A River of Dust: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon

“Millions of years ago,/ no ocean lay between us./ You and I were one.” This moving tribute to global interconnectedness narrates from the perspective of the dust of North Africa. On the dust’s long journey to deliver phosphorus to the Amazon, the harmattan wind sends it on from the Sahel, and on “across grasslands/ and through bulbous baobab trees” before it crosses the Atlantic. Smudgy strokes and thin-lined figures by Mello suggest the dust’s constant movement and the entities that witness its incredible migration. At voyage’s end, it delivers an emotional declaration of deep and abiding association: “I end my journey here, with you,// renewing our connection.” Distinctive lines by Hoffman lend a seriousness to this story, which prompts sincere awe for the natural world. Detailed back matter and an author’s note conclude. Ages 5–8. (July)