What happens when you turn on the tap, but no water comes out? This is the problem facing Sam in the new ebook, Where Did the Water Go? Written and illustrated by recent Bachelor of Design graduates Ella Dufresne and Talia Neufeld, with the guidance of Professor Daniel Roehr, the story follows Sam through different sources of water in our environment. The book features interactive elements that help readers learn more about water, from the salty ocean to the smelly hot spring.
Released by Daniel Roehr’s newly-established Greenskins Audio Press, the interactive ebook is the first in a series that will focus on environment and climate resilience. We caught up with Ella and Talia to learn more about Where Did the Water Go?
What sparked the idea for a children’s book?
It felt most impactful to educate the younger generation about topics surrounding climate resilience, as there is an opportunity to build genuine curiosity and appreciation for our environment. We wanted to create a uniquely engaging story experience which stands out from current ‘interactive’ ebooks for children as a part of a pedagogical study to better understand multisensorial teaching as a tool that facilitates stronger learning outcomes.
The book shows Sam learning all about water and how it’s used in the house. Why did you want to start the series with water?
Beginning the series with the topic of climate resilience in mind, water felt like the most accessible theme to connect with our audience and strongly ground the coming books. We approached the start of this story on a familiar smaller scale, in the home, and then expanded to water’s role in other environments, developing a wider perspective and building a deeper understanding of its universal significance.
What do you hope kids learn from interacting with the book?
With the interactive animations and captivating sounds provided by the unique book format, we hope children build a deeper appreciation for water across many environments. We want them to take away a new understanding of the importance of water, how essential it is to all life.
What’s next for the series?
The next book in our series will focus on fire through the educational lens of it’s growing role in the environment in the context of climate resilience. This will be followed by a book focused on earth and then air.
Where Did the Water Go? is now available for purchase.