Keeping Clean

Grade 1-2-- These two colorful books are perfect for encouraging curiosity about everyday things. Getting Dressed shows the origins and workings of buttons, elastic, zippers, and sticky tape. It is well done, but not as interesting as Keeping Clean (a subject in which few children would expect to be interested), which is a fascinating look at soap and water, toothpaste and toothbrushes, combs and brushes, etc. The explanation of how plumbing works, and a look at how half of the world functions without running water at all, are especially intriguing. The conversational writing style is concise and straightforward, leavened with touches of light humor (when soap is accidentally discovered by the Romans, one woman says to another, "My Anthony's toga is whiter and brighter"). The watercolor-and-ink illustrations add interest, clarification, and/or humor to every page. While not as outstanding as Joanna Cole's "Magic School Bus" books (Scholastic), these entertaining and educational books will prompt children to take an interest in things that they would otherwise take for granted. --Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
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