City of Water

March 1, 2021
Grades 3-6 Most North American children in urban areas simply turn on a faucet to get their water. But where does water really come from when you live in a city? This informational picture book opens with a brief look at ancient aqueducts and water works, as well as dire realities confronting more than two billion people around the world who still don't have safe, fresh drinking water. It then focuses on urban water systems and how cities can protect this natural resource. Double-page spreads feature short text passages along with illustrations in soft golds, pinks, and greens that contrast with abundant teal water. Illustrations with people reflect the diversity one would find in urban areas. While the text gives examples from around the world, the focus is on how U.S. and Canadian cities clean, store, and use water. Other sections explain how some cities reuse "graywater" and wastewater (like Toronto, which turns treated solid matter into fertilizer pellets for farmers) and why water may taste or even feel different. Water conservation tips conclude this insightful STEM offering.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 15, 2021
Everything you might never have wanted to know about water treatment and supply. Endpapers feature a simple treatment of the water cycle, preparing readers to engage in a deep, detailed look at the way humans interact with the world's water. "It's easy not to think about water if you live in a city where it flows from the faucet with a mere flick of the wrist," the introduction notes, but it's difficult to forget water's importance after reading these gentle, informative pages. Brusque brush strokes join muted primary colors to depict urban life in a way that is both realistic and artful. Compositions vary, almost always depicting movement while still leaving space for hefty chunks of text--no small task. Some illustrations show roughly accurate cross sections of above- and belowground environments while others combine huge close-ups with distant backgrounds in an abstract way; once or twice, proportions just seem off. Fun facts ("In every city of a million people, there's at least $13 million worth of metal in the sewage!") join sobering observations ("About 90 percent of the watersheds that provide water for the world's largest cities have been polluted or degraded over the last century"). A "What can we do to help?" closing section lists suggestions for would-be water protectors; 13 are individual lifestyle changes while just two involve collective action. People appear in varied, mostly light or light-brown skin tones. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.6-by-17.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 64% of actual size.) Educational and stylish. (glossary, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 7-12)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2021

Gr 4-7-City dwellers may take water for granted, but it's a finite resource-and where does it come from? This welcome new title provides the answer for middle grade readers. After Curtis's A Forest in the City, this is the second in a series addressing environmental concerns affecting cities, where many young readers live. The writer opens with the history of water systems and the sad, surprising lack of such systems even today in many parts of the world. She describes water sources (watersheds, aquifers, and bottled water), aqueducts, and reservoirs that transport water to the cities, and treatment systems including desalination (using the Canadian term). The book then moves on to storage and usage of treated water (including leaks), the problem of polluted public waters, and the ways water can vary in taste and even feel. At the other end of the system is wastewater collection and disposal, which includes what happens to storm waters and to the now-recycled waters that have passed through these extensive systems. The book concludes by suggesting ways readers can help preserve this precious resource. Spread by spread, this systematic explanation is enlivened by Dockrill's brush-and-ink illustrations, which show a diversity of people. The back matter includes a glossary, selected sources, and acknowledgments. The endpapers illustrate the familiar water cycle. VERDICT Cogently fills an information gap for school and public libraries.-Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
"The history of cities begins with water." Curtis clearly explains the process of transporting water from watersheds and aquifers to cities, mentioning the feats of engineering that have been developed over the centuries. Making effective use of real-world examples, she covers methods of distribution, the cost and danger of neglecting infrastructure, and the need for equitable and safe distribution of water resources. Featuring inclusive and diverse city scenes, the muted-color mixed-media illustrations ably support the accessible text. A glossary, "What can we do to help?" suggestions, related websites, and three recommended books are appended. A water-cycle diagram is included on the end papers.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)