Recommended Books
These books and other resources will help children explore the unit’s themes and topics.
Fiction
Big Pig and Little Pig by David McPhail
Big Pig and Little Pig take different approaches to building their own swimming pool.
Dot & Jabber and the Mystery of the Missing Stream by Ellen Stoll Walsh
The morning after a storm, two mouse detectives look for the water that has disappeared from their stream.
Beau Beaver Goes to Town by Frances Bloxam
Beau Beaver finally finds a place to call home and he builds a sturdy dam; but, to his surprise—and the people of the town—it’s in the middle of the town!
No More Water in the Tub! by Tedd Arnold
William is getting ready for his bath when the faucet breaks, sending him and his tub surfing on a wet ride.
Otis by Janie Bynum
Because he doesn’t like mud, Otis is different from the other pigs.
Scuffy the Tugboat and His Adventures Down the River by Gertrude Crampton
Scuffy sets off to explore the world, but discovers that he’d rather be home, sailing in his bathtub.
Where the River Begins by Thomas Locker
Josh and Aaron make up stories about where the river that flows past their house begins, and one day they set out to find its origin.
Nonfiction and Concept Books
A Drop of Water by Walter Wick
Features images like a single snowflake and a falling drop of water and covers concepts such as evaporation and condensation.
All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon
Learn about the water cycle in this flowing, lyrical verse.
An Ocean of Animals by Janine Scott
Oceans are jam-packed with moaning whales, skittering crabs, and fluttering anemones. This book gives a peek beneath the waves of Earth’s oceans.
Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean by Arthur Dorros
Clarifies terms like “brook,” “stream,” and “river,” and illustrates where water comes from, how it travels, and where it goes.
Water Habitats by Molly Aloian and Bobbie Kalman
Photos show the plants and animals of ocean, tide pool, lake, pond, river, and swamp habitats and the special adaptations they use in water.
Water: Up, Down, and All Around by Natalie M. Rosinsky
Take a tour of the water cycle to learn where raindrops come from.
Water, Water Everywhere by Mark J. Rauzon and Cynthia Overbeck Bix
Introduces the forms and properties of water and the vital role it plays in the life of our planet.