Magic in a Drop of Water

An entertaining and gorgeous picture book biography of scientist and environmental hero Ruth Patrick, one of the first to warn about the dangers of pollution.

A brilliant scientist and intrepid explorer, the ecologist Ruth Patrick taught the world how to care for the environment. She studied water pollution long before it became a public concern and gave other scientists the tools to do something about it. Born in 1907, Ruth Patrick was one of the only women in her field when she made her breakthrough discovery about biodiversity and the ecosystem of rivers, forever changing how ecologists understand pollution.

Lyrically, joyfully written, exquisitely illustrated, and full of fascinating details and a rich afterword and timeline, this STEM biography will inspire readers who love the environment to follow their passion and curiosity.

Julie Winterbottom writes books for kids about nature and ecology and is the author of two humor books, Pranklopedia and What a Blast!. She is the former editor-in-chief of Nickelodeon magazine, where her dual passions for quirky nonfiction and irreverent humor found the perfect home. When she’s not writing, she loves exploring the shores of the Hudson River near her home in Beacon, New York.

Susan Reagan has illustrated a range of products over the years, but her focus now is on the storytelling illustration she loves, and she has illustrated many picture books. She graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the Columbus College of Art and Design and now teaches illustration techniques at The Cleveland Institute of Art. She lives with her husband in Tremont, a historical neighborhood of her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.