A Cool Drink Of Water
By Barbara Kerley
D.C. : National Geographic Society, 2002.
1v. (unpaged) : col.ill., map; 28cm.
Superb fullpage illustrations and minimal text give a world perspective to the idea that water is basic to all human life. Photos depict people collecting, transporting and drinking water while the poetic text reminds readers that "everyone, everywhere" enjoys "a nice cool drink of water"...
A map at the back of the book identifies the locations of the photographs. A lovely book to browse and a wonderful introduction for children to the topic of water.
The Waterhole
By Graeme Base
London : Penguin Books, 2001
1v. (unpaged) :co.ill.; 29cm.
The animals gather at the waterhole to drink. Different animals from different continents cover each page and watch the waterhole gradually disappear.
The Waterhole is a mixture of counting book, puzzle book, storybook and stunning art book.
Water is the under-pinning theme. The text is brief with humorous subscript and the illustrations are wonderful in their colour and detail, both which will hugely appeal to children.
Precious Water : A Book of Thanks
By Brigitte Weninger and Ann Moller
New York; London : North-South, 2003.
32p. : col.ill.; 24cm.
Basic facts about the sources of water and its importance to all living things are given in short, simple sentences.
A little girl tells her cat that plants, animals and humans need water to survive.
This easily understood and imaginatively illustrated story provides a great introduction to water.
Big Rain Coming
By Katrina Germein
Illustrator: Bronwyn Bancroft
Victoria : Roland Harvey Books, 1999.
1 v. (unpags) : col.ill.; 31cm.
Everyone and everthing is waiting for rain. Old Stephen predicts its arrival but when will it come? A very simple story showing how all living things depend on water.
The illustrations are simple, colourful and evocative in an aboriginal style. Although the text and illustrations compliment each other the pictures alone could tell the story.
One Well : The Story of Water on Earth
By Rochelle Strauss
Illustrator: Rosemary Woods
Imagine for a moment that all the water on Earth came from just one well. This isn′t as strange as it sounds. All water on Earth is connected, so there really is just one source--one global well--from which we all draw our water.
Water has the power to change everything--a single splash can sprout a seed, quench a thirst, provide a habitat, generate energy and sustain life. How we treat water in the well will affect every species on the planet, now and for years to come.
One Well is a richly illustrated and timely book. Its call to action shows how every one of us has the power to conserve and protect our global well.
Singing Down the Rain
by Joy Cowley
Illustrator: Jan Spivey Gilchrist
New York : Harper Collins, 1997.
1v. (unpaged) : col.ill.; 23 x29cm.
There is drought in Brianna's town and people are getting "scritchy with each other" and have lost hope in the future. It seems only a miracle can save them. But the towns folk don't recognise the miracle when it roars into town in the form of "a small fine woman ... and a smile so big it used most of her face." It is the children who recognise that rain is only a song or two away and they join the mysterious woman in singing down the rain. The exclamation "Sweet wonder" is an apt ending for this story.
A lovely story written with a flavour of the Southern States.
The delightful watercolour paintings, one to each double page are in the muted tawny colours of drought until rain falls and we see soft blues and greens.
Rain : What Is It ?
By Jeanette Rowe and Louise Park
Parhan Vic. : Hardy Grant Egmont, 2008.
1 vol. (unpaged) : col.ill.; 16 x 19cm.
A very simple explanation of the water cycle in story form. SmarytCat and his friend Chook the Chicken discuss where water is found and what makes it rain. The simple story, often with only one short sentence per page is enhanced by the animals innocent humour.
Primary colours, clear, fun illustrations and happy expressions combine well with the text in this engaging story.
An added extra is the 'making rain' activity at the end of the story.
