Earth’s H2O: Print Resources

This is a collection of Print Resources about the Earth’s water. Separate collections of Electronic Resources and National Academies Press e-Books are also available.

Most titles below are outstanding and recommended by the National Science Teachers Association that fit this year’s theme for Chemists Celebrate Earth Day. Descriptions are based on reviews from the NSTA or publishers web site.

Key: E = Elementary (K–5), I = Intermediate (6–8), HS = High School (9–12), C = College, G = General Public

ANGEL FALLS: A SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNEY. Tanis Jordan. Illustrated by Martin Jordan. Kingfisher, 1995. 36pp. ISBN 1-85697-541-X. (I)
Brilliant text and stunning oil paintings capture the beauty of the Venezuelan Highlands with its immense grasslands, dense jungles, towering mountains, and the grandeur of Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. Readers encounter native species either living in harmony or struggling to survive. Glossary. Pronunciation keys within the text.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 1996
BENEATH BLUE WATERS: MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE DEEP-SEA CREATURES. Deborah Kovacs and Kate Madin. Illustrated with photographs by Larry Madin and various sources. Viking, 1996. 64pp. ISBN 0-670-85653-. (I)
The vast expanse of ocean that is miles down from sunlight and warmth remains a virtually untouched natural region. Diving teams and professional photographers bring the world under the deep blue to life for curious young minds. Go “beneath blue waters” and discover the variety and beauty of life that dwells therein. Glossary. Epilogue.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 1997
THE BIG RIVERS: THE MISSOURI, THE MISSISSIPPI, AND THE OHIO. Bruce Hiscock. Illustrated by the author. Atheneum, 1997. 32pp. ISBN 0-689-80871-2. (E, I)
This book describes how the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers produced the Midwest floods of 1993. Watercolor illustrations set the mood for the simple text in picture book format. This is an excellent book on weather phenomena for young children.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 1998
THE BIRD IN THE WATERFALL: A NATURAL HISTORY OF OCEANS, RIVERS, AND LAKES. Gerry Dennis. New York: HarperCollins, 1996. ISBN 0060170948. (G)
Source: Athena
BUTTERNUT HOLLOW POND. Brian J. Heinz. Illustrated by Bob Marstall. Millbrook Press, 2000. 32pp. ISBN 0-7613-0268-9. (I)
The reader explores the interdependence of organisms in a pond with particular emphasis on food webs. Excitement reigns as an animal quickly changes its role from hunter to hunted. Through text and watercolor illustrations, the reader develops an appreciation of ecology and the environment.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 2001
CARING FOR OUR WATER. Carol Greene. Hillside, NJ: Enslow Publ., 1991. ISBN 089490356x. (E)
Simple text and illustrations describe different ecological problems relating to water, and suggest ways to preserve this resource.
Source: WorldCat
CRAWDAD CREEK. Scott Russell Sanders. Illustrated by Robert Hynes. National Geographic, 1999. 32pp. ISBN 0-7922-7097-5. (E, I)
Exquisitely detailed paintings capture the beauty of the wild, natural world waiting to be discovered. The book encourages readers to go outside; find moving water; and open their eyes, ears, and hearts to the wilderness everywhere. A great book to encourage young readers to observe all the details of the world around them.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 2000
DIVE! MY ADVENTURES IN THE DEEP FRONTIER. Sylvia A. Earle. Illustrated with photographs by Wolcott Henry. National Geographic, 1999. 64pp. ISBN 0-7922-7144-0. (I)
In a fascinating, beautifully illustrated book, this world-renowned underwater explorer and researcher plunges the young reader into a luminous underwater world. The reader will “walk the seafloor” to learn about the wonders of the deep and the technology needed to explore it. With outstanding photographs and lively illustrated text, readers will discover how incredible our ocean world is and how to explore and protect it. Time Line of Ocean Exploration, Glossary, Resources, Index.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 2000
DRIP! DROP! HOW WATER GETS TO YOUR TAP. Barvara Seuling. New York: Holiday House, 2000. ISBN 823144590. (E, I)
Jo Jo and her zany dog willy explain the water cycle and introduce experiments about water filtration, evaporation and condensation.
Source: Athena
A DROP AROUND THE WORLD. B. S. McKinney. Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publications, 1998. ISBN 188322072. (E)
Presents the water cycle through the journey of a raindrop around the world, in sky, on land, underground, and in the sea, in its liquid, solid, and vapor forms, as it supports life everywhere.
