If the Rivers Run Free
While rivers make up just a fraction of the water on Earth, they provide the majority of what we use every day. Rivers run over and through our world, and sometimes we don't even know they are there. But do we fully understand or even appreciate all that rivers can do? All over the world, cities large and small were built near rivers because of what they can provide: drinking water, transportation, power sources. But over the centuries as cities grew, the rivers became polluted by sewage and industrial waste, and their natural flow patterns were disrupted. Disease and flooding were often the result. In a short-sighted attempt to address these issues, city planners buried old rivers beneath city streets. But this solution brought more problems. Finally, a group of naturalists realized that freeing buried rivers could be the answer to managing urban waterways. In rhyming text, the fascinating story of "daylighting," unearthing and restoring buried rivers to their rightful places as source of well-being and beauty, comes to life.
Interest Level | Kindergarten - Grade 3 |
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Reading Level | Grade 1 |
Dewey | |
Lexile | 680L |
ATOS Reading Level | |
Guided Reading Level | O |
Language | English |
Publisher | Sleeping Bear Press |
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Available Formats | Hardcover (9781534112780), PDF (9781668935422), Hosted ebook (9781668935330) |
Copyright | 2023 |
Number of Pages | 40 |
Dimensions | 9 x 11 |
Graphics | Full-color illustrations |
Booklist Review - If The Rivers Ran Free
STARRED REVIEW: A captivating, persuasive picture book.
Kirkus Review - If The Rivers Ran Free
A gentle reminder that we haven’t been good to our natural home, but it’s not too late to make amends.
Author: Debbink, Andrea
Illustrator: Nicole Wong
Nicole Wong has lived her whole life in Fall River, Massachusetts, walking along downtown streets where once a river and eight waterfalls flowed, all demolished and replaced by an interstate highway. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, Nicole has illustrated more than twenty-five books for children, including Kiyoshi’s Walk, Diving Deep, Three Lost Seeds, I'll Be the Water, and No Year of the Cat. She lives with her husband, their daughter, and their pets.
Educational front/back matter |
Original artwork |
Full-color illustrations |