One Well by R. Strauss & R. Woods

Title - One Well. The Story of Water on Earth

Authors - By Rochelle Strauss and Rosemary Woods

Publishing date - 2007

Publisher - Citizen Kid

Author website -

Suggested reading age - 7 and up; it can be used with older children too

Keywords - Water, conservation, Earth

A Quote from the Book:

“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.”

Opening paragraph:

“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 of water - one global well - from which we all draw our water. Every ocean wave, every lake, stream and underground river, every raindrop and snowflake and every bit of ice in glaciers and polar icecaps is part of this global well.”

Summary:

There are 14 short chapters in this book. Each chapter talks about an area of life water is used and is needed in, or about issues associated with water. There are chapters about plants, animals, people and their access to the Well. The final 2 chapters call everyone to action, children, parents, guardians and teachers. We all can contribute to water conservation, but first we should get “well aware of every splash of water we use”. The factual examples presented in the book are from various geographical contexts.

My opinion about the book:

I loved the book. My children loved it. My students loved it too.

I have never read a book that talked about the “history of water” and that too in an engaging way. What do we actually know about water on our planet? Where does it come from? How does it circulate? Which sources feed our planet’s One Well? Why are the oceans salty? Who needs and benefits from One Well?

You will receive answers to the most important water-related questions in this book and will wonder how the author explained very difficult concepts and processes with simplicity and using an interesting style.

The reasons others should read it:

This book is suitable for children of any age. Children, teenagers, adults alike will enjoy the balanced narration that is so brilliantly supported by beautiful illustrations that explain each concept further.

It includes factual information that is appropriately sprinkled on every other page and complements the narration well.

Did you know that "One Well" is in the UN Reading List for Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation?

Read about it here: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdgbookclub-6archive/

Rating - I have rated this book 5 stars because it deserves to be on the shelves of every household and every library.

You can order this book on Amazon here

Learn more about the authors here: https://www.rochellestrauss.com/ and http://rosiewoods.com/