Riparia's River

In an environmental story that's part cautionary tale, part call to action, Caduto (the Keepers of the Earth series) introduces four children who are puzzled when they discover their river swimming hole is filled with "green stuff" and "smells like a sewer." Walking upstream, they encounter Riparia, a wise woman who tells them her name means "of the riverbank," and cautions them not to swim, since the river "isn't well." She delivers an accessible ecology lesson, pointing out birches that shade the water to keep its temperature cool enough so fish and insects can thrive. However, she also reveals that chemicals and manure from a farmer's fields are polluting the water. When Riparia proffers a solution to protect the water, the kids galvanize the community to take action. Pastuchiv's (Minas and the Fish) earth-toned paintings are dappled with light; her human characters have a rough, sketchlike quality, particularly compared to the more precise portrayals of wildlife and lush vegetation. Ages 8%E2%80%9312. (July)