No matter how thoroughly you know the
world of science, some basic facts continue to bring amazement and
appreciation. One such fact is that all water on our planet Earth is connected:
“There really is just one source of water—one global well—from which we all
draw our water." Raindrops, lakes, rivers, oceans, icecaps, the atmosphere and
all plants are part of the great water cycle that sustains life on the Earth. The
view of Earth from space shows a largely blue globe, blue because almost seventy
percent of its surface is covered with water. One Well: The Story of Water on Earth, written by Rochelle Strauss
and illustrated by Rosemary Woods, elucidates the process by which water we can
see—in flowing streams, clouds, coming out of our faucets—combines with the
water we can’t easily see—in plants, groundwater beneath the surface, between
grains of sand and inside organic beings—to supply the shared global well.
Plants and animals, including humans of course, depend on the well and maintain
a dynamic relationship to it through various processes. Natural habitats thrive
or suffer depending on access to water. Our manmade world, through industry,
agriculture and just daily living and the products we use, places a huge demand
on the well. When you consider that almost 97 percent of water on Earth is
saltwater yet we are dependent on fresh water for survival, and that in North
America our average daily use of water far exceeds that of any other continent,
our need to conserve water and to consider ways to use it better
becomes very evident. This excellent book is part of Citizenkid, a collection
of books that informs young readers about our global society and encourages
active participation as global citizens. Ages 8-12.
Linda Sue Park’s A Long Walk to Water is a riveting novel based on the true story of
a remarkable young man, Salva Dut, who, after escaping civil war in Sudan,
emigrates to the United States and eventually identifies a way he can
contribute to helping one of Sudan’s greatest crises: gaining access to clean
water. Says author Park: "Meeting Salva was one of the best things that
has ever happened to me. His story is both horrifying and uplifting, a
testament to the strength of the human spirit against the worst adversities,
and the generosity in people's hearts when we're at our best. I wrote this book
because I want young readers to know that there are people like Salva in this
world, to admire and maybe even to emulate however we can." Ages 10-12.
