The Water Gift and the Pig of the Pig by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (0-618-07436-8)
What a title! And what a great read aloud story. The text has a rolling feeling, rather like ocean swells, that carry the reader forward. This strange combination of animal story, history and the gift of dousing, creates a magical story in a gentle way.
This book is not one that will fly off the shelves without some pushing, but children who do have it read to them will be amazed by dousing and will want to immediately head out and find a forked stick to try it out with. I would use it at a storytime for older children, probably as the first book while they are open to more quiet titles. Match it with other more energetic sea and water books.