Kindle
$7.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$13.79
Paperback
$10.97
Buy new:
-27% $13.79
FREE delivery Monday, May 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$13.79 with 27 percent savings
List Price: $18.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, May 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 9. Order within 6 hrs 52 mins
In Stock
$$13.79 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$13.79
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.98
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 9. Order within 21 hrs 7 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$13.79 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$13.79
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Susan Verde
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Water Princess Hardcover – Picture Book, September 13, 2016

by Susan Verde (Author), Georgie Badiel (Author), Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 653 ratings
Teachers' pick
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$13.79","priceAmount":13.79,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"13","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"79","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2FqGyPdz7mn5j4jYcWhwcxxBSJwphoXEhav7AyUC1z150xfsSF%2FFheFcZAH%2F0yKKpdLclL4GJ6d2ojxXXAh55WB13iQJXiJD%2BWar5%2F9%2BckNz6avXxDwWAVxX%2BX1zr004N9gFTVW4k77wzLxtKublXrA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.98","priceAmount":8.98,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"98","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2FqGyPdz7mn5j4jYcWhwcxxBSJwphoXEhkWucCa3bygOBlHM%2BKDdUeQEJAbge%2F8AkAPDllpJ4Rhu%2BODPjK983Os3fbvffQ1p2qTTFiR45jLRJkiqAv9klO6jXHg0GCoRsndZRhPlIQsIo4NyN%2BlnLQsdg%2F4RpuP3nMs9abeT0cGRaGoo0xsQz9puCe4kw6ab%2F","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Based on supermodel Georgie Badiel’s childhood, a young girl dreams of bringing clean drinking water to her African village

With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own.

Inspired by the childhood of African–born model Georgie Badiel, acclaimed author Susan Verde and award-winning author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds have come together to tell this moving story. As a child in Burkina Faso, Georgie and the other girls in her village had to walk for miles each day to collect water. This vibrant, engaging picture book sheds light on this struggle that continues all over the world today, instilling hope for a future when all children will have access to clean drinking water.

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Kindergarten - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    480L
  6. Dimensions
    9.88 x 0.37 x 9.88 inches
  7. Publisher
    G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
  8. Publication date
    September 13, 2016
  9. ISBN-10
    0399172580
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0399172588
  11. See all details
Next page
New in teachers' picks. More children's books by grade. New in teachers' picks. More children's books by grade.

Frequently bought together

The Water Princess
$13.79
Get it as soon as Monday, May 13
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
We Are Water Protectors: (Caldecott Medal Winner)
$11.75
Get it as soon as Monday, May 13
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia
$16.49
Get it as soon as Monday, May 13
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—Based on the real childhood experiences of fashion model Georgie Badiel in Burkina Faso, this offering tells one child's story in an unspecified African locale. Princess Gie Gie tries to rule over her domain. She tames wild dogs with a song, makes tall grass dance when she dances, and plays hide-and-seek with the wind. However, try as she might, she can't draw clean water any closer to her home. Instead, the girl and her mother must make a long trek to gather water from the well with the rest of the women. They try to fill their time with music, imagination, and laughter, but the hardship and physical effort are palpable. Despite the daily struggles to get water, Princess Gie Gie never gives up looking for a solution. "I am Princess Gie Gie. My Kingdom? The African sky. The dusty earth. And, someday, the flowing, cool, crystal-clear water. Someday…." Perhaps, someday has now arrived. Badiel is helping to raise awareness and funds to bring clean drinking water to the people of Burkina Faso and other countries in Africa. While the text is informative and poetic, it is the imagery that will stick with readers. Reynolds's evocative watercolor, gouache, and digital ink paintings capture the glow of the hot sun, sparkle in the night sky, and will transport children to Princess Gie Gie's imagined kingdom. Kids will have to look to the author note and elsewhere for more specifics and possible solutions. VERDICT A lovely picture book, filled with messages of perseverance and hope.—Megan Egbert, Meridian Library District, ID

Review

Praise for The Water Princess:
An ALA Notable Children’s Book – 2017
Amazon Best Book of September – Ages 6-8

“[T]his timely and well-crafted story will educate readers on the preciousness of potable water.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“A lovely picture book, filled with messages of perseverance and hope.”—School Library Journal

“A stirring, thought-provoking story… Verde's poetic language reflects the length and difficulty of Gie Gie and her mother's trek, along with the positive spirit the girl brings to the task.”—Publishers Weekly

“Fashion Week’s most inspiring story.”—New York Post 

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition (September 13, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399172580
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399172588
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 480L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Kindergarten - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.88 x 0.37 x 9.88 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 653 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Susan Verde

Susan Verde

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Susan Verde grew up in a brownstone in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City with her older brother Michael. She spent much of her time as a child clad in bell bottoms and rainbow suspenders, roller skating up and down her block with a skate key around her neck and a piece of chalk in her pocket (for spontaneous hopscotch).

