The Vanishing Sea: The Tale of How the Aral Sea Became the Aral Desert

Mirtalipova’s parable-like account of the Aral Sea’s dwindling waters makes for a startling story of ecological change. A series of seven opening maps chronologically establishes the dramatic shrinkage that has occurred since 1960, when the lake was still broad and fish-filled. Omniscient narration begins as “the earth was removing/ its icy blanket,” giving birth to an immense water body (“The lake was so vast that the People called her MOTHER SEA”). When the local community was “small and HUNGRY,” the Aral Sea, “like a caring mother,” supplies fish and water. But when the nearby population grows and seeks riches, the lake offers the entirety of its resources until nothing is left. Pastel and stenciling techniques result in simple iconographic renderings that emphasize the changing landscape. A pointed closing question—“Can the people of Aral save Mother Sea?”—underscores both Earth’s need for reciprocity and the tragedy of this human-led environmental destruction. The result is a real-world The Giving Tree–like story grounded in the natural world. Includes an author’s note and brief history. Ages 5–8. (Feb.)