Publishers Weekly
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A young Cuban narrator anticipating a family water delivery offers a necessary reminder that water is a resource not freely available to all. “Five days have passed since the water man’s last visit,” and the family is eager to bathe, wash clothes, cook rice, boil water “so that it’s clean enough to drink without getting sick,” and even water some trees. A rooftop tank is filled to the top, and the fish lady soon delivers “silvery little peces to pour in the tank” to consume mosquito larvae and prevent disease spread. In great-grandma’s day, “the rains came every afternoon all summer, filling the well and... big clay jars,” but today, after weather and groundwater changes, “without the water man... we would be so thirsty.” This theme carries through to debut creator Sua’s painted cut-paper illustrations, which use hues of brown and blue. Focusing on the realities of limited water resources alongside an occurrence that makes “our whole neighborhood... noisy and lively,” the creators create a portrait of a day that “feels like a river of joy” flowing “for my whole thirsty familia.” Back matter includes an author’s note and more about the global water crisis. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Amid water scarcity, a small Cuban town adapts and survives thanks to the water man. Water day is finally here! Before the water man arrives, the family must prepare. Mami needs to “mend our leaky hose while Papi fixes the rusty pump” to ensure that the blue tank on the roof can hold all the water that the “whole thirsty familia” needs. It’s been five days since la familia last got water to bathe, cook, drink, and flush the toilet. But here comes the water man, bringing in water via wagon and horse. Bisabuelita sings to the fruit trees; she remembers the days when the plentiful rains would fill wells and big clay jars. “What changed? Everything. Weather. Rivers. Groundwater. Lakes.” Now, it’s water day that brings those hopeful stirrings “like a river of joy” to the neighborhood. When everyone gets the water that’s needed, the water man departs, expected back in another five days. In this understated, plainspoken, yet compelling tale narrated by the family’s child, Engle chronicles an unfortunate reality for many communities. The subsequent author’s note briefly reiterates the complex, often interwoven reasons behind water shortages across the world and includes a limited call to action that’s easy to miss. Sua’s rustic, lively, cheerful artwork depicts a vibrant Cuban community with people diverse in skin tones. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An insightful consideration of the global water crisis. (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.