Water is a shape-shifter, a life-giver, an almost magical thing. Explore the journey of water from the sea, to your glass, to your cells.
About the Book
From sea to clouds.
From clouds to rain.
From rain to lake.
From lake to glass.
Water is a shape-shifter.
Take a big gulp.
Can you taste the sea?
In this ode to water, learn how the lifecycle of water works. All the water on earth is all there ever was, and all there ever will be. So, the next time you pour a glass of water, take a moment to think about all the wonderful things this life-giving resource does.
Author Laura Alary’s free verse breaks big ideas into child-sized pieces, making Sea in My Cells an accessible introduction to the water cycle. Andrea Blinick’s illustrations take readers from the kitchen to the ocean and to the clouds and back. A concluding Author’s Note shares further information about the water cycle for young readers.
Read a conversation between illustrator Andrea Blinick and myself here.
Book Details
- Author : Laura Alary
- Illustrator : Andrea Blinick
- Publisher : Pajama Press (May 2025)
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 1772783420
- ISBN-13 : 978-1772783421
Reviews
This imaginative and informative take on the water cycle begins with the fact that all living things are made mostly of water… Alary’s breezy text encourages readers to consider not only how important this precious resource is but also the fact that “all the water that is is all that ever was.” Our drinking water, for example, “has been many things in many places at many times”—even snowflakes on the coat of a woolly mammoth. Alary doesn’t delve too deeply into these mind-expanding concepts, but the message about the importance of water to life on Earth is crystal clear. An appended author’s note provides more information and a gentle conservation message.
“Perhaps what is most skillful about Alary’s narrative is her ability to bring together the macrocosmic with the microcosmic. She explains a process that can feel far bigger than us, at a remove from our daily lives, in a way that reminds us of how interconnected we really are… At a time of climate emergency, it is more vital than ever for children to understand the connection between their lives and the fragile ecosystem of the Earth. Sea in my Cells will inspire students, parents, and teachers alike.”
“Alary and Blinick offer a child-friendly look at the connection between people and the sea around us, pointing out the importance of water in our world… An appealing package that conveys an important message.”
“Charming illustrations support this simple but effective explanation of the water cycle, including cutaways of underground cartoon mice doing laundry and enjoying office water coolers. This engaging offering comes from the same team that produced Sun in My Tummy (2023), a cheerful exploration of the food chain. We have another winner.”
~ Booklist
“Children will be excited to learn about the essential role of water, not only in the world around them, but also within their own bodies.”
~ Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database
“Sea in My Cells is a great book about water, highlighting the connection between people and the sea, and how that water is important to everyday life. Children ages 4 and up will enjoy the fantasy-filled illustrations, and adults will enjoy the way that this book captures young readers’ attention while managing to teach them the important aspects of water.”
This link between scientific observation, personal experience, and better understanding of water in the world will be a perfect introduction for adults looking to connect scientific concepts to everyday life in a way that picture book readers can readily understand. Bright, colorful illustrations reinforce these experiences and lend appeal to the science.
~ Midwest Book Review
Laura Alary 