Dancing with Water

Wallace (Joy Takes Root) and Engel (Yaya and the Sea) effervescently detail the traditional practice of water dowsing in this conscientious picture book. With naught but a tree branch, Kit’s grandfather can find clean, potable water underground, and he drills wells for community members’ basic water-based necessities. As Kit watches from Grandpa’s truck, the man dances “over the land,/ swaying and spinning/ and swinging his branch” to find water. Then he digs, waits, and dances “in rhythm” with it. How does he do it? “Someone has to listen to the water,” he says, winking. Lately, though, pollution created by those who want “more from Earth without listening” means that clean water is more difficult to find, and sometimes doesn’t emerge from the ground at all. When Kit, discouraged, wants to stay home one day, their grandfather plants them on his shoulders and teaches them to listen to the water, too. Fluid imagery recurs throughout stylized acrylic underpainting and oil glazed scenes that demonstrate the importance of water to all life, and Kit’s grandfather’s ability to engage with the natural world. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Wendi Gu, GreenburgerKids. Illustrator’s agent: Gail Gaynin, Morgan Gaynin Agency. (Aug.)