Cycle of Rice, Cycle of Life is a spectacular photo essay that traces rainfall from the highest peaks on Bali Island, Indonesia, to the rice fields below. The book is divided into chapters, first about the most necessary component for the cycle of rice—water. Ancient farmers constructed an intricate system of streams that carry water through a series of water temples. The second chapter introduces the way rice is grown and then questions if the system is sustain able. The final chapter, “Saving the Cycle,” pits tradition against technology. Author’s note, maps, websites, and a glossary constitute the end matter. Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year, Smithsonian Maga zine Notable Children’s Books, Honor Book—Grade K–6 Social Studies (Society

On the island of Bali in Southeast Asia, rice farming is a way of life. The people live in tune with the natural rhythms and cycles of the water and the soil. Ingrained in their community and culture, rice farming connects them to the land and one another.

Balinese farmers have planted rice using an intricate system of water sharing and crop rotation for more than a thousand years. Intertwined with their spiritual, social, and day-to-day lives, this system has made Bali a leading producer of one of the world's most important crops. And because Balinese rice farming respects the balances of nature, it serves as a remarkable example of sustainable agriculture in an increasingly industrialized world.

With lush photographs and captivating text, Jan Reynolds explores the traditional world of rice farming on the beautiful island of Bali. Readers of all ages will come away with an enhanced awareness of how we farm, eat, and live today, and the effects these practices have on the world of tomorrow.