What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases
by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
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Description
In simple text, presents the three states of matter, solid, liquid, and gas, and describes their attributes.Tags
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Member Reviews
The book What is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases is an informational text about states of matter. It uses kid-friendly language to define the three different states of matter, solid, liquid, and gas, and uses illustrations along with explanations to define them. Throughout the book, the author offers suggestions for readers to experience what she is describing, for example, she says to spin around with your arms out and feel the air against your arms, or to hold an ice cube and watch and feel as it goes through the process of changing from a solid to a liquid.
I really like this book because it starts with basic explanations and illustrations of the states of matter but uses many examples, illustrations, and show more suggestions for activities.
If I were to use this book in my class, I would read the beginning of it and create an anchor chart defining the states of matter. Then I would move slowly through the rest of the book actually letting my students experience the real-life examples in the book in an inquiry setting. show less
I really like this book because it starts with basic explanations and illustrations of the states of matter but uses many examples, illustrations, and show more suggestions for activities.
If I were to use this book in my class, I would read the beginning of it and create an anchor chart defining the states of matter. Then I would move slowly through the rest of the book actually letting my students experience the real-life examples in the book in an inquiry setting. show less
The book shares the complex scientific concepts by breaking down the fundamentals of solids, liquids, and gases in a way that's engaging and easy to understand. It helps to grab the attention of young listeners/readers. The illustration is outdated but the information is still good to share. What I like about this book is its ability to spark curiosity and make science approachable for children.
This is a great introductory book which explains various states of matter very well with illustrations that show a great deal of diversity. It starts out with with a bit of cadence to get the kids hooked and is humorous at the start ("Have you ever seen anyone walk through a wall? Did you ever drink a glass of blocks? Have you ever played with a lemonade doll, or put on milk for socks? ). It goes on to explain that matter comes in three states: solid, liquid, and gas. It proceeds to go through an explain each one with some detail, even offering various experiments that kids could try with stuff around the house (ex. smelling perfume across the room for gas, watching water droplets fall on the outside of a glass as the ice melts, etc.). show more At the end, it is funny again and suggests what life would look like if matter was different. show less
This is a fun interactive book on states of matter. The author uses words and objects children are familiar with when explaining the states of matter. The illustrator took the words and gave the reader realistic examples so the reader could understand the concepts. The author and illustrator worked well to help the reader understand solids, liquids, and gases. The reader is able to read about the states of matter and can also replicate the activities discussed in the book. The author was very clear when a child should have an adult help them with the activity and if they should not do something because it may harm them. This book is a great read for an elementary school classroom or for a parent to read with a child. The adult should show more have some supplies on hand to complete the activities discussed to help the young reader get hands on experience.
In this book, I was able to see diversity since the children and adults in the book clearly had different ethnicity and/or race. The illustrator also included children and adults wearing glasses.
The author included a section at the end with additional activities the reader can do to learn more about states of matter. The inside back cover includes short biographies on the author and illustrator but it does not include a bibliography. show less
In this book, I was able to see diversity since the children and adults in the book clearly had different ethnicity and/or race. The illustrator also included children and adults wearing glasses.
The author included a section at the end with additional activities the reader can do to learn more about states of matter. The inside back cover includes short biographies on the author and illustrator but it does not include a bibliography. show less
I read this book last semester to a group of first graders, and they loved it. I used it as a closing for a thematic unit, rather than an opening. Reading it now, I definitely think it can be used as an opening. It not only goes through explaining solids, liquids, and gases, but it also gives valid pictures to show students the differences. I thought this book did a really good job of tying my lesson together last semester, and I definitely plan to use it in future lessons.
I really like this book as an introduction to physical science with elementary students. It simply explains the phases of matter, but includes everything that young children need to know. This would be a great supplement to a science unit plan.
Pretty good book with plenty of information on the states of matter, it is actually kind of humorous and entertaining as well
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Author Information

160+ Works 23,871 Members
Kathleen Zoehfeld is a writer and editor of nonfiction children's books. She grew up in the Catskill Mountains, where she developed a passion for observing, reading and writing about nature. Zoehfeld is a former children's book editor and an award-winning author of many books for young people on natural history and scientific topics. (Bowker show more Author Biography) show less
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Awards and Honors
Awards
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science (Level 2)
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases
- Alternate titles
- What Is the World Made Of? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science) (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)
- Original publication date
- 1998
- First words
- Have you ever seen anyone walk through a wall?
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)So label your fourth section MIXTURES and keep looking!
- Original language
- English
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 1,471
- Popularity
- 15,771
- Reviews
- 16
- Rating
- (4.09)
- Languages
- English, Japanese
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 16
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 3


















































