Water All Around

Withdrawn school library book, found on the public library sales reject-overflow cart—

1959 (first ed.)

Science explained simply and entertainingly, with charming illustrations by Bernice Myers.

Sometimes the water vapor itself, high up in the air, freezes instead of condensing into water droplets.
The frozen water vapor falls.
We have snow

...water sometimes flows up!

This was part of a series by the same authors and illustrator (Electricity/Friction/Gravity/Light/Sounds... All Around). Fishink has samples of other books in the series. Like "Water," the rest of the series used B&W and two-tone illustrations. The link also has some wonderful, more colorful illustrations from other books, and those apparently are more typical of Myers' work. Elsewhere, Eric Sturdevant has illustrations from some French titles.

Fishink proprietor Craig adds—

I did get in touch with Bernice who told me that she was flattered to be featured on my blog. How great is that !! She also mentioned that the work you see above [All Around series], helped her to pass a test for a Ford Foundation Scholarship, where she learnt enough to go for a specially created college degree. Some 60 books later and she's still working !

That was in 2012; it seems she's still at work, though she doesn't have a web presence herself. Just fans posting stuff; according to this, she turned 90 last April. I do find that I recognize her son from his jazz writing.

She often collaborated with her husband, Lou Myers. He died at 90 in 2005, continuing to work until nearly the end. The Times' obit is fascinating in its details of Lou's life and career, apart from childrens' books.

The couple lived for years in Paris, and their collaboration is an intriguing one. A jacket image from Studevant's blog—

Childrens' books, 1959, and roles that were (to say the least) gendered... Although, if Mother was stuck in the kitchen while Father had the fun...

... Ms. Myers managed to slip in a hint about Mother's physical and emotional state...