Watery Earth Recommended Reading
The following is a list of recommended books that provide a wide range of reading and research resources for this unit. Collect as many as you can for your classroom science library, or ask your school librarian for assistance.
Fiction and Picture Books
A Drop Around the World
By Barbara Shaw McKinney; illustrated by Michael S. Maydak. (1998, Dawn Publications)
This book, written as a long poem, follows a drop of water on an extended journey through the water cycle. The drop moves through its liquid, solid, and gaseous states and travels from sky to land to sea and underground. In the process, the importance of water to all living things is described and explored. A teacher’s guide to accompany this book (described in the “Books for Teachers” category, below) is also available.
The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks
By Joanna Cole; illustrated by Bruce Degen. (1986, Scholastic)
In this adventure, Ms. Frizzle and her class turn into drops of water, take a quick trip through part of the water cycle, and end up in a water treatment facility. Numerous facts about the water cycle, water pollution, and water purification are worked into the text and various sidebars.
The Magic School Bus Wet All Over: A Book About the Water Cycle
By Joanna Cole; illustrated by Bruce Degen. (1996, Scholastic)
Ms. Frizzle and the kids become drops of water and move through the water cycle, learning about evaporation, condensation, and precipitation along the way.
The River
By Gary Paulsen. (1991, Dell/Yearling Books)
In this sequel to Paulsen’s popular Hatchet, young Brian Robeson is asked by the government to repeat his astonishing 54-day ordeal, surviving in the wilderness with only a hatchet. But the experiment goes awry and Brian must build a raft to transport the injured government observer a hundred miles down a river. The fast-paced adventure provides vivid descriptions of water, as well as contrasting the life-giving and life-threatening nature of this most valuable resource. A great read for advanced readers or use it as a read-aloud book.
Salmon Forest
By David Suzuki and Sarah Ellis; illustrated by Sheena Lott. (2003, Greystone Books)
During a walk in the woods with her father, Kate learns about the life cycle of the sockeye salmon, as well as its place in the larger circle of life. Interactions between water and the forest are emphasized.
Salmon Stream
By Carol Reed-Jones; illustrated by Michael S. Maydak. (2000, Dawn Publications)
Vivid illustrations from the salmon’s perspective, as well as rhyming text, make this a great read aloud book. The back matter includes more scientific text about the salmon life cycle as well as a section titled “What Makes a Good Salmon Stream?”
The Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story
By Neil Waldman. (2003, The Millbrook Press)
Follows a snowflake as it becomes a water droplet and journeys through all the stages of the water cycle. The droplet travels though familiar locations including rivers, farm irrigation systems, clouds, reservoirs, household tap water, and oceans (where it is swallowed by a fish), before evaporating and condensing into a snowflake once again.
Water Dance
By Thomas Locker. (2002, First Voyager Books)
This unique introduction to the water cycle is a beautiful mix of art, science, and poetry. The text is simple and poetic; there is also a more detailed, factual section at the end. Selected in 1998 by the National Science Teachers Association for an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children award.
Nonfiction Books: General
Awesome Ocean Science! Investigating the Secrets of the Underwater World.
By Cindy Littlefield, illustrated by Sarah Rakitin. (2003, Williamson Publishing)
For students and teachers interested in ocean studies, this book explores the wonders of the sea, the seafloor, and the plants and animals that dwell there. It teaches how to protect these resources as well as providing hands-on activities for further exploration.
A Cool Drink of Water
By Barbara Kerley. (2002, National Geographic Society)
Large, beautiful photographs of people using drinking water from all around the world. The photograph captions at the end of the book will inspire conversations about global water distribution and conservation. A brief, but interesting background information section at the end is a good springboard for additional study.
The Drop in My Drink: The Story of Water on Our Planet
By Meredith Hooper, illustrated by Chris Coady. (1998, Viking)
A richly illustrated speculation about the history of a drop of water. Beginning with comets crashing on Earth’s surface (which may have originally brought water to our planet), to the beginning of life on Earth, the age of the dinosaurs, up to the present day. Describes how water has shaped our planet’s geology as well as its importance to all life.
A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder
By Walter Wick; photography by the author. (1997, Scholastic)
Beautiful photography depicts properties and states of water. As the author writes, “The results seemed magical, but not because of any photographic trick; it was only the forces of nature at work.” The captions introduce many water vocabulary terms and the notes at the end of the book encourage independent investigations. Selected by the National Science Teachers Association for an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children award in 1998.
The Land Around Us: Rivers and Lakes
By Mary Tull. (2004, National Geographic Society)
This comprehensive look at rivers and lakes focuses on geography and human interactions with rivers and lakes. Bright photographs and easy-to-read text make this an excellent resource for emergent readers. Includes a glossary and a section about reading bar graphs for information.