Source: WorldCat
THE DROP IN MY DRINK: THE STORY OF WATER ON OUR PLANET. Meredith Hooper. Illustrated by Chris Coady. NY: Viking, 1998. 32pp. ISBN 0-670-87618-6. (I)
Here is the amazing and ever-changing story of water-where it comes from, how it behaves, why it matters-and the crucial role it has played throughout life on Earth. The eye-catching illustrations are realistic and thought-provoking.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children in 1999
EARTH DAY: KEEPING OUR PLANET CLEAN. Elaine Landau. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2002. 48 pp. ISBN 0-7660-1778-8. (E)
With celebrations of Earth Day marking each April, teachers are always looking for innovative ideas to for educating students. This book is an excellent resource for environmental awareness. It teaches young children the importance of keeping our planet a clean, safe place to live. It is filled with background information about pollution and taking care of the Earth. It gives the history of the first Earth Day and how it has changed through the years. Tips are also provided for recycling projects and school-wide activities that young people will enjoy. This book includes glossary of environmental terms, other suggested reading, and Internet addresses for additional activities.
Source: NSTA Recommends
EARTH: THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL GUIDE TO OUR PLANET. James F. Luhr. NY: Dorling Kindersley, 2003. 520 pp. ISBN 0789496437. (HS, C)
From minerals and rocks to forests and biomes to cultural interactions, this weighty resource contains a wealth of information that includes fundamental facts and integrated theories. The coverage is global in scope, and the book takes readers to locations around the world that illustrate facts and principles. Each major section is subdivided into smaller sections that include historical and cultural perspectives. The book is formatted in a modern style that will appeal to the hypertext generation. Each page is packed with “text-bites” of information and punctuated with longer segments that elaborate on major themes and concepts. Remarkable illustrations of isolated and rare phenomena are linked together in an appealing and elaborate way. Techniques that scientists use to gather data are often discussed, so students can go beyond “who” and “what” to understand “how.” Especially worthwhile are the cultural links that provide a fascinating human perspective on the process of science.
Source: NSTA Recommends
FOLLOW THE WATER FROM BROOK TO OCEAN. Arthur Doros. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. ISBN 0060215984. (E, I)
Explains how water flows from brooks, to streams, to rivers, over waterfalls, through canyons and dams, to eventually reach the ocean.
Source: WorldCat
THE GREENPEACE BOOK OF WATER. Klaus Lanz. New York: Sterling, 1995. ISBN 0806942126. (G)
Source: Athena
THE HIDDEN LIFE OF THE POND. D.M. Schwartz. New York: Crown Publ., 1988. ISBN 517570602. (E)
Photographs and text indroduce the animals, insects, and plants in a pond.
Source: WorldCat
THE HOLY ORDER OF WATER: HEALING THE Earth’s WATERS AND OURSELVES. W.E. Marks. Great Barrington, MA: Bell Pond Books, 2001. ISBN 088010483x. (G)
Source: Athena
THE KINGFISHER YOUNG PEOPLE’S BOOK OF OCEANS. David Lambert. Illustrated with various photographs, drawings, maps, and diagrams. Kingfisher, 1997. 96pp. ISBN 0-7534-5098-4. (E, I)
Numerous engaging illustrations support the information-packed text of this book about oceans. Readers learn about the ocean from several angles as they are presented with information about the physical, biological, and environmental influences the oceans have on our planet. Includes a list of oceanographers. Glossary. Index.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 1998
LAKE AND POND. A.P. Sayre. New York: Twenty-First Century Books, 1996. ISBN 805040897. (E, I)
Discusses the lake and pond biomes and how each is affected by the environment and people.
Source: WorldCat
LAKES. Catherine Chambers. Crystal Lake, IL: Heinemann Library (Rigby), 2000. 32 pp. ISBN 1-57572-524-X. (E)
A volume in the Mapping Earthforms series, this book examines the geographic features that form our planet. Beginning with a general definition, it describes lake landscapes, organisms, the influence lakes have had on civilization, and the effect civilization has had on lakes. It mentions all types of lakes from the Caspian Sea to the Great Lakes. Children will be fascinated to read about the huge underground lake that lies beneath Australia. Many maps are included to further clarify the text, as are beautiful color photographs. The volume ends with a list of the ten largest lakes of the world and some interesting facts. This is a good general reference book and an excellent beginning point for research on lakes and the environmental impact they have on our world.
Source: NSTA Recommends
LIFE IN PONDS AND STREAMS. W.H. Amos. Wash. DC: National Geographic Society, 1981. ISBN 870444042. (E, I)
An introduction to the animals that live in ponds and streams, including beavers, frogs, ducks, crayfish, trout and insects.
