4 out of 4 stars
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All About Water: As Told by the Plumber Who’s Seen It All is written by plumber, Greg Chick, who has over 40 years’ experience in the business, and co-authored by M.P. Zarrella. It is touted as a book for home owners and people who care. Full of illustrations, advice and stories, its 154 pages contain facts and statistics in an easily understood, readable format.
Chick introduces fictional cousins, Mac and Mike, to illustrate the extremes of water waste and conservation. Mac has a global mindset. Mike is more into self-interest. Both become lawyers, but Mac settles in Portland, Oregon and becomes an organic farmer, while Mike enters the corporate world of New York City. It’s an effective way to tell the story of water and discuss the importance of conservation. Divided into chapters such as: The Water Cycle, Heating Water, Water Reuse, and The History of Plumbing, the book offers a concise overview of all things water related, including references and links for those wishing to learn more. Each chapter ends with advice on conserving water or solving a particular problem.
One thing that struck me about the book is its usefulness as a tool to teach young children about water conservation. The illustrations by Audrey Ly are fun, and young children would relate to H2Homie (the water guy), a cartoon, water drop appearing at the end of chapters with questions and facts to expand upon information. The anecdotes and illustrations throughout the book could easily be used to foster family discussions about water use and conservation awareness. Many helpful hints and facts are presented in illustrations to help children understand the importance of careful water usage.
Having read many articles on conservation, I can say this is one of the more enjoyable reads on the subject I’ve encountered. I appreciate the author’s enthusiasm for his subject and his desire to educate his readers. It is apparent this book is a work of love. Well-written and edited, it is quite entertaining for a book of this nature. Using the characters, Mac and Mike, throughout as examples of good and bad water usage renders the information easily attainable.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to anyone wishing to learn more about water, plumbing, and conservation. It offers valuable information and includes plenty of references and links for those seeking more. As an informative guide for families wishing to teach their children about conservation or a helpful reference in the home, All About Water delivers.
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All About Water
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