When the river falls silent, a girl keeps its story alive.

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In a rural village once shaped by the rhythm of a mighty river, water is more than a source of life — it is part of the community’s identity, memories, and traditions. But as a relentless drought takes hold, the fields wither, families leave, and the village slowly begins to fade.

Amid the parched earth, a young girl refuses to let her community’s memories disappear. Through her eyes, this poignant and poetic story transforms the water crisis into a moving tale of loss, resilience, and hope — and reminds us that preserving memory can be the first step towards imagining a different future.

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MARIANA RIO (Portugal) has been working as an illustrator across various media for over a decade, with a strong focus on picture books. Her work has received international recognition, with multiple selections for the Illustrators Exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Nami Illustration Competition,White Ravens, among others. Mariana was nominated for the 2024 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA).