Welcome to Cantastic Authorpalooza, featuring posts by and about great Canadian children’s book creators! Today’s guest: Rochelle Strauss. Take it away, Rochelle!
All the water on Earth is … All the water on Earth!
Look around you. Water is everywhere you look, whether you can see it or not! We are surrounded by water, in its liquid form, solid or vapor. Not only does it surround us…it also connects us. Every living species on the planet depends on water.
That is the premise of my new book All the Water on Earth.
When Kids Can Press approached me with the idea of writing a junior version of my award-winning book One Well: The Story of Water on Earth, I worried it was a big bucket to fill. One Well is a beloved book (over 650,000 copies sold!) and the story of water is an important one. Could I convey the themes behind One Well to a younger audience?
But shifting from middle grade to picture books gave me a fresh opportunity to continue exploring what I’ve been passionate about for years – using books to build young people’s connections to nature and inspire them to take action.
The Power of a Good Story
Whether fiction or nonfiction, middle grade or picture book, books about species or spaces draw readers in with rich narratives, engaging illustrations and dynamic book designs. This layered approach sparks curiosity, nurtures empathy, and creates personal connections, which is foundational for building connections and teaching eco-literacy.
Children’s books do more than answer questions about whale sharks or climate change. They help young readers make sense of a complex world. By weaving together science and discovery, and offering multiple perspectives, these stories reveal the connections between people, species, spaces, and ecosystems. They inspire critical and creative thinking and invite readers to explore different ways to respond to environmental challenges. They also encourage readers to reflect on their place in the world.
A good nature story can also help ease eco-anxiety – the feelings of worry, fear and despair that many young people feel when confronted with environmental issues. By sharing stories about people restoring habitats, protecting species, or creating change, children’s books shine a light on pathways forward. They show readers that they are not powerless observers, but rather, potential participants. And when young people discover ways to act, or are given opportunities to take action, hope often follows.
The Litmus Test
I’ve had much success with my middle grade books. I’ve seen first-hand the power of my words to inspire readers around the world to connect with nature. But would my foray into writing for a younger audience also have an impact? Could I capture the magic of One Well in my new book All the Water on Earth?
The true litmus test of a book is the first public reading. And I didn’t have to wait long. Eight days after it arrived on bookshelves, I found myself presenting to a group of eager young people at an event in Hamilton. Sure enough – they ohhh and awed where I’d hoped they would, reacting to the words, the rhythm and the story structure. They were moved by the illustrations, as I knew they would be, and responded strongly to how the illustrator, Madelyn Goodnight, complemented the story with her images. From the first page to the last, the children were engaged, and perhaps more importantly, started to recognize their own connections to water. When a child called out, partway through the reading, “Water is all around us. We are all connected by water!,” I knew the book had hit its mark!!
A good book has the power to engage hearts and minds and inspire change. One Well has done that many times over…and I am excited to watch All the Water on Earth as it navigates a new audience and hopefully creates its own ripples of change!
Book Launch
If you are in the Toronto area, please join fellow author Caroline Fendandez and I for a joint watery book launch! Caroline’s new book Asha and Baz Meet Sylvia Earle recently set sail, and I will officially launch All the Water on Earth. We will be at Mabel’s Fables (540 Mt Pleasant Rd) on June 23, 2026, from 6:30-8:30 for a reading, snacks and a chance to purchase our books and have them signed! Everyone is welcome!
Rochelle Strauss is on a mission to change the world – one book at a time! As an environmental educator and award-winning children’s author, Rochelle is dedicated to building environmental literacy and inspiring people to become active stewards of our planet. Through her work, she uses compelling storytelling to bring complex ecological processes and environmental issues to life, helping young people better understand the natural world and empowering them to have a positive impact. Most importantly, Rochelle also brings HOPE by sharing good new stories of action and innovation from around the world. Rochelle’s children’s books have won several awards, been translated globally and incorporated into curriculum in the US. The Global Ocean is a UNESCO endorsed Ocean Decade Activity, and One Well: The Story of Water on Earth was selected as part of the UN’s SDG Book Club in support of SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. One Well has also sold over half a million copies internationally. Her newest book, All the Water on Earth is a lyrical picture book loosely based on One Well.