Through its witty and charming illustrations, The Water Cycle Read a Mat helps a child understand how water is recycled through the environment. The water droplets take on appealing personalities when they parachute from the clouds or ski down a wintry slope (both to illustrate precipitation), or slide into the water (as runoff). But don't be fooled by the child-friendly imagery. This mat is rigorously scientific (it's even featured in the U.S. Geological Survey website). And cute. It is 11-1/2" x 17-1/2" and is printed by hand in the USA.