Water

February 15, 2024
A wellspring of facts and reflections about our watery world. Following the drift of Wind (2023), Fadeeva places a lightly tan-skinned child dressed in an easily visible red shift in her flowing illustrations--nearly all done in blue-dominant hues. The little one plants a tree over deep layers of groundwater, boats down a river and through a flooded town, and otherwise leads young viewers into glimpses of some of the many ways we use and interact with water. Text translated from Russian and presented in a question-and-answer format offers a wealth of information on topics from the water cycle to why seas and oceans are salty (and why some are saltier than others). Fadeeva also considers water deities in select ancient cultures worldwide and explores human uses for water, such as bathing, commerce, undersea exploration, and freshwater delivery systems through history. Some of the questions encourage broader thoughts: "Why does it rain?" "What is life without water?" "What do humans think about water's mysteries?" Though the power of water to shape lives and landforms comes through clearly, the author also sounds a cautionary note at the end about the threat that pollutants, particularly microplastics, pose not just to our oceans, but to our own well-being. Almost as deep as it is wide. (Informational picture book. 7-9)

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March 1, 2024
Grades 3-5 *Starred Review* Water takes a comprehensive deep dive into a vital natural resource. Simply stated questions are posed, such as "How much water is there on Earth?" "How is a sea different from an ocean?"" and "What causes flooding?" This English translation of a book originally published in Russia is written with help from a geophysicist, and each double-page spread contains easy-to-understand scientific information and surprising tidbits: "Seventy-one percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water. Three percent of the world's water is fresh water. Only one percent of the world's fresh water is easily accessible." The wide-ranging topics flow well and include icebergs, marine life, the role of water in human history, watercraft, renewable energy, and conservation. Fadeeva's buoyant acrylic illustrations (aptly sprinkled, dripped, and diluted with water) are awash with clever details to discover. A young girl and her elder can be spotted in some scenes looking out at the sea, kayaking down a flooded street, and waving from a submarine. Full of playful energy and movement, the text and the artwork complement each other: information about tributaries flow across the page, sentences about oceans swirl like a wave, vessels are labelled with their name displayed on each hull. This browsable, superbly designed book is absorbing.

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Starred review from May 10, 2024

Gr 3-6-Over 70% of the Earth is covered in water. This wonderful book answers all the possible questions one could ever have about water. How is an ocean different from a sea? How powerful is water? How are rainbows and water related? Over 25 questions are answered in engaging detail. Included on each page are interesting facts embedded within the illustrations, which provide movement for each spread. Animal life, ecology, history, and economics are all addressed as the significance of water is explained. Back matter includes information about the creators and even more water facts. An especially fascinating endnote explains how the art in the book was created (and how much water was used!). The vibrant illustrations, many full spreads, are beautifully designed and made from what looks like recycled materials and acrylic paint. VERDICT Originally published in Russian, this is a beautiful addition to nonfiction collections looking for books on the subject, and those seeking more translated works.-Kristin J. Anderson

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