Just a Drink of Water - Hardcover

by Christina Jenkins (Author)

On a hot day in Louisiana, a young Black boy goes to the park with his mother, feeling the sun press against his skin and his throat grow dry. When he reaches for a drink of water from a nearby fountain, his mother gently stops him and points to a small metal sign that quietly tells him where he is not allowed to drink.

Told through the calm and observant voice of a child, Just a Drink of Water explores how segregation shaped ordinary moments during the Jim Crow era. As the boy walks through his days, he begins to notice other signs around him and listens to the conversations of the adults in his life, learning that unfair rules were created by people and can be challenged by people.

Inspired by real history and the work of photographer Gordon Parks, this picture book offers young readers an age-appropriate introduction to segregation, memory, and change. Written with care and restraint, the story invites children to notice, ask questions, and understand why remembering the past matters.