The Little Drop of Water
Listen to the author read the story...
This is my first book. It's a story about.... yes you've guessed it, a little drop of water and his journey downstream.
On one level it's a children's story about the little drop and his mother. On a deeper lever, it's a story about the eternal nature of life. It's a comforting book for families coping with bereavement.
The seeds for the ‘Little Drop of Water’ story were sown 30 years ago when I was doing my A-levels at school. As part of my English A-level we studied the poems of Philip Larkin and there was always something that captivated me about the last four lines of a poem called ‘Whitsunday Weddings’. The poem charts a journey of noisy urban life, through to the peace of a gently meandering river that reaches the sea.
‘And past the poppies bluish neutral distance
Ends the land suddenly beyond a beach
Of shapes and shingle. Here is unfenced existence:
Facing the sun, untalkative, out of reach.’
I loved the idea of the sea being ‘unfenced existence’. Like many people, I am very drawn to the sea or any patch of water, from river to lake. There is so much peace and mystery in the sea.
In my Geography A-level I learned about the water cycle, where water evaporates from the sea, condenses into water droplets to form clouds, then rains on the mountain top and eventually ends up in the sea again. The water was always water, in a closed loop, in the same way that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed into other forms of energy.
My third and final A-level was art, where I learned that I was not talented enough to draw the illustrations for a children’s book, but I did fall in love with the process of creating! I have been writing, creating businesses and inventing products ever since.
Reviews
Beautifully written and illustrated
A delightful story for readers of all ages, beautifully written and illustrated. Highly recommended to teach important truths that can never be learned too early. Each page radiates loving energy.
Best selling Author - Suzanne Giesemann.
What a wonderful, peace evoking read to share with a child. Rob's story conveys a wisdom-filled lesson that anyone can absorb as part of their understanding of the journey of life. Filled with love and a connection to the natural order of this world. Subtle yet vital lessons!
“This book is such a great story for readers of all ages! Rob Holmes does a fantastic job of showing that we are all connected to something much larger than ourselves! A must have!” Stan – Atlanta, USA
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This is a wonderful book to read to your child. An engaging story and lovely illustrations BUT IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT! It's a book that you will help you explain the inexplicable when your child asks you a question and your struggle to find the answer. Even 'the little drop of water's' Mum couldn't put it into words, but this book conveys the feelings perfectly. I read it to my 3 year old grandson and he was thrilled when the characters are re-united (trying not to put a spoiler here - sorry!) He seemed to immediately understand how everything is linked - and as I had to read it three times in a row, before bed and first thing in the morning, the cyclic journey was reinforced.
Some books stay on bookshelves for generations - this is one of them. :-)
A beautiful story illustrating universal truths
A beautiful story illustrating universal truths, such as the connectivity of all things in a simple way that children will love and read over and over.
“I read The Little Drop of Water before dinner by the fire and felt such warmth and emotion at a deep level. What an amazing gift you bring Rob, having remembered who you are. I am very excited for your plans and adventures, and may the little children whose soul you touch and bless with your book’s carry on bringing that joy and remembering forward too”.
Karen – Devon, UK
