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The Water Princess Builds a Well

Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Hardcover
$18.99 US
9-1/2"W x 9-1/2"H | 20 oz | 24 per carton
On sale Sep 15, 2026 | 40 Pages | 9798217238958
Age 5-8 years | Grades K-3

From a #1 NY Times bestselling team comes a sequel to the picture book The Water Princess, starring a young African girl making her dream of a village well come true, inspired by the life of supermodel-turned-philanthropist Georgie Badiel.

Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is filled with the warm earth and black velvet sky of her magnificent African village. When she was a girl, Gie Gie walked with many other girls and women for miles every day to collect clean water for drinking, cooking, and washing. A fire began to burn in her belly: If they had water closer to home, there would be time and opportunity for so much more.

As she grows up, Princess Gie Gie travels to countries where water flows freely. Even the flowers and trees drink every day! The fire in her belly burns stronger. She shares her story and meets people with experience building wells. Can Gie Gie bring cool, crystal-clear water to her kingdom?

Inspired by the life of Burkina Faso–born model Georgie Badiel, The Water Princess Builds a Well continues the moving story that began with The Water Princess. Since that title’s publication, the Georgie Badiel Foundation’s efforts have made clean water more accessible for over six hundred thousand people in Burkina Faso.

Princess Gie Gie continues to change the world. Will you join her?
Susan Verde is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the I Am series illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, which includes I Am Human: A Book of Empathy, I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness, and many more. Before she was an author, she was an elementary school teacher and a yoga instructor. 

Georgie Badiel is a high-fashion model who hails from the landlocked country of Burkina Faso. After she won the title of Miss Africa in 2005, Georgie appeared on the runways of designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton, and Diane Von Furstenberg, and was featured in editorials for magazines including Russian Vogue, Essence, and Elle. She lives in New York City. Learn more at GeorgieBadielFoundation.org and @GeorgieBadiel.

Peter H. Reynolds is an author and illustrator, best known for his children's books about authentic learning, creativity, and self-expression, including The Dot, Ish, and Be You!, among many others.

About

From a #1 NY Times bestselling team comes a sequel to the picture book The Water Princess, starring a young African girl making her dream of a village well come true, inspired by the life of supermodel-turned-philanthropist Georgie Badiel.

Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is filled with the warm earth and black velvet sky of her magnificent African village. When she was a girl, Gie Gie walked with many other girls and women for miles every day to collect clean water for drinking, cooking, and washing. A fire began to burn in her belly: If they had water closer to home, there would be time and opportunity for so much more.

As she grows up, Princess Gie Gie travels to countries where water flows freely. Even the flowers and trees drink every day! The fire in her belly burns stronger. She shares her story and meets people with experience building wells. Can Gie Gie bring cool, crystal-clear water to her kingdom?

Inspired by the life of Burkina Faso–born model Georgie Badiel, The Water Princess Builds a Well continues the moving story that began with The Water Princess. Since that title’s publication, the Georgie Badiel Foundation’s efforts have made clean water more accessible for over six hundred thousand people in Burkina Faso.

Princess Gie Gie continues to change the world. Will you join her?

Author

Susan Verde is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the I Am series illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, which includes I Am Human: A Book of Empathy, I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness, and many more. Before she was an author, she was an elementary school teacher and a yoga instructor. 

Georgie Badiel is a high-fashion model who hails from the landlocked country of Burkina Faso. After she won the title of Miss Africa in 2005, Georgie appeared on the runways of designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton, and Diane Von Furstenberg, and was featured in editorials for magazines including Russian Vogue, Essence, and Elle. She lives in New York City. Learn more at GeorgieBadielFoundation.org and @GeorgieBadiel.

Peter H. Reynolds is an author and illustrator, best known for his children's books about authentic learning, creativity, and self-expression, including The Dot, Ish, and Be You!, among many others.