Still Water: The Wonders of Ponds, Pools, Wetlands, and More

The vital ecosystems of ponds, puddles, swamps, and more in come alive in this gorgeously illustrated exploration of wetlands.

Human beings love babbling brooks and rushing rivers--but when we see water that stands still, we've historically called it unsafe, unhealthy, and even useless. Yet still water ecosystems like wetlands are teeming with life--and they're critical to our planet's survival. How? And why?

Still Water is a lushly illustrated journey through still water ecosystems, inviting readers to learn about their makeup, their inhabitants, their importance, and their future, including:

• Why are still water ecosystems misunderstood?
• How do they actually contribute to the health of our world?
• What are the important differences between wetland environments?
• Who lives in wetlands, and how do animals like frogs and birds adapt to them for survival?
• How do places like peat bogs fight climate change?
• How do invasive species affect the balance of an ecosystem?
• What do we need to know about the future of ponds and wetlands?

Translated from Italian by Batchelder Award winner Sylvia Notini, Still Water includes helpful backmatter with a glossary of terms and a link to the creators' bibliography. This browsable nonfiction book is ideal for field trips to natural history museums and local ponds, as well as celebrations of Earth Day, World Wetlands Day, and World Wildlife Day. Part of Eerdmans' Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers series.

Valentina Gottardi has pursued her dual passions of art and nature since childhood. At Cocai Books, she serves as artistic director and designer for all projects, including this book, Who Hid the Stars? (Eerdmans), and The Tomorrow Tree (Phaidon).

Danio Miserocchi is a coauthor of The Tomorrow Tree (Phaidon) and Who Hid the Stars? (Eerdmans). He is an Italian naturalist and teacher who works with museums and community organizations on conservation and biodiversity initiatives. Follow Danio on Instagram @daniomiserocchi.

Maciej Michno is an editor at Cocai Books, which creates educational, scientifically verified books focused on often-overlooked natural subjects. His previous titles include Who Hid the Stars? (Eerdmans) and The Tomorrow Tree (Phaidon)

Sylvia Notini has translated over 200 titles from Italian into English, including Who Hid the Stars? (Eerdmans) and Sea Wonders (Princeton Architectural). Her translation of Just a Girl (HarperCollins) won the 2023 Mildred L. Batchelder Award, and her translation of Chickenology (Princeton Architectural) was a finalist for the AAAS Prize for Excellence in Science Books. Sylvia lives in Castenaso, just outside of Bologna, Italy. Visit her website at sylvianotini.com.