A colorful page layout and headings with vibrant photographs and concise explanations make learning about concepts like matter, mass, texture, friction, and properties fun. With its bright, child-oriented photographs, this book is a good source for reinforcing concepts previously taught or introducing new ones. Part of the “What’s the Matter?” series, the book includes photos that help convey the idea of properties and get children to look closely at objects in order to compare and contrast them. After concepts are presented in each spread, the children are challenged to answer questions and/or find examples inside and outside of the concepts presented. Included are a table of contents and an index as well as objectives and ideas for teaching, discussing, and extending the children’s knowledge of the content. Younger children also may enjoy reading Tana Hoban’s Is It Rough? Is It Smooth? Is It Shiny? for more comparisons. Reviewer: Emily Hearn