Source: WorldCat
LIMNOECOLOGY: THE ECOLOGY OF LAKES AND STREAMS. W. Lampert. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1997. ISBN 195095928. (HS, C, G)
Source: WorldCat
OCEANS AND SEAS. Catherine Chambers. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2000. 32 pp. ISBN 1-57572-526-6. (E)
Part of the Mapping Earthforms series, this book provides the reader with the definition and descriptions of the Earth’s major oceans and seas, how they are formed, and how they look below the surface. The authors emphasize the importance of seawater, its effects upon living organisms, and marine minerals that humans need and use in their daily lives. Pollution from chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and raw sewage is having a devastating effect on the oceans and seas. Suggested solutions are given, but the book stresses that the future of the world’s oceans and seas depend on people.
Source: NSTA Recommends
OUR WET WORLD. Sneed B. Collard, III. Illustrated by James M. Needham. Charlesbridge, 1998. 32pp. ISBN 0-88106-268-5. (I)
Readers will discover 13 different aquatic ecosystems as they read about the diversity of life found in the wet places of the Earth. Closeup illustrations provide details about the fascinating flora and fauna that inhabit the waterways and oceans of our planet. Glossary.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 1999
POND & RIVER. Steve Parker. New York: Knopt, 1988. ISBN 394896157. (E, I)
A photo essay about the range of plants and animals found in fresh water throughout the year, examining the living conditions and survival mechanisms of creatures dwelling at the edge of the water, on its surface, or under the mud.
Source: WorldCat
POND WATCHING WITH ANN MORGAN. Michael Elsohn Ross. Illustrated by Wendy Smith. Carolrhoda Books/Lerner, 2000. 48pp. ISBN 1-57505-385-3. (I)
Readers follow Ann Morgan as she uncovers the mysteries of newts, mayflies, and other water creatures. This work describes the life and work of Morgan, who studied, taught, and wrote about the animals of ponds and streams, and stressed the importance of an ecological approach to conservation. Important Dates, Glossary, Bibliography, Index.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 2001
RAIN. Kay Davies. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1995. ISBN 817240438. (E)
Source: Athena
RAINDROPS. L. D. Brimner. New York: Childrens Press, 1999. ISBN 0516212036. (E)
Follows the water cycle, as a raindrop moves into a creek, into a stream, into a river, and to its end in a lazy ocean.
Source: WorldCat
RAIN AND THE EARTH. Nikki Bundey. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner, 2000. 32 pp. ISBN 1-57505-469-8. (E, I)
One of eight books in The Science of Weather, the focus of this book is on role that rain plays on the Earth, how the water cycle works, and the effects of water on all forms of life. The photographs are one of the series’ most appealing features; this particular book includes beautiful photos of people and animals all over the world in wet or rainy conditions. The accurate and thorough text covers cloud types, wetlands, and rainforests as well as the conditions caused by lack of rain. Scattered throughout the book are very simple experiments that a student could do independently. There are good diagrams, maps and charts, as well as an index and a glossary all designed to make learning about rain very easy. The consistent and accurate science content, coupled with a friendly format, make this a fine resource for the study of water and weather.
Source: NSTA Recommends
RIVER OF LIFE. Debbie S. Miller. Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle. Clarion Books, 2000. 32pp. ISBN 0-395-96790-2. (E)
Rich in word choice, this book develops strong images of the life cycle that unfolds along a river, as winter melts into spring and spring becomes the warm days of summer. Inviting illustrations help tell this story of a river ecosystem. Glossary.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 2001
A RIVER RAN WILD: AN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY. Lynne Cherry. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992. ISBN 152005420. (E, I)
An environmental history of the Nashua River, from its discovery by Indians through the polluting years of the Industrial Revolution to the ambitious clean-up that revitalized it.
Source: WorldCat
RIVERS. Catherine Chambers. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2000. 32 pp. ISBN 1-57572-527-4. (E)
Part of the Mapping Earthforms series, this book examines the physical characteristics that shape our landscapes. It examines the world’s rivers, discusses how they were formed, what organisms live there, and how humans use them. Relationships between rain, mountains, rivers, and the sea are emphasized. Along the way, the reader is introduced to river plants and animals, flooding, and irrigation.
