Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water Around the Earth

Illustrated by Molly Bang

“I am your Sun. My energy warms your days. I light up your world. But of all my planets, only one is teeming with life: your Earth. Why? Because it is covered with water – H2O – always moving, always changing, from liquid to solid to vapor and back again.”

Centered around the mantra “water is life,” Rivers of Sunlight describes the way in which water and sunlight work together to provide life to planet Earth. The sun serves as narrator, detailing the science behind the water cycle. The book emphasizes how the movement of water, both on land and in the ocean, is essential for maintaining stable global temperatures and for providing nutrients and energy to living beings. Unfortunately, human activities have disrupted Earth’s natural water balance. The sun implores readers to help preserve the planet’s natural resources and commit to responsible water usage: “I, your sun, will do my part to keep Earth’s water clean and flowing. Will you do your part? Will you find ways to use water sparingly and keep it clean?” 

The fourth book of the Sunlight Series, Rivers of Sunlight showcases the remarkable natural processes that help keep Earth in balance. Through its exploration of the water cycle, the book shows that all life is interconnected, thanks to the help of water and the sun. Humans have the responsibility of consuming water sustainably in order to maintain the balance of life. However, poor management has led to a substantial amount of contaminated, non-potable water across the globe. In a classroom setting, this can be used to relate to the concept of environmental justice by shedding light on the global water crisis and the lack of access to clean water in certain parts of the world. The book mentions how the imbalance has resulted in some regions having too much water, leading to floods, while others have too little, causing droughts. The ending section also expands on the issue of global warming, saying that as the planet warms up, there will be even more problems of sea level rise and extreme weather events. Following the sun’s narration, the book includes six more pages of water facts presented in paragraph form. Given the book’s surplus of information and overwhelming emphasis on the importance of water for sustaining life, readers will hopefully finish the text with a greater understanding of the need for water conservation.

©2024 Climate Lit (Alexandra Delacruz)

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Publisher: The Blue Sky Press, 2017

Pages: 48

Lexile Score: AD830L

ISBN: 978-0545805414

Audience: Ages 4-7, Ages 8-13

Format: Nonfiction, Picturebooks

Science Standards: 2-ESS2-2, 2-ESS2-3, 5-ESS2-2, 5-LS1-1, 5-PS3-1, K-PS3-1, MS-ESS2-4, MS-LS2-3

Topics: Drought, Environmental Justice, Extreme Weather Events, Flood, Global Warming, Interconnectedness, Science, Sea Level Rise, Water, Water Conservation, Water Crisis, Water Cycle, Water Pollution

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