What has no color, but can be any color? What has no shape, but can take any shape? Why, water, of course.

Almost Nothing, Yet Everything is a wondrous exploration of water by multi-award-winning creative duo Hiroshi Osada and Ryōji Arai. Aimed at readers ages 4-8, this picture book pairs Osada’s beautiful, lyrical ode to water with Arai’s masterful illustrations.

The elegant, sparsely-worded poem invites readers to explore the seemingly contradictory nature of water. What else can you touch, but not hold; slice into, but not cut? With every unique, clever line, we are reminded that water is–quite simply–amazing.

Colorful, lively illustrations dominate each double spread. And, with each page turn, the reader will realize that Arai’s artwork tells a story of its own, connected to the words, inspired by them–yes–but weaving a story of its own. In the opening image, a female figure waves goodbye to an adult male (the author) and child. The departing pair board a small boat; both are wearing traditional Japanese straw hats. Together, they embark on a journey along the waterways, camp out under the stars, and join a colorful gathering by a magnificent waterfall before returning home. Their voyage is sprinkled with surprises. One double spread depicts giant cupped hands, holding water and a variety of African animals; another shows the intrepid explorers swooshing along a starry current around the earth.

And then, there is the unexpected ending, where Osada’s lyrical flow is interrupted by a reference to “the pee of life” and a child’s questioning voice. After my initial shock at being woken from a reverie, this change in pace and tone made me think about the book, about words, about water. H₂O is a contradictory element: versatile, plentiful and special, but also a simple, ordinary, everyday fluid, (much like pee, in fact).

Almost Nothing, Yet Everything is a brilliantly thought-provoking book and visual masterpiece that invites exploration and quiet reflection on the nature of water.

Almost Nothing, Yet Everything: A Book About Water
Written by Hiroshi Osada
Illustrated by Ryōji Arai
Translated from Japanese by David Boyd

Published by Enchanted Lion Books, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-59270-357-9

Reviews: Kirkus (starred review), The Marginalian

Awards: 2022 USBBY Outstanding International Book

You can buy a copy of Almost Nothing, Yet Everything: A Book About Water here or find it in a library.*

*Book purchases made via our affiliate link may earn GLLI a small commission at no cost to you.

Laura Taylor is the founder of world children’s literature blog Planet Picture Book. She is a small business copywriter, NAATI-certified translator of French into English and member of AUSIT. When she is not writing, she is reading and spending time with her two young children. She occasionally tweets @plapibo and posts at www.planetpicturebook.com