Gr 1–4—In these United States, some people wake up thirsty, but there is no water. Darlene is not only the Water
Lady (who delivers water to families on a Navajo Nation reservation); she is also the bearer of news, social connections, and other threads of community life. Begay's watercolors depict a parched landscape full of desert
beauty, and a sure path for children wanting to know more about water management in the Navajo Nation and
elsewhere.

A young boy named Cody is living on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico, but they run out of water! Luckily, the “Water Lady” comes to their rescue. Learn about Navajo terms and notes about life on a reservation.

This book begins with a glossary of Navaho words. The story it relates takes place on the Diné, or Navajo, reservation that spans parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, and which is home to more than 150,000 people. The author tells us in her note at the end of the book that almost 40 percent of the people living on the reservation do not have running water in their homes.

The narrative focuses on a fictional Diné boy named Cody, but the circumstances of his life are real and representative of others on the reservation. Cody looks forward to visits from Darlene Arviso, who delivers 3,500 gallons of water to between ten and twelve homes a day on a route that includes 220 homes without water lines. She is called the “Water Lady.”

The author shares what a day is like on Darlene’s route, where not only the people but the animals and plants are starved for water. McGinty writes:

“She knows that the families will make careful use of their gift:

They’ll fill the chickens’ feeder with just enough fresh water.
They’ll catch each drop from a shower to water the flowers.
They’ll reuse dishwater to mop floors and bathwater to do laundry.
They’ll use laundry water again to wash the car.”

In the back matter, which includes an Author’s Note, sources, and “A Note from the Water Lady,” McGinty explains what other efforts are being made to bring water to the reservation.

The illustrator, Shonto Begay, is a member of the Navajo Nation. He uses watercolors that emphasize desert hues accentuated by the colorful clothing and artwork of the Diné.

Evaluation: Children who have more privileged lives will learn that America is not the “land of plenty” for all people, and will get an introduction to the conditions in the reservations where Native People have lived since they were rounded up and sent there. Adults may want to help children explore why it has been so difficult to improve the situation on reservations, such as the reluctance of businesses to locate there, and the debilitating and cascading effects of poverty. ( )

simple story of water scarcity on Navajo Nation ( )