CONTENT:
A River (2015) was written and illustrated by Marc Martin. This picturebook describes an imaginary journey of a girl along a river. The girl looks at the river from the window of her bedroom and she imagines herself sitting on a small boat that sails along it; she dreams of travelling through different landscapes until the river reaches the sea.
WHY USING THIS PICTUREBOOK:
Thanks to this picturebook children have the opportunity to experience the sense of wonder for the beauty of nature. The picturebook can be used to talk about rivers as natural element, their features and their role in the environment. It can be used to promote the reflection on how human activities change the landscape and modify the natural river ecosystems. The readers/listeners’ comprehension is scaffolded by the symmetrical interaction between text and image. The illustrations provide also additional information and a lot of details that can be used to promote discussion with children stimulating their interest and their curiosity. The use of the first person singular in the written text allows children to identify with the main character. The picturebook has a circular structure: the girl’s bedroom is represented at the beginning and at the end. This circularity reminds the readers/listeners of the cyclic nature of water.
