THE VANISHING SEA: THE TALE OF HOW THE ARAL SEA BECAME THE ARAL DESERT, by Dinara Mirtalipova, Chronicle Books, Feb. 3, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 5-8)
Learn the story of the disappearance of the Aral Sea and the loss of livelihood and biodiversity in The Vanishing Sea, by Dinara Mirtalipova.
The Aral Sea once stretched across modern-day Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. A large saltwater lake of Central Asia (called “sea” because of its vastness), the Aral Sea’s 26 square miles (67 square kilometers) sustained its surrounding communities for generations. Beginning in the 1960s, aggressive Soviet industrialization diverted water for agricultural production and caused the lake to shrink.
Today, the waters that had thrived for centuries have almost entirely disappeared—and along with them, the biodiversity of the lake, its thriving fishing industry, and the many homes along its shores. —Synopsis provided by Chronicle Books
I live in a place where a large, ancient lake continues to shrink. The health of the The Great Salt Lake and the people who live around it has become one of the most important issues in my area. The loss of it would be devastating and yet, state leaders are reticent to make changes that would have real benefits. They would do well to read The Vanishing Sea. It is a cautionary tale similar to what we now face.
The Vanishing Sea is personal for author-illustrator Dinara Mirtalipova who grew up in what is now known as Uzbekistan. She has seen the damage with her own eyes and that comes across in her beautiful folkloric illustrations and sparse, but impactful, text. Extensive backmatter includes an author’s note, a brief history and the local and global ecological impact. It’s a strong reminder of why we must care for our precious resources.
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