Marjory's River of Grass - by Josie James (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A picture-book biography about Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the remarkable conservationist and naturalist who worked tirelessly to protect the Florida Everglades"--

Book Synopsis

A picture book biography of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the remarkable conservationist and naturalist who worked tirelessly to protect the Florida Everglades.

As an environmental journalist and conservationist, Marjory Stoneman Douglas spent her life fighting to preserve the Florida Everglades. Now celebrated as a subtropical paradise with a diverse ecosystem, the Everglades was once considered a worthless swamp. Marjory recognized the wetlands as a treasured river, home to an array of species unlike anywhere else in the world--and she was determined to help protect it.

This is the story of how Marjory's incredible vision and unwavering tenacity led to the preservation of one of the most unique regions on Earth.

Bonus content includes an author's note, inspiring quotes by Douglas, and information about water: where it comes from, and what we can do to help preserve this precious resource.

One of Booklist's Top 10 Environmental & Sustainability Books for Youth (2025)
Featured in "No Planet B: Books on Climate Change and Environmental Activism" (School Library Journal)

Review Quotes

Featured in New and Noteworthy Children's and YA Books: April 2025.--Publishers Weekly

"James's straightforward storytelling and gentle, chalky artwork capture the abiding appreciation of nature writer Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890-1998) for the Florida Everglades. . . Alongside peaceful, airbrush-like vistas of the landscape, bright-eyed text carefully traces Stoneman Douglas's involvement in protection efforts, underscoring water's importance while building toward the idea that "Florida's precious water still flows because new generations continue to protect and defend... the Everglades."--Publisher's Weekly

★ "This picture-book biography skillfully traces Douglas' decades-long fight to save the Everglades . . . An invigorating story that should inspire young readers to enlist in environmental efforts." --Booklist, starred review

About the Author

Josie James--a pseudonym for picture book creator JoAnn Adinolfi--has illustrated over thirty books for young readers and is the creator of Marie's Ocean: Marie Tharp Maps the Mountains Under the Sea, which was a National Science Teaching Association Best STEM Book of the Year, an NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. She lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and invites you to visit her online at joannadinolfi.com.