An African Girls Journey to Collect Drinking Water
Title: The Water Princess
Author: Susan Verde
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Genre: Fiction
Keywords: Water Supply, Black Girl, Village, Vision.
Summary: As she rises every morning, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is flourishing with everything except for clean drinking water. It becomes a routine for Princess Gie Gie to get up super early before the sun rises, so she can bring clean drinking water to her family. Every Night she dreams that one day her village will have clean drinking water...
This book is inspired by the childhood of Burkina Faso model, Georgie Badiel. Her dream is becoming a reality, as she closely works with Ryan Well to bring water supplies to Burkina Faso!
Guiding Questions:
-Pre-reading Questions:
What images do you see in the background and how can you compare this to what you see outside?
What do you think she is carrying?
What time do you think she is outside?
-After:
What were your thoughts before you read the book and what are your thoughts now?
In what ways do you find yourself being similar to Gie Gie's life, and in what ways to you find it yourself different?
Why it is appropriate for the primary learner: This book is appropriate for the Primary learner because it shows that not everyone around the world has the privilege of pouring water from their faucets to have clean drinking water. It is a great way to teach students to be more mindful of the privileges we don't recognize from the day to day.
"Why is the water so far"
"Why is the water not clear?"
-Georgie Badiel to her mother
Classroom Suggestions
Classroom Suggestion #1: This book can be inspired to make students write a daily Mindful Journal for the things they are grateful for. It also could be an inspirational book which students can record what ways they want to make a difference in the world. This does not have to be huge acts, the valuable lesson here is to teach students ways to be mindful in their surrounding and in the larger world around them. This classroom activity also ties into Martens article, when they explain how global literacy can show students ways they can take action in small ways that add up ( Martens, pg.616).
Classroom Suggestion #2 : This book can inspire a classroom project to ask students to write about someone who they think as a role model to create change. I thought of this idea when I read how Gie Gie had a dream when she was younger to have clean drinking water, and when she got older she made his dream a reality by building water wells in Burkina Faso. The leader does not have to be famous, rather this project is to get students thinking of the characteristics of what a role model embodies. The second part to this assignment would be to ask students what they can do in their daily lives to be role models for themselves and for people around them.
The Global Perspective
For a primary learner it is important begin to learn that norms and customs that they may take for granted can be another child's dream. This book is a great way to begin the introduction of understanding how different parts of the world live.
This book is inspirational as it shows how a young black girl grows up to fulfil her dreams in establishing clean drinking water in her homeland. Dwyer article mentions allowing for a global perspective gives students need to be capable to have a dynamic of learning about the interconnected world. This is done so when students investigate the world and become “informed, open-minded, empathetic, creative, imaginative, and innovative individuals”. Also Dwyer mentioned how global perspective can show students how to embrace and learn intercultural dialogues so students can develop “participation as curators of the planet and a sense of awareness.” (Dwyer ,131-132)
This quote below can be found at Georgie Badiel's foundation for bringing clean drinking water to Burkina Faso.
"Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene are of critical importance to a community; creating opportunities, unlocking education, economic prosperity, and improved health. Join us in making the dream of clean water a reality"
