Open the book and show the students the illustrations on the front and back covers. Have students make connections to a time when they were able sit next to a river or lake and draw on their five senses. (What did they hear, smell, touch, see, and taste, and how did they feel?) Discuss the title of the book. Ask if anyone has ever heard of the phrase “as long as the rivers flow.” Ask the students if they can guess how long this is and what they think the author might be suggesting with the title.
