Canada Water Week is a celebration of water from coast-to-coast-to-coast, held annually in the third week of March to coincide with World Water Day on March 22. Celebrate this week in your classroom or libary with Canadian kids’ books.

Anna Carries Water
Written by Olive Senior
Illustrated by Laura James
Tradewind Books, 2013
ISBN 978-1-896580-60-9
                                    IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades 2-3
Anna’s family needs water for cooking, drinking, washing dishes and brushing teeth. Anna and her siblings fetch water from the spring every day, but she can’t carry it on her head like her older brothers and sisters. Anna worries she’ll never be able to carry water on her head, but her older sister tells her it will “just happen” one day.
Thematic Links: Water – Jamaica – Family

The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by Willow Dawson
Kids Can Press, 2012
ISBN 978-1-55453-747-1
IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grade 4
Author Helaine Becker discusses the many ways the ocean is changing and how those transformations will affect life in the ocean and on land. She looks at the creatures that live in the oceans and what people are doing to protect these bodies of water. The games and experiments allow children to roll up their sleeves and get wet as they learn what they can do to help protect the Earth’s oceans.
Thematic Links: Oceans – Marine Ecology – Marine Pollution – Experiments

Claire and the Water Wish
Written and illustrated by Janice Poon
Kids Can Press, 2009
ISBN 978-1-55453-382-4
IL: Ages 7-10 RL: Grades 2-3
Claire and Jet are thrilled to be back at school. But they start to drift apart when Jet wins a digital camera and only cares about snapping photos with the in crowd. Claire meets a girl who reveals that the water from Lovesick Lake is making people ill. Claire and Jet must then put their differences aside to help bring the lake polluters to justice.
Thematic Links: Water Pollution – Friendship – Health

Cobra Strike
(Orca Sports)
Written by Sigmund Brouwer
Orca Book Publishers, 2007
ISBN 978-1-55143-725-5
IL: Ages 10-14 RL: Grades 4-5
After discovering tainted water in the creek near his grandmother’s cabin, Roy uncovers the connection between his high school’s new star quarterback and the source of the pollution.
Thematic Links: Football – Water Pollution

A Good Trade
Written by Alma Fullerton
Illustrated by Karen Patkau
Pajama Press, 2012
ISBN 978-0-9869495-9-3
                                    IL: Ages 5 and up RL: Grade 2
In this eloquently told and distinctively illustrated book, Kato, a young boy, trudges barefoot past fields and soldiers on the long, hot road to his Ugandan village well. When an aid worker brings a life-changing gift of shoes for all of the village children, Kato finds something to give in return: one small piece of beauty in a war-torn land.
Thematic Links: Uganda – Aid Workers – Water – Gratitude – Poverty

Living Things Need Water
(Introducing Living Things)
Written by Bobbie Kalman
Crabtree Publishing, 2008
ISBN 978-0-7787-3256-3
IL: Ages 5-9 RL: Grades 1-2
Living things are made mostly of water. Learn about the characteristics of water and its different forms. Discover why plants, animals and people need water. Includes “Words to Know” page and index.
Thematic Links: Water – Plant-Water Relationships – Animal-Water Relationships

Luz Makes a Splash
(The Future According to Luz, Book 2)
Written and illustrated by Claudia Dávila
Kids Can Press, 2012
ISBN 978-1-55453-769-3
IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grades 3-5
Luz’s favourite park is suffering in the drought and no one knows what to do to help. The local swimming pond has also been drained by the factory nearby so there’s no where to cool down. Luz must rally her community to help save both of her favourite places. This graphic novel includes a guide on how to make a water-wise gardren.
Thematic Links: Water – Water Conservation – Drought

One Well: The Story of Water on Earth
Written by Rochelle Strauss
Illustrated by Rosemary Woods
Kids Can Press, 2007
ISBN 978-1-55337-954-6
IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grade 3
Water has the power to change everything — a single splash can sprout a seed or quench a thirst. This book shows how every one of us has the power to conserve and protect our global well. Contains illustrations; a note to parents, guardians and teachers; and index.
Thematic Links: Water Cycle – Water

Power Play
(A Graphic Guide Adventure)
Written by Liam O’Donnell
Illustrated by Mike Deas
Orca Book Publishers, 2011
ISBN 978-1-55469-069-5
                           IL: Ages 10-13 RL: Grades 4-6
At the Summit of World Leaders, Devin and Nadia end up in a fight against some of the most powerful people in the world. Amid murder and multinational mayhem, they are in over their heads unravelling a global conspiracy. Will they be able to convince the world’s leaders to protect the Water Rights Accord? Book Six in the series.
Thematic Links: Water – Leadership – Democracy

The Water Cycle
(Nature’s Changes)
Written by Bobbie Kalman and Rebecca Sjonger
Crabtree Publishing, 2006
ISBN 978-0-7787-2310-3
IL: Ages 6-9 RL: Grades 3-4
Discover how evaporation, condensation, precipitation and run-off work together to move water from the ground to the air and then back down again.
Thematic Links: Water – Hydrologic Cycle

Water Pollution
(Science Matters)
Written by Melanie Ostopowich
Weigl Publishers Inc., 2006
ISBN 978-1-59036-313-3
IL: Ages 8 and up RL: Grades 4-5
This book reveals industrial and agricultural water pollution, sewage, oil spills and natural pollutants. The case study on Exxon Valdez and simple experiments add interest.
Thematic Links: Water Pollution

Water Power
(Science Matters)
Written by Christine Webster
Weigl Publishers Inc., 2006
ISBN 978-1-59036-314-0
IL: Ages 8 and up RL: Grades 4-5
Steam engines, tidal power, hydroelectric dams, environmental issues and much more. Includes instructions to make a waterwheel, fascinating facts and additional websites.
Thematic Links: Hydroelectric Power Plants – Water Power

The Wonder in Water
Written by Dianne Swanson
Annick Press, 2005
ISBN 978-1-55037-936-5
IL: Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 1-3
Most water is dripping with life. Dive into these pages and explore just what’s in the wet stuff. From the tiniest raindrop to the vast ocean, readers will be awash in water wonders.
Thematic Links: Science – Weather – Water – Ocean Life