for water cycle books, and this has the added appeal of fairies.

[Erin Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Field Guide to Summer Reading 2023

[Janie Lepage · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

À acheter! Parfait pour travailler la démarche scientifique et le cycle de l’eau avec mes élèves.

[Abby Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Solid, Liquid, Gassy! because it blends a fun fairy tale with real science. The main character, Esther, is a fairy who doesn’t believe in magic — she believes in investigating!

[Carly Towles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny modern fantasy’s emotional truth that can also help children learn! The illustrations are so colorful and fun