A Planet Like Ours

September 26, 2022
Four children, portrayed with varied skin tones and hair textures, learn about conservation and model stewardship of the Earth in this straightforward introduction to environmentalism. Murphy and Gordon focus on soil, water, animals, trees, and air (“Pollution and chemicals can ruin our soil and our groundwater. Let’s protect our soil”), conveyed by Harren in prettily rendered illustrated vignettes. Actionable suggestions lean toward accessibility over life-and-death concerns: gentle illustrations and language blunts the impact of a spread depicting overfishing and casual littering (“Sometimes, we are careless”), and another featuring ocean plastics elides the litter’s dire effects on sea creatures. Endnotes and suggested activities offer additional thoughts and approaches in a book whose simplified message invites readers to “take care.” Ages 6–7.

October 15, 2022
Who besides us will care for the planet that supports us? The team that produced A Friend Like You (2021) returns to take on a much broader topic: caring for our unique world. "We don't always take care of our planet," the authors say. A devastating image of a razed forest proves their point. But what follows is an engaging appreciation of the land, water, animals, trees, air, and people who share our world, showing why we should and how, in some ways, we can. With its emphasis on the importance of these resources, this is a highly appropriate tool to open conversations about the environment. Harren's appealing illustrations support and add context. From the purple-tinged opening spread, showing the vastness of the night sky as admired from a scenic parkland, to the concluding image of the same scene in sunlight, four lively children, diverse and distinct, engage with the world around them. In vignettes and full-bleed images, their activities demonstrate their enjoyment of their environment as well as how they care for it. Occasionally, other characters join them, including a brown-skinned elder who uses a walker and a tan-skinned youngster who uses a wheelchair and has a service dog. The details in each spread can inspire conversations on many levels. A page of activity suggestions, including a hands-on experiment, completes this pleasing package. (This book was reviewed digitally.) This conservation message is gently and effectively conveyed. (note from the authors and illustrator) (Informational picture book. 4-7)

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August 26, 2022

K-Gr 2-This simple ode to the planet emphasizes its beauty and natural resources and the responsibility of the youngest generation to care for it in the future. Beginning by noting how our planet is particularly unique, the authors cover different features of Earth that are in danger of being destroyed: water, soil, trees, animals, etc. They write in the third person ("Our trees," "Let's protect our air,") to develop a sense of collective responsibility. A refrain familiar from John Lewis appears on most pages: "If not us, then who?" However, other than the statement that "we don't always take care of our planet," the cause of destruction is not placed on any group or entity. Likewise, the illustrations focus on the majesty of the earth, presenting digital depictions of the planet's striking beauty, along with fewer of its ongoing devastation. A group of children diverse in race and ability move through the pages on spreads and vignettes of landscapes and seascapes. The book finishes with an authors' note and an activity list, featuring basic conservationist suggestions such as replacing paper towels with cloth and turning the water off while brushing one's teeth. VERDICT A passionate love letter to Earth and a plea for environmental protection; light on actual steps, it's an important starting point and introduction to the topic.-Clara Hendricks

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