Preschool to Year 3

When designing our teachers' resource, "At the Turn of a Tap", we discovered some wonderful books to assist teachers plan their work units and use in water studies with their young students. These books are found at the Toowoomba Library Catalogue (opens in a new window) and are recommended for this age group. They are useful when using our integrated water unit "Water for Life" for junior students.

Fiction books

• Bridges, M, 2005, I love the rain, Chronicle Books, San Francisco - explores the childlike wonder of the rain.
• Base, G. 2001, The Waterhole, Puffin Books, Penguin Group Melbourne -excellent for concept of water for life across globe; beautiful visuals, simple text.
• Winer, Y. & Oliver, T. 2002, Frogs Sing Songs, Hamilton Books, Gosford, NSW - about frogs and water habitats in poetic form.
• Spinelli,E. 2003, Bath Time, Marshall Cavendish,New York - water toys, floating.
• Arques, I Pelaez, A. 2001, Ken's Cloud, North and South Books - examines weather features through fiction
• Applegate,C. 2000 Rain Dance, Margaret Hamilton Books, Hunter Hill - examines the idea of the need for rain.

Non-fiction books

• Lauw, D.& Cheng Puay, L., 2003, Water (Science Alive) Times Editions, Singapore - examines water properties
• Royston, A. 2003, Water and Fibre - For a Healthier Body, Heinemann Library - human body water needs and water in foods
• Time Life, 1993, Do fish drink? First question and answer about water, Time Life - good illustrations and explanations to questions that may be asked by preschoolers.
• Miles, E. 2005, Watching the Weather:(series), Heinemann - 1. Fog and Mist; 2. Clouds (about cloud science, facts, types)
• Greenaway, 2001 Cycles in Nature: The Water Cycle, Steck-Vaugn Austin - focuses on water cycle, nature, life providing good text, diagrams and photos.
• Murphy, B.1991, Jump! Science Book - Experiment with water, Five mile Press, Vic. - water experiments that explain water properties; more suited to older group.
• Edom, H.1990, Science with water, Usborne, London - good teacher reference for play and water activities.