Small, Sparkling Raindrop is the fifth book in the Start Small, Think Big series that sets young readers on a journey of discovery, beginning from the small and familiar to new areas of knowledge where you really have to think big! From the moment a child opens the textured cover with the peep-through hole, they will be transported to the mighty Mekong River and the South China Sea. This is the story of the water cycle and the journey of a small, sparkling raindrop, how it forms, where it falls, how it contributes to the ecosystems of our mountains, rivers and seas. There are facts interspersed within an easy-to-read story on primary science topics, such as the impact of water on the land and different ecosystems, how vital it is for all living things, the environmental threats of over-fishing and pollution. The story narrative progresses in a way that builds understanding and the gorgeous illustrations bring the story, and the science, to life. Thinking big, the book shows why clean, healthy rivers are vital for both people and wildlife, including the endangered Irawaddy dolphin severely threatened by over-fishing and pollution. A big fold-out world map shows the major rivers of the world, an illustrated water cycle, and an I-Spy game to take children back into the book to find and name the animals within the detailed pictures. Books in the series: 9781916780071 Fluffy, Flying Seed 9781739774882 Little, Brown Nut 9781739774875 Small, Speckled Egg 9781916780033 Tiny, Floating Coral 9781916780101 Small, Sparkling Raindrop AGES: 4 to 8 AUTHOR: Mary Auld is an award-winning writer of children's information books, most notably How To Build an Orchestra with the London Symphony Orchestra. Mary Auld is a pen name for Rachel Cooke, former Editorial Director at Hachette and an honorary fellow of the English Association in recognition of her work in children's non-fiction. SELLING POINTS: . primary science: life processes and how all living things need water; states of matter; physical properties; erosion; rivers; watery habitats; and the impact of healthy and unhealthy rivers . Clear narrative text with two levels - main text written in the first- person for emerging readers, and additional information for confident readers or shared reading . Textured cover with a cut-through, a big fold-out with world map and an I-Spy game . Beautiful illustrations: a blend of non-fiction realism and picturebook beauty