The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks (The Magic School Bus #1) by Joanna Cole

The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks (The Magic School Bus #1) Reviews

• 
  Abigail

  The first of Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen's wildly popular Magic School Bus series, which follows Miss Frizzle's class as they take fantastic field trips in the course of investigating various scientific topics, The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks sees teacher and students ascending into the clouds, shrinking down to the size of rain-drops, and experiencing the water-cycle up close and personal. From falling as rain and racing along in a stream, to traveling through a water treatments plant and then into their city's water supply, Miss Frizzle's students learn first hand how water moves through various stages and cycles.
  
  Although I have long been familiar with this picture-book series, which launched in 1985, I had never actually picked one of them up. I'm glad that I finally have, as I now understand what all the fuss is about! Informative and educational, while also entertaining and imaginative, the narrative here combines scientific fact with fantastic adventure, while the cartoon-like illustrations add to the fun. The children's dubious initial response to their teacher, and their various conversational asides, are quite amusing, while the topic at hand - how cities and towns get their water - is one that younger readers may not have considered. Highly recommended to all young scientists, as well as to those who think that science is dull - this book might change their minds!
• 
  isabella

  precipitation
• 
  Emily McDonald

  This is the first Magic School Bus of the series and this was of the most fun books to read in elementary school. It revolves around Ms. Frizzle who is wacky red-headed teacher that takes her students on fun field trips. Little do these students know at first is that this bus can fly and take them anywhere! On this first field trip, they go to the waterworks where they learn about water purification. They learn about how the water is formed, purified and where it goes to reach its final destination. The coolest thing about this series is that the students in the book are learning about something, and the audience gets to learn with then. I think this book would be perfect for ages 1st through 3rd grade because it’s a pretty easy read but you get to learn a lot as you go. I love this collection!
• 
  Darth J

  I really liked these books as a kid, and how could you not? I mean, there is something incongruous about learning science when the school bus is actually magic. Disagree with me? It's in the actual title, so it's not an opinion as much as it is a fact according to Joanna Cole. Though one could argue that quantum physics is involved and those people might be right. Eh, I'm not that invested so go talk to Sheldon Cooper about it if you really have a problem.
  
  
• 
  Andy Zach

  I selected my shelves for this book: children's, science, and fantasy. Talk about a genre mix! Rarely is practical science mixed with fantasy. But Joanna Cole and her illustrator Bruce Degen expertly cover the water cycle, water supply, and water purification in a fun book for grades 5 and up.
  
  This is the first one published that I own. I'll research to see if there are older ones. In this book Ms. Frizzle, the magical teacher, who is a bit of a Mary Poppins type character, first appears.
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  Amanda Lynch

  So this is the first Magic School Bus book, and it's not as tongue and cheek as some of the other ones, but it's still really fun and cool. Starting to think my oldest child wishes the Friz was his mom.
• 
  Amara

  Cute book, great illustrations. Teaches children about water, that learning can be fun, and even the most boring of topics (water) can be fascinating.
  
  Let's just ignore that fluoride sentence.
  
  Note: I want an octopus dress.
• 
  Karina

  It was fun and cute and informative. I really liked all the illustrations. There was a section at the end explaining what in the book was a joke, not actually factual “for serious students”: it was neat.
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  Lisa Vegan

  Love this series of Magic School Bus books. Perfect introduction to the sciences for kids. Funny and engaging and informative. This is one of the more enjoyable ones.
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  Sam

  My kids have made me read all of the original MSB books, and most of the newer ones, over the past few months. While I find the storylines to be a bit silly at times, I am amazed at how these scientific concepts seem to stick with my children after reading them, especially my 5 year old. And, having a multiracial classroom of students with a cool and creative science teacher in Ms. Frizzle centers inclusivity and a love of learning. Nice series.
• 
  Sean Harding

  I discovered Bruce Degen at the start of the year, and discovered that he was the illustrator for the Magic School Bus books.
  I have read a few of the TV tie in ones, but this is book one of the original series.
  It is good to see there is a bit of tension between teacher and student, after all she is a bit bonkers.
  Anyway educational and entertaining is a good mix, I'll see if I can find the others to keep going with this series.
• 
  Ivan

  I wish every child had a teacher like Ms. Frizzle - she is unique. She inspires her students - and a love (or at least an appreciation of) science - which is much needed in this day and age. The book is informative and colorful. It's really no wonder the series as remained popular for so many years.
• 
  SaraKat

  A wonderful way to view the water cycle from evaporation through the collection in a reservoir and the purification process and finishing up with use in a home. As usual, Ms. Frizzle makes learning fun. I would buy this for my classroom if we had a reservoir system. We have to teach about the aquifer here.
• 
  n

  This was much more of a nostalgic read, since I remember this series (book and cartoon) from when I was in primary school. It's a good introduction to the water cycle and public works for primary students, making use of a story to explain facts about the basics of how water functions and how we use it in public infrastructure.
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  Margaret Chind

  The illustrations are different than I remember from my childhood but it is amazing to go back and read this to my kids after I remember reading them in my youth. Great introduction to the water system and water cycle.
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  Anna

  I liked it because it was interesting and it brought me back to my childhood when our science teacher in elementary school would show us The Magic School Bus on VHS in class. The illustrations are very '80s.
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  Melissa Namba

  Honestly less interesting than most Magic School bus books and the little asides are less informative. The waterworks are not that interesting and you kind of get why the kids are complaining about Miss Frizzle in this book.
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  Alex

  I enjoyed this book because I like Magic School Bus books. I also enjoyed this book because I like water. I also enjoyed this book because this book had a lot of water in it.