Source: NSTA Recommends
RIVERS: NATURE’S WONDROUS WATERWAYS. David L. Harrison. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2002. 32 pp. ISBN 1563979683. (E)
From mountain streams to the sea, this book takes the reader on an exciting river journey. On the way, elementary students learn about food chains, the water cycle, erosion, rock weathering, and watersheds. The book also mentions pollution and what can be done to clean up the environment. The book does not describe all rivers; for example, its assertion that rivers begin in mountains would exclude the Mississippi. But the concepts provide a valuable link between science and geography. Reading level and concepts are well suited for third or fourth graders.
Source: NSTA Recommends
SALAMANDER RAIN: A LAKE & POND JOURNAL. Written and illustrated by Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini. Dawn Publications, 2001. 32pp. ISBN 1-58469-017-8. (E)
Bold illustrations and journal notes, maps, clips from news articles, and fun tidbits provide a brilliant model for student journals. The story joyfully describes major seasonal changes that occur in a temperate pond community.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 2002
SQUISHY, MISTY, DAMP & MUDDY: THE IN-BETWEEN WORLD OF WETLANDS. Molly Cone. Illustrated with various photographs. Sierra Club, 1996. 32pp. ISBN 0-87156-480-7. (E, I)
Stunning, well-placed photographs pull the reader into this book. The story here is diversity--of wetlands and the abundant life they support. It also speaks of their precarious future and the importance of preservation. Cone’s richly innovative text is enhanced by touches of alliteration and an almost poetic cadence.
Source: NSTA Outstanding Books 1997
STREAM ECOLOGY: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF RUNNING WATERS. J.D. Allan. New York: Chapman & Hall, 1995. ISBN 412294303. (I, HS, C, G)
Source: WorldCat
WATER. L.B. Leopold. New York: Time, Inc., 1966. OCLC 712049. (G)
Source: WorldCat
WATER. Christopher McHugh. New York: Thomson Learning, 1993. ISBN 156847024x. (E, I)
A brief examination of the ways artists from all over the world have portrayed water in their art.
Source: Athena
WATER. Wendy Richardson. Chicago: Childrens Press, 1994, 1989. ISBN 0516092863. (E, I)
Presents paintings, woodcuts, and a tapestry by notable artists expressing ideas about water in its various forms.
Source: Athena
WATER ALL AROUND. Catherine Nichols. New York: Benchmark Books, 2002. ISBN 0761412565. (E)
Source: Athena
WATER, THE DROP OF LIFE. Peter Swanson. Minnetonka, MN: NorthWord Press, 2001. ISBN 1559717823. (G)
Companion to the public television series.
Source: WorldCat
WATER: THE FATE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE. Marq De Villiers. Toronto: M&S, 2003. ISBN 771026412. (I, HS, C, G)
Source: WorldCat
WATER: OUR PRECIOUS RESOURCE. R. A. Gallant. New York: Benchmark Books, 2003. OCLC 47797864. (E, I)
An in-depth look at Earth’s waters and mankind’s uses of water throughout history which includes ideas about planning better use of this critical resource in the future.
Source: WorldCat
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE. Eloise Greenfield. New York: HarperFestival, 1999. ISBN 0694012475. (E)
An exploration of water for young readers who are fascinated by fountains, puddles, faucets, and other wet things.
Source: Athena
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE. M.J. Rauzon. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books for Children, 1994. ISBN 871563835. (E, I)
Describes the many forms water takes, how it has shaped the Earth, and its importance to life.
Source: WorldCat, Athena
THE WATER’S JOURNEY. Eleonore Schmid. New York: North-South Books, 1990, c1989. ISBN 1558580131. (E, I)
Explains the water cycle from precipitation through a stream into a river, a like, and on to the ocean and back into the atmosphere by evaporation to repeat the cycle.
Source: Athena
WHERE DO PUDDLES GO?. Fay Robinson. Chicago: Childrens Press, 1995. ISBN 0516060368. (E)
Source: Athena
WOW! THE WONDERS OF WETLANDS. Alan S. Kesselheim, Britt Eckhardt Slattery, Susan H. Higgins, Mark R. Schilling. St. Michaels, MD: Environmental Concern, 1995. 330 pp. ISBN 1-888631-00-7. (E, I, HS)
This book is an exciting and complete educational resource book of background material for teachers who are preparing wetland study units. It features discussions of the physical science, chemistry, and biology of wetlands as well as their socioeconomic benefits. Other chapters address the topics of management and action for wetlands. This book focuses on easy-to-follow, hands-on/minds-on activities that encourage students to use higher-order thinking skills as they collect data and make conclusions. The activities also develop students’ beliefs about the nature of science and teach the importance of science literacy and good citizenship through community involvement.
Source: NSTA Recommends

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