A River of Dust: How Wind-Borne Nutrients from North Africa Nourish the Amazon Rainforest

Over and Under the Rainforest meets This Is How We Do It in A River of Dust—a celebration of global interconnectedness with an environmental lens, at a time when we need it most.



I am dust,

the dust of North Africa.

I connect continents.



The dust of the Sahel—a ribbon of land between the Sahara and the savannah—lifts with the harmattan wind each winter season. But this is not just any dust. The Sahel's dust will mix with dust from the Sahara and travel thousands of miles westward, across the African continent and the Atlantic Ocean, to reunite with its unforgotten home deep in the Amazon basin.



Told in the perspective of dust, A River of Dust takes readers on a journey through vibrantly illustrated landscapes, celebrating the power and wonder of Earth's ecosystems, and showing how these tiny particles are in fact key to the health of our planet. Meticulously researched and lushly illustrated, this picture book is a lyrical ode to global interconnectedness and the vital roles that even the smallest play in taking care of our planet.



GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY: Just like This Is How We Do It, this book emphasizes global connectivity: the Amazon can't succeed by itself, and we all have a role to play.



SMALL PARTICLES, MIGHTY IMPACT: This powerful story of the Sahel's very necessary contribution to the world demonstrates how seemingly inconsequential particles are key to the health of our planet. And if dust can be so important, readers will imagine the impact each one of them can have on the world around them.



EDUCATIONAL TOOL: With strong STEM themes, this offers plenty of opportunities to incorporate into lesson plans, from units on geography and environmental science, particularly lessons on the rainforest, global warming, and interconnected ecosystems.



SOOTHING LULLABY: Poetic and yearning, this picture book has a gentle message that reassures its readers about remaining connected despite time and distance with an affirmation of love that parents will enjoy sharing with their children.



ARTFUL & LUSH: Vivid landscapes, from the deserts of Africa to the rainforests of the Amazon, by illustrator Eugenia Mello, make this lyrical picture book come to life. Note the gorgeous spattering of foil dust on the jacket, which makes this cover glow!



WANT TO LEARN MORE?: Meticulously researched information included at the back of the book provides insight and compelling scientific facts for readers who are curious to know more. Did you know that there are more trees in the Amazon than stars in the Milky Way galaxy?



Perfect for:


Resource for teachers and librarians seeking books about nature, the earth, and ecology for kids

Parents looking for non-fiction picture books and science books for children

A beautiful environmental picture book and lyrical story for anyone interested in learning about ecosystems and the environment

Fans of Over and Under the Rainforest, Over and Under the Pond