I was deeply honored to receive a Riverby award for nature writing for Magic in a Drop of Water on Monday. It was also a thrill to meet the amazing illustrator, @susan_reagan and my
wonderful editor @laurihornik for the first time, and to be in the company of
such stellar authors.
Only one week until the Poughkeepsie (NY) Children's Book Festival. Meet 100+ children's authors and illustrators (including me!). All kids get one free book! #kidlit #STEM #PokBookFest
I'm honored that my picture book MAGIC IN A DROP OF WATER, illustrated by Susan Reagan, has been selected by the John Burroughs Association as a winner of a 2026 Riverby Award for natural history writing for young readers. Thanks to my editor Lauri Hornik and congratulations to the other honorees (see photo).
Today celebrates a scientist whose lifelong curiosity about the natural world transformed how the health of our planet is understood. 💧🔬
Featured Book: Magic in a Drop of Water: How Ruth Patrick Taught the World About Water Pollution
Author: Julie Winterbottom
Illustrator: Susan Reagan
Long before she became a world-renowned ecologist, Ruth Patrick was a young girl exploring streams with her father, collecting specimens and peering through a microscope. This picture book follows her journey as she pioneered the study of diatoms—tiny algae that reveal the hidden health of a river. Her groundbreaking research proved that biological diversity is the key to clean water and led her to help shape the Clean Water Act. It is a celebration of how one person's dedication to the "magic" in a single drop of water can lead to a legacy of environmental protection for the entire world.
Classroom/Home Activity 💡
The Diatom Discovery: Invite students to illustrate a "healthy" stream versus an "unhealthy" one, focusing on the diversity of life beneath the surface. Discuss how small organisms can tell a big story about the environment around us.
🔍 Discussion Question
"Ruth Patrick looked at tiny drops of water to solve giant problems. What is something small in nature that you think deserves more attention?"
#MagicInADropOfWater #RuthPatrick #WomenInScience #STEM #EnvironmentalHistory PictureBookBiography
I was thrilled to learn that MAGIC IN A DROP OF WATER: HOW RUTH PATRICK TAUGHT THE WORLD ABOUT WATER POLLUTION is a nominee for the 2026 SCBWI Golden Kite Award in the Nonfiction for Younger Readers category. This was my first picture book, and I learned the craft by reading countless books by seasoned PB authors. So it means a great deal to be recognized by my peers, alongside authors @viviankirkfield , Rajani LaRocca, Amy Hevron, and Kate Messner. Much appreciation to my editor, @laurihornik , ace illustrator @susan_reagan , and the team at @rockypondbooks
I was thrilled to see my book MAGIC IN A DROP OF WATER on the National Science Teachers' Association's Outstanding Science Trade Books 2026. I worked hard to get the science right (as did illustrator @susan_reagan ) so it's wonderful that science pros liked it. @penguinclassroom@laurihornik@steamteambooks
Illustration by Susan Reagan
A highlight of August was the nonfiction workshop I attended at the Highlights Fdtn. I didn’t see Goofus or Galant but I did get to stay in the Nikki Grimes cabin.
