A World in a Drop of Water: Exploring with a Microscope

by Alvin Silverstein, Virginia B. Silverstein

Within every drop of pond water lurks an invisible world, alive with an amazing variety of microscopic animals. And with the help of this book and a microscope, you can bring these tiny creatures into focus and discover the ways in which they live.
You'll trace the path of a blob-like amoeba as it stretches out its pseudopods to hunt and gobble up its prey, and you'll see the life-or-death water ballet of a slipper-shaped paramecium as it swims away from its mortal enemy, the pincushion-shaped suctorian. You'll also meet the euglena, classified as both plant and animal; the rotifer, a creature with two wheels of whirling hairlike projections that help it move by squeezing in and out like an accordion; and the incredible hydra, a fearsome bully that constantly threatens other small animals with its crown of grasping tentacles.
With this book, your key to the world of single-celled organisms, you'll learn fascinating lessons about how these strange animals eat, reproduce, and defend themselves. Enter their microscopic domain and see for yourself!

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Nature, Biology

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Alvin Silverstein grew up in Brooklyn, the youngest son of an immigrant family who emphasized hard work and education. After graduating from Brooklyn College, he went to graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, where he got a Master's degree in chemistry and met his wife, author Virginia B. Silverstein. He got his Ph.D. at NYU while teaching at the College of Staten Island. He ultimately became a Professor of Biology there and also Director of the Physician Assistant program, while coauthoring books with his wife and, later, two of their children as well.

Reviews

[Alexander]

The book itself is basically an introduction to microbiology, it gives a very layman's approach to it. Which gives the reader the impression it was written for a younger audience to introduce them to the subject matter. However, sometimes the best learning approach is one you'd take if you where a child though. As such I'd recommend it to people of all ages interested in microbiology.

[Doug]

Great little book for young children or a curious adult about what you can find in a drop of pond water! I even went to the pond like it suggested in the book and pulled out "my first lab" microscope and saw many of the animals talked about in the book! Lots of fun! The content of the material was presented in a most interesting fashion! Highly recommended!

[T]

This is a great first book for those interested in what’s in water, all the living things we can’t see with our own eyes. Basic yet comprehensive. Well done.

[Jess]

Great intro to pond microorganisms for kids

[Havebooks Willread]

This was a perfect introduction to using a microscope and learning about the amazing "invisible" world God made.

[V.P.]

Microbiology living book for elementary aged students (3rd-5th). Short, but engaging. Would pair great with All in a Drop by Lori Alexander and Germ Hunter by Elaine Alphin.

[Carrie Amy]

excellent little overview of microorganisms found in bodies of water- perfect for beginners

[Ashley Knight]

Glad we read this in the winter because my kids are a bit squeamish now about all the tiny creatures in the waters. 😂

[Bookworm]

Neat beginner exploration of pond water with a microscope! I love the pictures!

One outdated word: "queer" meaning strange.

[Emily]

Great, readable book about the microscopic world found inside a drop of pond water.

[Janice]

This one deserves to be updated. Good information, although somewhat dated. It shows kids what they can find in a drop of water. It talks about the life found there.