Water: How We Can Protect Our Freshwater

by Catherine Barr, Christiane Engel (Illustrator)

Bold illustrations, accessible text, and clear action points tell the story of freshwater around the world and urge us to defend a vital resource while we still can.

Water bubbles, flows, and fuels all life on earth. But worldwide pollution and climate change make it increasingly difficult for people and animals to find the clean water they need to survive. A focused call for action, this lively book narrates the history of our watery earth, succinctly explains the water cycle and the different types of freshwater, and introduces the vast array of living beings that depend on clean water for survival—as well as the devastating impact of water shortages on the lives of children around the world. Packed with facts and specific tips, bright and expansive illustrations, and end matter for further reading, this hopeful challenge inspires young readers to take action, use water wisely, and work together to defend a precious shared resource.

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 21, 2023

About the author

Insta: catherinebarrbooks

I was inspired to write my first book The Story of Life by my two girls, for whom I searched in vain for the story (rather than a text book) of evolution – in 2015. Previous to unexpectedly becoming a children's author, I worked for Greenpeace International as a campaigner on wildlife issues for many years, before becoming an Editor at the Natural History Museum in London, where I wrote summer exhibitions on Myths, Monsters and Dinosaurs. I now write narrative nonfiction that I hope will spark questions, interest and action.

I am a proud Patron of Reading for a local school and visit schools and festivals with workshops inspired by my books. I love what I do and hope my books inspire curious and challenging conversations, as well as wonder for the natural world.

Reviews

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my toddler's nap time. Amazing nonfiction book for kids about earth and freshwater and everything in between. The story started with the first water on earth. Readers learn how rare freshwater is including the mentioned of ice age. Quick lesson on the water cycle and how water is life for every living things on earth. Readers learn that just about everything need freshwater not just us and animals to drink but also water are used for food farming, growing cotton to make clothes, water to cool down huge machines in factories, freshwater for golf courses, gardens at luxury hotels, etc.. but there are pollution that are affecting freshwater everywhere and it's affecting many people and animals all over the world. I loved the quick facts at every other page of this book. Excellent illustrations. Last couple of pages of the book has helpful advices on how to use water wisely! A must read book!

Thank you Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review!

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is broken down into easy-to-follow sections from “The First Water on Earth” through “It’s Water Action Decade!” The facts are thorough yet explained simply. It’s mind-blowing that only 3% of all water on Earth is freshwater; three-quarters of it exists in glaciers and polar ice sheets. I like how each section has an item that relates to a specific place: “These girls in sub-Saharan Africa can go to school because they have a water pump and tap in their village.” This makes the issues feel real and connects us all around the planet.

Christiane Engle’s detailed illustrations bring the world and its water sources to life such as the polluted rivers in India and salmon leaping up a fish ladder in Scotland (because their migration path has been dammed). The brightly colored art is something kids can look over again and again, finding new things each time.

The “How Can I Use Water Wisely?” section at the end is conveyed in a fun, wraparound style. Suggestions include realizing that most everything we use takes water to make and visiting local lakes or rivers to discover the animals and plants living there—if we care about something, we’re more likely to want to help protect it. Taking a few minutes to better understand our water is time well spent.

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This informational picture book explores the concept of freshwater for young children from ages 4-8. Each two-page spread has a mixed media illustration, read aloud text, and three facts from the topic that is being discussed.

There are twelve topics that begin with how water came to Earth and ends with how we can use water wisely. Supplemental material includes information about how 2018-2028 is a water-action decade and what that means. The text is informative, the illustrations are very beautiful with many things to look at and discover, and the facts give kids knowledge about water.

In classroom or library settings this book could be used for Earth Day and World Water Day which is March 22 and for lessons on water cycles or conservation.

I would recommend this book for elementary and public library collections.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

We take freshwater for granted in our daily life in urban and suburban America. This book is a straightforward, yet engaging message about the very real crisis around water for much of the world that ultimately effects us all. The author starts at the beginning, explaining how water came to be on our planet and how much we all rely on it to sustain us, and takes us on a journey to now where much of the world has limited access to clean water. The illustrations are vibrant and depict water around the world for both animals and humans. Together they offer a sobering, but important message about the state of water in our world. I like that it ends with an empowering message about little ways even children and their families can help to reduce their water footprint.

[Addia Ochweri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book overwhelming although the art in this book is very pretty and creative. I found that the amount of words and art was too much going on. I think it's cool how there were facts throughout the story but I am unsure of what age group this would be good for.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great nonfiction picture book for upper elementary and middle school. Love the tie-ins to science and water conservation.