The United Nations celebrates World Water Day on March 22. The theme for 2018 is: Nature for Water, exploring how we can use nature to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century.

In the Author’s Note for her book Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, el agua sube, Pat writes:

Water fascinates me, perhaps because I’ve spent most of my life in the Southwest desert region of the United States. The sound of rain is welcome music on a dry and thirsty landscape. Creeks and rivers refresh desert dwellers, and lakes–so much water–seem a surprise. Lightning and downpours startle. Snow softens mountains, hills, cactuses, rocks.

Water–essential, cleansing, dramatic, soothing–is a research interest of my husband, Vern Scarborough, a professor of archaeology. I have benefited from his knowledge, and also from his enthusiasm about the wonder of water and the importance of valuing this glorious natural resource.

Illustration by Meilo So from Water Rolls, Water Rises