[Nonfiction Wednesday] The Fantastical Transformative Power of Water

Myra here.

We are delighted to join the Nonfiction Picture Book meme 2020 hosted by Alyson Beecher @ Kid Lit Frenzy. We would also be linking our nonfiction choices with our reading themes throughout the year, when we can.

Water Is Water (Amazon | Book Depository)

Written by Miranda Paul Illustrated by Jason Chin
Published by Roaring Brook Press (2015)
ISBN: 159643984X (ISBN13: 9781596439849) Literary Award: Charlotte Zolotow Award Nominee for Highly Commended Title (2016)
Borrowed via Singapore’s NLB Overdrive. E-Book photos taken by me.

I am late to this water party, evidently. I am thrilled to finally have a chance to read it, as everything in this book is gorgeous: from the plip-plop of Paul’s lyrical text to the breath-taking art of Chin.

Now that we live in the desert, water is a precious commodity. In fact, the childhood rhyme “Rain rain go away, come again another day” does not make sense here, as rain is invited to stay, any day of the week.

Told in such accessible prose poetry, the art highlights the transformative nature of water, while also telling the visual story of a young boy and girl (siblings, obviously), the warm and loving family they have, and their multi-ethnic community.

How awesome to live in a world wherein scientific concepts can be broken down into such an enjoyable narrative in a book that effectively tells a dual-story, with art and text perfectly complementing each other and providing parallel tales, both captivating and engaging.

Teachers would also be happy to note that there is a detailed informational text in the end, indicating how human beings are approximately 65% water, and the magical ways through which water seeps into everything around us: indeed, it is everywhere!

This is a nonfiction text that you should find immediately, and read to your young ones to see their eyes light up in wonder.

#ReadIntl2020 Update: Jason Chin (POC illustrator – Chinese American)