
A parent might reach for this book when their child's bathtime play turns into a science experiment, filled with questions about why some toys float and others sink. "Those That Float Those that Don't" uses stunning, full-page photographs to explore this very question with a variety of animals, from penguins to wild boars. It masterfully taps into a young child's innate curiosity and sense of wonder about the natural world. For ages 3 to 7, this book provides a simple, visually engaging introduction to a core science concept, encouraging observation and prediction in a fun, accessible way without needing complex explanations.
None. The book is a straightforward and gentle photographic exploration of animals and water.
The ideal reader is a curious 3 to 6-year-old who is in their "why?" phase. This child loves animals, water play, and simple guessing games. It's perfect for a budding naturalist or a child who enjoys hands-on learning, as the book's concept translates directly into a sink-or-float activity.
No preparation is needed. The book can be read cold. However, a parent could prepare for follow-up questions about buoyancy by having a bowl of water and some household objects ready for a post-reading experiment. The book itself is self-contained and easy to understand. A parent has just heard their child ask, "Why does the boat float but the rock sinks?" during bathtime or while at a pond. The child is beginning to categorize their world and observe physical properties, and the parent is looking for a simple, visual way to encourage that scientific thinking.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewA 3-year-old will experience this as a delightful animal identification and guessing game, pointing at the pictures and enjoying the simple reveal. A 6 or 7-year-old will begin to think more critically, wondering *why* the wild boar floats (fat, body structure) or how a loon can swim underwater. The older child connects the visual information to scientific principles of adaptation and physics.
While many nonfiction animal books for this age focus on habitat, diet, or sounds, this book's unique hook is its focus on a single physical property: buoyancy. Its power lies in this simplicity. The exclusive use of high-quality, engaging photography instead of illustrations gives it a grounded, realistic feel that makes the scientific concept more tangible and immediate for young children.
This nonfiction picture book poses a simple question across its pages: does a given animal float or not? Each two-page spread introduces an animal, like an emperor penguin, a wild boar, or a flamingo, with a beautiful, full-color photograph. The reader is implicitly invited to guess the answer. Turning the page reveals the animal in the water, providing the photographic answer. The text is minimal, serving mostly to identify the animal, which keeps the focus on the visual discovery.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.