Icelanders have a beautiful tradition of giving books to each other on Christmas Eve and then spending the night reading. The tradition, known as Jolabokaflod, roughly translates to Christmas book flood in English.

Make Water Famous is always on the look out for watery words of wisdom and inspirational stories. Here is our top five recommendations to immerse yourself in this winter.

Rain: a natural and cultural history by Cynthia Barnett

It is the subject of countless poems and paintings; the top of the weather report; the source of the world's water. Yet this is the first book to tell the story of rain.

Beginning four billion years ago, with the torrents that filled the oceans, and building up to the storms of climate change, Rain weaves together science with the human story of ambition to control rain. Rain is also a travelogue, taking readers to Scotland to tell the surprising story of the Mackintosh raincoat, and to India, where villagers capture the scent of rain from the monsoon-drenched earth as a perfume.

As climate change upends rainfall patterns and unleashes increasingly severe storms and drought, Barnett shows rain to be a unifying force in a fractured world. Too much and not nearly enough, rain is a shared conversation, and this is a book for everyone who has ever experienced it.

The tidal year: a memoir on grief, swimming and sisterhood by Freya Bromley

Looking for a way to fill the space her brother's death left behind, Freya decides to swim every tidal pool in Britain in a year with her friend Miri. The adventure takes them from a pool hidden in the cliffs of a fishing village to the quarry lagoon where locals meet each year to give the pool wall a fresh lick of paint.

As Freya travels further from London, she finds herself closer to memories of her brother. With every swim, and every stranger they meet in the water, the challenge becomes more than just a way to explore the coast, but a journey of self-discovery.

A true story about the healing power of wild swimming and the space it creates for reflection, rewilding and hope, The Tidal Year is an exploration of grief in the modern age, and a tale of loss, love, female rage and sisterhood.

National Geographic Ocean: A Global Odyssey by Sylvia A Earle

Discover the world's ocean, from tides and currents to the creatures living in it, and the impact it has on our lives. Written by world-renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle, this richly illustrated overview of the life force that defines and sustains our planet gives readers everything they need to know about the ocean.

National Geographic Ocean unveils the power and significance of the planet's watery essence and the fundamental importance of the ocean in shaping Earth's climate and chemistry as well as its vital role in supporting a multitude of life forms, including humans.

Above and Below: Sea and Shore by Harriet Evans and Hannah Bailey

Little water warriors can learn about the oceans too from the magnificent mangrove forests and colourful coral reefs to exciting estuaries and the dangerous deep sea. With split pages and new habitats at every turn, learners can peek behind part of the scene to learn more about the wildlife which hides behind. Iillustrations and fascinating facts bring a watery world to life in this in-depth look at oceans that is perfect for young nature enthusiasts.

The Three Ages of Water: Prehistoric Past, Imperiled Present, and a Hope for the Future by Peter Gleick

A revelatory account of how water has shaped the course of human life and history and a positive vision of what the future can hold if action happens now. From the very creation of the planet billions of years ago to the present day, water has always been central to existence on Earth and has been a defining force in the story of humanity. In The Three Ages of Water, Peter Gleick guides readers through the long, fraught history of humans' relationship to water and, drawing from the lessons of the past, charts a visionary path toward a sustainable future for water and the planet.