Cycle of Rice, Cycle of Life

Review
By PlanetEsme

By following the affects of the agricultural decisions of a boy and girl in a village, the story becomes more pertinent to young readers. Straightforwardly told and with pockets of tension, the story is accented with largely idyllic Balinese scenes in a photojournalistic style reminiscent of George Ancona. The vocabulary is challenging and specific to the topic, but words like subak, aerate, Jero Gde and weir are neatly defined in the glossary and pronunciation guide in the back. This book is wonderful literature tie-in for learning about the water cycle, and affords a chance to gain a greater sense of connection and gratitude about where both our food and our water come from. —PlanetEsme