Creekfinding

In 2002, Michael Osterholm purchased of land near Dorchester, Iowa. Osterholm, an epidemiologist, was told by the previous owner's grandson that his grandfather used to fish in a stream there. He researched the area and confirmed the existence of the stream using old aerial photos. The stream had been diverted in 1949 to make way for planting corn in the fertile soil, and it eventually degraded and was lost. Osterholm, a native of Iowa who had fished in nearby creeks in his childhood, decided to restore the creek. The restoration of the original stream took place over the next seven years. Creekfinding: A True Story depicts Osterholm's restoration of Brook Creek and the return of wildlife to the area. The author, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, decided to write a book about Osterholm after reading a November 2011 article about his project published in The Gazette. She spoke with Osterholm as she wrote Creekfinding, although she did not visit Brook Creek in person until after the book was completed. Martin was already friends with the illustrator Claudia McGehee, and asked McGehee to provide the illustrations for the book. According to McGehee, while "traditionally author and illustrator don't connect during the creation of a picture book," the two collaborated throughout the development of the book, including researching the ecosystem of the creek. == Synopsis ==

The book introduces the excavator as a "creekfinding machine" that can help uncover lost creeks. == Writing and illustrations ==

The narrative is organized into discrete sections, with titles such as "Scraping and Digging" and "Time for Trout". and throughout the book, questions about the restoration process are asked and then answered to pique the reader's interest. Her illustrations were created using a scratchboard technique (in which the artist scratches off dark ink to reveal a layer beneath) with watercolor and dyes, with the result resembling painted woodcuts with thick, curving outlines. A reviewer for Kirkus Reviews felt that the omission of color from one spread was particularly effective for creating a sense of anticipation. According to McGehee, machines like the excavators and dump trucks were the most challenging because she had less experience illustrating them, compared to natural scenery. In addition to the main narrative, minor facts about the restoration process and wildlife are contained within elements of the pictures, such as blades of grass. == Reception ==

Critics praised Creekfinding for its focus on environmental conservation. Reviewing for School Library Journal, Barbara Auerbach wrote that the book would "inspire the future caretakers of our planet", It received a Riverby Award, which recognizes nature-related books for children, from the John Burroughs Association in 2018. == See also ==