TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Alabama holds approximately 15% of all potable water in the United States, and it has a river delta so ecologically rich it is called “America’s Amazon.” However, most Alabama schoolchildren are not aware of it.
“Delta Kids,” a new illustrated children’s book from Clean Water Alabama, is working to change that. The book follows a group of students on a boat tour through the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, introducing young readers to the waterways, wildlife and history of one of the most biodiverse places in North America. The Alabama Water Institute, or AWI, joined the project by developing a companion teacher’s guide, expanding the book’s reach from students’ hands into active classroom instruction.
“If we can get in early to elementary schools and plant the seed, the hope is that as we get to middle school, high school and recruiting for some of our programs,” said Lanna Nations, AWI research education and outreach program director. “That early recruitment can be just as important as what we do with our undergraduate and graduate students.”
Building a Series
“Delta Kids” is Clean Water Alabama’s fourth publication. The Fairhope-based organization formed about six years ago around a shared focus on Mobile Bay water quality and public education. Its earlier titles include “Camp Clean Water,” a story following six children who identify water problems in their community, a coloring book for K–2 students and an activity book for grades 3–5. Those publications reached tens of thousands of students across Baldwin County, one of the largest school systems in Alabama.
Building on that foundation, “Delta Kids”carries over several characters from “Camp Clean Water,” while shifting focus from the bay to Alabama’s river systems, a deliberate choice to make the book relevant statewide. Wayne Miller, a retired teacher and author of all the Clean Water Alabama books, drew on his classroom experience to shape the stories. Illustrator Grace Roberts created artwork designed to engage young readers. John O’Melveny Woods, author, publisher, filmmaker and current president of Clean Water Alabama, contributed to the project’s development and production pulling from his years in the film and production industry.
“One can’t expect someone else to step forward to protect those things we value in life,” said John Manelos, co-founder of Clean Water Alabama. “Through a relatively small group of citizens that comprise Clean Water Alabama, we have created beautifully illustrated and written books that will hopefully capture the attention of our next generation to be good stewards of our waterways and environment.”
That mission to build a generation of environmental stewards is one O’Melveny Woods shares.
“If we can educate the kids growing up, then we’ll create a whole generation of stewards for protecting our water,” he said.
The Partnership
When Clean Water Alabama approached AWI, the need was specific: scientific grounding on the Delta’s biodiversity and a teacher’s guide that could transform the book from a fun read into an active classroom experience.
“With a lean-back activity and coloring book, you give it to them and they passively learn,” O’Melveny Woods said. “But with a comprehensive teacher’s guide, the teacher can get the kids to lean forward and have an interactive learning experience.”
Nations connected O’Melveny Woods with AWI education and outreach coordinator Marie Wilson, a former teacher whose background is in curriculum development. Wilson built the guide from the ground up with ideas contributed by Anthony Vedral, CONSERVE research coordinator at AWI.
“As someone who is based in Coastal Alabama, it’s exciting to be able to provide this resource to enhance scientific literacy in a fun way,” Vedral said, “both on the coast and beyond.”
The guide includes approximately three activities per character, each prefaced by a short blurb tying the activity to that character’s specific interests.
“I was very intentional about making sure each activity aligned with each character,” Wilson said.
AWI also recently introduced the book to educators at the American Geophysical Union and American Meteorological Society annual meetings.
For Teachers and Families
“Delta Kids” is available now, and Clean Water Alabama is actively working to expand the book into school districts across the state. Teachers interested in bringing the program into their classrooms can reach out directly to Clean Water Alabama for information on how to get involved.
Families can visit Clean Water Alabama to explore the full book series and download the teacher’s guide, which includes hands-on activities designed to extend the story well beyond the last page.