MY FRIEND EARTH
by Patricia MacLachlan
Illustrated by Francesca Sanna
Chronicle Books
Picture Book
44 pages
ages 3 to 5
Celebrate Earth Day with this valentine to our wonderful planet from the Newbery Award–winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall.
Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals large and small. She pours down summer rain and autumn leaves. She sprinkles whisper-white snow and protects the tiny seeds waiting for spring.
Readers of all ages will pore over the pages of this spectacular book. Its enticing die-cut pages encourage exploration as its poetic text celebrates everything Earth does for us, all the while reminding us to be a good friend in return.
• Interactive format and kid-friendly art will engage both toddlers and young readers.
• A celebration of the natural world and rallying cry for positive action for Planet Earth
• Great opportunities to share life science concepts and amazing facts about the environment with children
This beautiful and innovative ode to our natural world will appeal to readers of Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, The Poet's Dog, and Thank You, Earth.
MY TIDBITS
There's one word for this book—beautiful.
Every page is a celebration of Earth and nature. From falling rain to fierce winds to hibernating bears, seas and rivers, so many wonderful things happen on our planet. A young girl explores each aspect as she discovers how diverse and marvelous nature is. The entire thing ends with a wonderful sense of peace.
The illustrations really make this book shine. Each page radiates life, calmness, vitality and warmth. Each scene is clear in its representation and still incorporates an artistic beauty. It's fun to flip through the pages and simply watch each moment unfold. Each page also includes a flip-door or peek-hole, which definitely adds to the fun. However, it does make for more difficult page-turning, especially when using this as a read-aloud. It still is a nice addition.
The text is written in an almost poetic way. The words play within the illustration and accompany each scene to give it the right atmosphere. It does make a lovely read-aloud. The wording is packed with descriptions but stays at a level for the intended audience. Slightly older ones are sure to enjoy this book too.
And here they are...
The Author...
Patricia MacLachlan is an acclaimed author who has written dozens of books—from picture books to novels—including the Newbery Medal winner Sarah, Plain and Tall and the Barkus series, also published by Chronicle Books. She lives in western Massachusetts.
The Illustrator...
Francesca Sanna grew up on the Italian island of Sardinia. She studied illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York and the Academy of Art and Design in Lucerne. Her book The Journey received five starred reviews and was lauded by the New York Times and the Guardian. Francesca currently lives in Zurich, but you can visit her at francescasanna.com.
1 comment:
This looks wonderful. I keep hoping if enough children’s books and songs are used in school or homeschooling, encouraging them to be protectors of the Earth, and we instill in them a sense of pride, love, wonder and stewardship of the Earth, that as they grow older and see injustices, both on Environmentally and socially, they will know what is right, and they will act and speak accordingly. Looking forward to finding this book! Best wishes!
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