Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis
Recent children's nonfiction has taken a quantum leap forward. Gone are the didactic, textbook-style approaches to informational books, Today young readers are treated to interesting information in a variety of print formats. Hey, Water! is a stellar example of this current evolution in nonfiction. Portis has created a picture book that combines striking images, carefully selected text, and accurate information. The author employs an unusual literary device. Little Zoe, enjoying a bath, considers her surroundings and speaks directly to water, an everyday friend. Zoe itemizes her ongoing experiences with water and considers the properties of this essential substance. |
The final page forgoes the standard linear narrative as Zoe concludes her bath. "Hey, water, thank you!" is inscribed on the red bathmat. Note: love the scuba mask on the cover. Zoe, and by extension the world, appear differently when viewed through an underwater lens.