"Hydrie, the Water Molecule"presents a different kind of character for a children's book, moving through long stretches of time and around the world many times in his two billion years on earth. Hydrie is not a "heroic" character - he is not self-actuated - but lots of things happen to him and he is able to observe natural events and talk to other molecules as he participates in a variety of activities where water is present in the world. The normally...