Susan’s household was filled with books, music and the smell of mocha chip pies, which her mother made for their neighborhood restaurant. Susan often wrote stories and poetry to share with family and friends and even her high school poetry magazine. Susan’s love of literature began in utero (according to her mother) and never dwindled. She can, to this day relate very well to Amelia Bedelia.

Ultimately, she moved to the Hamptons and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in reading remediation and become an elementary school teacher at a private school in Bridgehampton. She has also participated in the Southampton Children’s Literature Conference at Stonybrook University.

Although no longer a school teacher, Susan is a certified kid’s yoga instructor which allows her to frog jump and wag her tail in Downward facing dog with great frequency.

Currently, Susan lives in East Hampton New York amidst an explosion of Legos, art supplies, and picture books with her twin boys Joshua and Gabriel and her daughter Sophia. They are the constant inspiration for her writing. They never let her forget how to see things from a child’s point of view and keep the kid in her alive and kicking.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
653 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Josephinedej
5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing book. Love love love
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
My 6yo daughter absolutely loves this book. Her new favorite. She memorized the words from me reading it to her so much. She usually reluctantly reads when I ask her to, but with this book she is so eager to read it by herself. She tells me to stop reading so she can try. So it has naturally become a great source for her reading practice.
Helpful
 Report
KG
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a great book! I’m using it for a precursor for a science activity and I think it’s perfect as it describes how difficult it is for others to get water.
Helpful
 Report
Laila
5.0 out of 5 stars Perspective taking!
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a beautiful narrative of a child’s daily life and engagement with a precious resource - water! It offers children more perspectives to consider and engage in reflection.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
GWK
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding in Every Way.
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2017
Verified Purchase
This books was outstanding in every way. The images, words, typography, etc. were all just delightful. My five year-old made the connection to the Water Princess. In the U.S. and other western countries, we have so much abundance and it is too easy to take everything we have for granted -- even simple, but important things like drinking water. My daughter got the point from this book in a way that was easy-to-understand without being overly dramatic or sad. In fact, in these very simple pages, the Water Princess remained an optimist and maintained her dignity. This is NOT a sad or depressing book, despite the central theme. It is very age appropriate and an important story for young children who have so much and maybe do not yet realize how different things are for those who live on the other side of the planet. This book opened up many conversations with my daughter to help her better understand these complex issues.
34 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
jlm
5.0 out of 5 stars All ages should read this!
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
Well done in simple manner. Illustrations are great, message even better. Have read to grandchildren ages 6-12, all enjoyed. All benefited from hearing the work it takes to have clean water in some parts of our world. Impressed on them not to take for granted! A lesson for adults as well & we all need to do our part to change this however we can. Planning to share during worship's Children's Chat at my church next month.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
bill b.
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a great way to start educating children at an early age ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book is a great way to start educating children at an early age about being thankful for what we have and working to make sure that others can access the resources that we take for granted. Its a really beautiful story, based off of a true story, and the illustrations are gorgeous. I bought it for my nieces and I think it will become a favorite over time.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jenny D
5.0 out of 5 stars a #WorldWaterDay must read!
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book is inspired by the experiences of supermodel/activist Georgie Badiel. It describes the struggles some go through to get water every day! Even when they get the water, it's not clean or clear. This book was a great way to explain to my daughter how lucky we are to have fresh drinking water available to us at all times. Not just for drinking, but for cooking, bathing and washing our clothes. As a parent, I loved having this book as a teaching tool to explain why it's important to conserve water. The illustrations were beautiful and cartoony enough to keep my daughter engaged. The book doesn't go into vast details about the water crisis which makes it great for a young reader. It also is a gentle reminder to adults to change our water habits ASAP. Can't wait to read this book again!
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Pam
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
A beautiful story with lovely illustrations!
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Laura
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2021
Verified Purchase
I like how the illustrator creates the pictures and how they deliver the main message of the story. I like how the author made the words large for the the reader to read the words clearly. Intended audience is for kindergarten. Will support teaching diversity to young children. This book explains how we should not take water for granted and take an appreciation for how others lived before us.
Report
Wendy Farleigh
5.0 out of 5 stars A simply wonderful book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is a wonderfully written book that really touched the hearts and imagination of my Year 3 pupils. It led to a deeper understanding of the value of clean water and of how different the lives of children in other countries can be to theirs. The beautiful illustrations add depth to a lovely story that is positive despite the hardships that it depicts. As a class book it offered a huge range of activities but the children loved to read it as a story to simply be enjoyed too. A really lovely book and a much read addition to our class library.
Report
Murielle
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book
Reviewed in Spain on April 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
It's a very nice story with amazing pictures and a strong message!!
I recomend it to every family and school to sensitize children about this problem in the world.!!!
Report
J. s
5.0 out of 5 stars Super schön
Reviewed in Germany on October 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
Super schönes Buch mit tollen Illustrationen ♥️
Report
Vivek
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in India on April 25, 2019
Verified Purchase
Nice
Report