Our Wet World
By Sneed B. Collard; illustrated by James M. Needham. (1998, Charlesbridge Publishing)
Readers will discover 13 different aquatic ecosystems as they read about the diversity of life found in the wet places on Earth. Colorful, detailed illustrations splash off the pages, and the fact-filled text provides a fascinating introduction to the flora and fauna that inhabit the waterways and oceans of our planet. Includes a glossary. Selected in 1999 by the National Science Teachers Association for an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children award.
Pond
By Gordon Morrison: illustrated by the author. (2002, Walter Lorraine Books)
Witness the array of life in and around a pond throughout the course of a year. From the giant glaciers that carved the earth and melted to create the pond, to the microscopic plankton eaten by the mussels that slowly scoot along its bottom, no detail is too large or too small to be revealed and explained. With vivid watercolors, the author observes and describes this habitat through the seasons. Selected in 2003 by the National Science Teachers Association for an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students award.
Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson
By Amy Ehrlich; illustrated by Wendell Minor. (2003, Silver Whistle)
As a bright and curious child, a student at Woods Hole Marine Biology Laboratory in Massachusetts, an ocean explorer, a collector of specimens, and author of the famous book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson lived an interesting life. The book is beautifully written in a single-page narrative, and Minor’s full-color illustrations give personality to every page. Selected in 2004 by the National Science Teachers Association for an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students award.
Water Supply: Our Impact on the Planet
By Rob Bowden. (2003, Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers)
A good introduction to the geological, social, and political implications of water use. Filled with interesting charts, colorful photographs, and thought-provoking quotes from political leaders and water researchers, this is a good reference book for fourth graders. This book takes a global view of water as a resource and may provide ideas for social studies extensions or further study.
Nonfiction Books: The Water Cycle
Down Comes the Rain (Let’s Read and Find Out Science 2)
By Franklyn M. Branley, illustrated by James Graham Hale. (1997, Harper Trophy)
A water cycle story that effectively covers precipitation, evaporation, and condensation. Appealing cartoon-like illustrations feature speech bubbles with many interesting water facts. The text and pictures are not as complex as those in other recommended books, but the content complements the Watery Earth Unit very well and will be accessible to most fourth graders.
Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean (Let’s Read and Find Out Science 2)
By Arthur Dorros. (1993, Harper Trophy)
Nicely explains the movement of water from a child’s yard all the way to ocean. Story covers increasingly larger bodies of water. Discusses erosion, floods, hydroelectric dams,reservoirs, and pollution. Simple text and pictures, but complementary unit content that is suitable for most fourth graders.
The Water Cycle
By Trudi Strain Trueit. (2002, Franklin Watts)
This very informative book, with striking photographs, includes short chapters on the water cycle, water and weather, accessing water resources, water pollution, and water conservation. It also features a useful glossary and bibliography. It is an excellent reference book for the unit.
What Makes It Rain? The Story of a Raindrop
By Keith Brandt; illustrated by Yoshi Miyake. (1982, Troll)
This book follows the journey of a raindrop through the water cycle and briefly discusses the characteristics and importance of water. It also talks about how living things need water to survive.
Nonfiction Books: Water Conservation and Pollution
Come Back, Salmon: How a Group of Dedicated Kids Adopted Pigeon Creek and Brought It Back to Life
By Molly Cone; photography by Sidnee Wheelwright. (1992, Sierra Club)
This captivating and inspirational book tells the true story of how an elementary school in Washington State cleaned up a nearby stream, stocked it with salmon, succeeded in getting salmon to live and spawn there, and involved the community in sustaining the positive effects. The project is well documented, with compelling text and wonderful photographs that describe the engagement of students at all grade levels.
A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History
By Lynne Cherry. (1992, Gulliver Green/Harcourt Brace & Company)
A factual account of the history of the Nashua River of New Hampshire andMassachusetts. The story of a clear, life-sustaining river, almost irreparably polluted by textile and paper mill pollution, and finally rescued by the grassroots efforts of environmental activists. Appealing page borders chronicle the development of technology and the experiences of animals and people living in the river valley.
Oil Spill! (Let’s Read and Find out Science, Stage 2)
By Melvin Berger, illustrated by Paul Mirocha. (1994, Harper Collins)
Beginning with the 1989 Exxon Valdez incident, this story examines the causes and devastating effects of an oil spill on the environment. Describes the effectiveness of a variety of oil-cleaning strategies and suggests ways to prevent future oil spills.
Books for Teachers
A Teacher’s Guide to a Drop Around the World
By Bruce and Carol Malnor. (1998, Dawn Publications)
This teacher’s guide integrates character education with core science and language arts. Lessons include poetry and songs, water habitats around the globe, and skills for living.
Water: The Fate of Our Most Precious Resource
By Marq de Villiers. (2000, Houghton Mifflin Company)
Examines the political and social implications of limited water resources. Fascinating case studies highlight key contributions to water supply problems, including water pollution and misuse.
Water, a National Geographic Special Edition
(November, 1993; National Geographic Society)
This special edition contains a variety of articles about water issues in the United States and around the world. An excellent source of information about water pollution and conservation topics, this publication will inspire and intrigue teachers.