MAGIC IN A DROP OF WATER: HOW RUTH PATRICK TAUGHT THE WORLD ABOUT WATER POLLUTION, by Julie Winterbottom and Susan Reagan, Rocky Pond Books, March 25, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 6-9)
Magic in a Drop of Water, by Julie Winterbottom and Susan Reagan, is a biography of scientist and environmental hero Ruth Patrick, one of the first to warn about the dangers of pollution.
A brilliant scientist and intrepid explorer, the ecologist Ruth Patrick taught the world how to care for the environment. She studied water pollution long before it became a public concern and gave other scientists the tools to do something about it. Born in 1907, Ruth Patrick was one of the only women in her field when she made her breakthrough discovery about biodiversity and the ecosystem of rivers, forever changing how ecologists understand pollution. —Synopsis provided by Rocky Pond Books
If you give someone a chance, they can change the world. That’s what Ruth Patrick did. Magic in a Drop of Water is a thoughtful picture book biography that follows Ruth from childhood curiosity to adult action.
Author Julie Winterbottom tells Ruth’s story in an almost conversational tone that is a joy to read aloud or to one’s self. And illustrator Susan Reagan’s beautiful watercolor illustrations provide context and added interest.
Strong backmatter includes more information on Ruth’s life and a timeline.
Magic in a Drop of Water is a fascinating nonfiction read that has multiple STEM applications.
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