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Topic: Rivers, Coasts & the Water Cycle

song of the river

Song of the River

Chapter book

Times are tough for Cari and her mum. A violent storm has flooded the valley where they live, destroying their home and café business.

Things seem bleak – but hope appears in the form of a plan to reintroduce beavers into the area, as the changes that these amazing animals make to the waterways might prevent another flood.

Cari knows that she has to get involved. But with the project facing resistance from locals, can she convince them to give the beavers a chance – and will it be enough to save her home from being destroyed for a second time?

Rivers and Coasts Topic

Best children’s books about rivers, coasts and water cycles

A river is a large, natural stream of flowing water that usually flows out to sea. The topics of rivers, coasts and water are components of the National Curriculum in primary schools, covering aspects of both Science and Geography. From erosion and tributaries to precipitation and the water cycle, we’ve got the topic well covered with our selection of the best children’s books about rivers, coasts and water.

A River

Picturebook

There is a river outside my window. Where will it take me? So begins an imaginary journey from the city to the sea. From factories to farmlands, freeways to forest, each new landscape is explored through stunning illustrations and poetic text from this award-winning picture-book creator.

The Secret of Black Rock

Picturebook

WINNER OF THE 2018 WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE FOR BEST ILLUSTRATED BOOK

This surreal modern folk-tale tells the story of an adventurous young girl who must protect a peaceful living creature.

Erin loves to lie on the jetty, looking for the weirdest fish in the sea — the weirder, the better! And she knows the best ones must be further out, where her mum won’t let her go …Out there in the deepest sea lies the Black Rock: a huge, dark and spiky mass that is said to destroy any boats that come near it! Can Erin uncover the truth behind this mysterious legend?

The Rhythm of the Rain

Picturebook

Issac plays in his favourite pool on the mountainside. As rain starts to fall, he empties his little jar of water into the pool and races the sparkling streams as they tumble over waterfalls, rush through swollen rivers and burst out into the vast open sea.

Where will my little jar of water go now? Issac wonders.

On the other side of the world, Cassi welcomes the rain to her parched village . . .

From tiniest raindrop to deepest ocean, this breathtaking celebration of the water cycle captures the remarkable movement of water across the earth in all its majesty. A stunning new non-fiction picture book from Greenaway medal-winner, Grahame Baker-Smith.

Amazing Rivers

Non-fiction

Fearless adventurers, set sail on a fascinating voyage down the world’s most extraordinary rivers!

Discover over 100 of the world’s most incredible rivers in this fascinating title by Julie Vosburgh Agnone and illustrated by prize-winner Kerry Hyndman. Amazing Rivers takes readers on a tour of the world’s waterways, revealing the animals that call them home, the societies that rely on them, and the environmental issues threatening them along the way.

Learn about incredible wildlife, from brown bears catching salmon that swim upstream to anacondas large enough to eat a pig. Explore astounding natural wonders, from a boiling river so hot you can cook an egg in it to a multicoloured river that flows like a liquid rainbow. And discover awesome river traditions, from ritual baths to rubber duck racing to barefoot waterskiing!

The River Singers

Chapter book

Something was approaching the burrow. Something deadly. Something that made Sylvan’s fur bristle with fear . . .

Knowing their lives are under threat, Sylvan and his brother and sisters have no choice but to abandon their burrow for ever. Together they set out on an epic journey along the Great River; but with dangers lurking at every turn, will they ever find a safe place to call home? Now available in paperback, this exciting and beautifully-illustrated animal adventure has the makings of a future children’s classic.

Amazon River

Non-fiction

Beginning with a tiny trickle high in the mountains, smaller streams join until they form the world’s largest river. Crossing a continent, it winds through lush rainforests until it meets the ocean. From piranhas to the giant anaconda, this mighty waterway is home to the world’s most incredible ecosystem. Welcome to the Amazon River.

This stunning illustrated guide to the world’s most famous river and its surrounding rainforest is packed with incredible facts about South America’s wildlife, people, geography and history.

Once Upon a Raindrop: The Story of Water

Picturebook, Poetry

Do you know why the Moon’s so dry and yet our world is wet? Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of water and discover the story of H20 from its very beginning. Engaging, informative poetry flows over the pages and stunning illustrations bring this story to rushing, gushing life.

A Drop in the Ocean: The Story of Water

Non-fiction

This series uses cartoon style illustrations and humorous narrative text to make key topics in Science and Geography both accessible and engaging. This approach encourages children to read about and understand complex ideas. This story follows the passage of a water droplet, from the time when it evaporates from the ocean and becomes the water vapour that makes up clouds to the moment it falls as rain. We learn how water is cleaned and used before being returned once again to this never-ending cycle. This book also contains an experiment, more great facts to know, useful websites and an index.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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