{"id":31282,"date":"2017-02-04T16:46:23","date_gmt":"2017-02-04T20:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=31282"},"modified":"2017-02-04T16:46:23","modified_gmt":"2017-02-04T20:46:23","slug":"review-of-the-water-princess-by-susan-verde-illustrated-by-peter-h-reynolds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=31282","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Water Princess, by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Water Princess<\/p>\n

Based on the childhood experience of Georgie Badiel<\/em><\/p>\n

by Susan Verde<\/p>\n

illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds<\/p>\n

G. P. Putnam\u2019s Sons, 2016. 40 pages.
\nStarred Review
\n2016 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>: #9 Picture Books<\/p>\n

Here is a picture book with a message \u2013 but the creators wisely made telling a good story a higher priority than just getting the message across.<\/p>\n

As the book opens, we are introduced to Princess Gie Gie. I\u2019ve long been a fan of Peter H. Reynolds, and here his work is more detailed \u2013 and more beautiful \u2013 than ever before. We see Princess Gie Gie first looking up into a sky full of stars.<\/p>\n

As we turn the page, we learn her location:<\/p>\n

My kingdom . . .
\nthe African sky, so wide and so close.
\nI can almost touch the sharp edges of the stars.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

First, Gie Gie talks about the things she can do \u2013 taming the wild dogs, making the tall grass sway, and making the wind play hide-and-seek. But Gie Gie cannot make the water come closer or run clearer.<\/p>\n

Each morning, when it is still dark, Gie Gie and her mother set off to collect the water. Most of the book is about that journey. I love the way Gie Gie is still dramatic and joyful, even though she doesn\u2019t want to get up early and go for the long walk. Even though she wishes she could bring the water by magic.<\/p>\n

I also love the way Gie Gie\u2019s parents consistently address her as \u201cprincess.\u201d I like the way, when she brings the water back, she celebrates the achievement.<\/p>\n

At the water hole, Gie Gie plays with her friends while her mother holds their place in line. The water there is dusty and earth colored, but it is flowing, and they make the journey back with full pots on their heads.<\/p>\n

I also love the page at the end of the day, after they have used the water:<\/p>\n

Clothes and body clean,
\nI sing to the dogs.
\nI dance with the tall grass.
\nI hide from the wind.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At bedtime, Gie Gie asks her mother \u201cWhy is the water so far? Why is the water not clear? Where is our water?\u201d<\/p>\n

The final spread answers:<\/p>\n

\u201cSleep,\u201d she says.
\n\u201cDream,\u201d she says.
\n\u201cSomeday you will find a way, my princess.
\nSomeday.\u201d<\/p>\n

I am Princess Gie Gie.
\nMy kingdom?
\nThe African sky. The dusty earth.<\/p>\n

And, someday,
\nthe flowing cool, crystal-clear water.
\nSomeday \u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After that final page of the story, there is a spread with a note from the creators and photographs of children in Africa getting water. They explain that nearly one billion people around the world don\u2019t have access to clean water.<\/p>\n

This crisis is what motivated African model Georgie Badiel to work to make a difference and get clean water to those in need. As a young girl in Burkina Faso, Georgie spent her summers living with her grandmother. Every morning, Georgie and the other girls and women of the village walked for miles to fill pots with water and return it home to be used for the basics \u2013 drinking, bathing, cooking \u2013 only to wake up the next morning and make the journey again.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Georgie Badiel is now working with Ryan\u2019s Well to bring clean water to people of Burkina Faso and beyond.<\/p>\n

This book has a wonderful message \u2013 but they communicate that message by means of a lovely story. They manage to show a joyful, playful child who happens to face a difficult task every morning.<\/p>\n

ryanswell.ca<\/a>
\ngeorgiebadielfoundation.org<\/a>
\nsusanverde.com<\/a>
\npeterhreynolds.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/water_princess.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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