Water Is Water: A Book about the Water Cycle

An engaging and lyrical look at the water cycle. (water facts, further reading, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

PreS-Gr 2--Paul's poetic text highlights various forms water takes as it follows a brother and sister through the year. It includes autumn fog and rain, frozen ponds and falling snow, steam from cups of cocoa, and snowmelt turning dirt to mud. Chin once again demonstrates his mastery of nature illustration, infusing familiar outdoor scenes with simple kid-centric activities that will hold readers' attention while they listen to the text. Although not as dramatic as George Ella Lyon's All the Water in the World (S. & S., 2011), Paul's introduction to the water cycle includes more information that will help extend learning. She provides examples of the water content of various living things and stresses Earth's limited supply of fresh water. The author ties explanations of processes such as evaporation and condensation to pages of the text. VERDICT A first-rate introduction to the water cycle for young readers.--Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato

Two siblings from a mixed-race family engage in water-related activities throughout the year in a poetic exploration of the forms that water takes. First seen exploring a pond behind their idyllic home, the boy and girl are driven indoors by a rainstorm and warm up with steaming mugs of cocoa on their front porch: "Drip. Sip./ Pour me a cup./ Water is water unless.../ it heats up./ Whirl. Swirl./ Watch it curl by./ Steam is steam unless.../ it cools high." From there, Paul (One Plastic Bag) moves through the seasons as clouds become fog, which transitions to rain that gathers in puddles. In winter, the children and their friends skate on the frozen pond, and spring's return brings the story full circle. As usual, Chin (Gravity) blends naturalistic detail with a glint of whimsy (in one spread, patchy clouds form the shape of a dragon in a wagon), evoking the seasons through shifts of light and changing foliage. A closing section shares additional information about the water cycle, rounding out a story as enchanting as it is informative. Ages 6-10. Author's agent: Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary. (May)