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Summary
Summary
"An original book with wide appeal." -- School Library Journal
"A delight to share again and again." -- School Library Connection
" Simple on the surface, this sweet story imparts important truisms about the planet we call home." -- BookPage
"Thomas's exhortations celebrate both natural beauty and human virtue in a kind of gentle eco-theology." -- Publishers Weekly
"Encourages readers to find inspiration everywhere." -- Booklist
From a child's point of view, this lyrical picture book looks at the relationship of nature to the human world and the place we call home.
From the edge of the sea to a high mountain top, everything has its place in the world and all living things are connected. The world around us has a lot to tell us if we take the time to look and listen. This tender and comforting picture book celebrates the wisdom in many of the things great and small that make up our wonderful world.
Author Notes
Shelley Moore Thomas is the author of the Good Knight series of picture books and easy readers. In addition to writing books, she works as an elementary teacher and as a professional storyteller. Ms. Thomas lives with her family and dogs in Oceanside, California.
Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator and author who regularly contributes to The New York Times , The New Yorker , and creates book covers for various publishers. He has directed short animated videos for Kate Spade and Anthropologie and was awarded a medal from the Society of Illustrators for his work in motion graphics. He illustrated the acclaimed picture books Over and Under the Snow and Lifetime , both of which explore the natural world. Over and Under the Snow , with author Kate Messner, was praised for its "stunning retro-style illustrations" ( The New York Times ), was a 2011 New York Times Editor's Choice and won an E.B. White Honor Award in 2012. He recently contributed art to the New York Times bestseller Goodnight Songs , which is a collection of poems by author of Goodnight Moon , Margaret Wise Brown.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-"Earth shows me many things" begins this gentle book that bears a powerful message. Each boundless spread depicts children quietly interacting with familiar aspects of the natural world accompanied by poetic observations such as, "Clouds show me how to rise up and float above problems.. A baby bird shows me how not to be afraid to spread my wings and fly.. Soil shows me how to support those around me." The mixed media illustrations in muted colors echo the simplicity of the text and feature a diverse array of young children. Spacious page composition gracefully complements the theme while selective details add interest without distraction. This contemplative book has much to offer solo readers but would be just as effective in group settings and as a bedtime story at the conclusion of a busy or fretful day. Teachers might consider using it to spark Earth Day conversations or to inspire instruction in the practice of meditation or yoga. VERDICT An original book with wide appeal sure to enhance most collections.-Lynn Van Auken, Oak Bluffs School, MA © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Illustrated by Neal (Everyone) with serene, spacious landscapes, lyrical free verse by Thomas (This Book Is Not About Dragons) explores lessons to be found in the natural world. One voice narrates, but many children appear in the spreads. "Trees show me how to stand tall./ Even when the wind/ tries to blow me down,/ I dance with the breeze./ I do not fall." Neal draws a tree in a gale, its leaves scattering. A girl in a blue dress stands underneath it, arching her body to the side with a sweet smile on her face, long black pigtails blowing in the breeze. Often, in Neal's spreads, the majesty of the natural world (the moon, a mountain, bees foregrounded on a page) dwarfs the humans who populate it. In one striking image, the figures of an adult and child in a tiny boat are seen from above, the shadow of a mammoth whale visible below ("Whales show me the wonder/ of big things and small things"). Addressing readers who are likely to draw inspiration from the outdoors, Thomas's exhortations celebrate both natural beauty and human virtue in a kind of gentle eco-theology. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media. Illustrator's agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
From trees to bees to clouds, Moore urges readers to open their eyes to the inspiring life lessons offered by nature ("The moon shows me that even when I change, I am still me"). Although the motivational messaging sometimes feels slightly facile, Neal's gorgeous mixed-media and digital illustrations artfully depict various children and their caregivers enjoying the "wide and wonderful world out there, waiting. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Qualities found in nature are extolled and parallels drawn to strengths that can help children (and adults) face and overcome challenges.Thomas' first-person narration, which some listeners may find preachy and distant, seems intended to represent the voices of the various children pictured throughout. Their voices are similar, however, as each describes the ways that natural elements teach resilience, strength, and bravery, among other characteristics. Trees, for example, "show me how to stand tall," while "Stones show me how to be strong." The smoothly written, extremely earnest text is leavened by occasional wordplay: "Oceans show me how to travel far and wide. / I see all there is to see, / but I always return / with a friendly wave." Neal's double-page spreads, created in mixed-media and digital, have an appealingly childlike feel and are enlivened by some unexpected perspectives. The progress from day to night and back to dawn offers a logical flow, and a nighttime scene of a tiny boat floating above the shadow of an enormous whale among the reflections of stars and moon is particularly arresting. Characters are depicted with a range of skin tones, and a few glimpses of far-off skyscrapers add a hint of urban flavor to the mostly pastoral settings, but no particular cultural or ethnic group or geographical location is identified.Textually purposeful and visually appealing, this may be useful to caregivers seeking to reinforce both positive traits and an appreciation for nature, but it's unlikely to engender much enthusiasm without this kind of deliberate endorsement. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Thomas, author of the Good Knight series, here offers a series of contemplative, lyrical meditations tied to mindfulness and appreciation of the wonders of the world. In each vignette, an observation is narrated by a diverse cast of children. The narratives demonstrate that there are many parallels between the self and things in nature, such as trees, rocks, oceans, the sun, clouds, bees, baby birds, soil, cats, whales, and the moon. Closing on the message just open your eyes and you will find it, this encourages readers to find inspiration everywhere. In Neal's sumptuous illustrations, the soft, boldly colored scenes feature a wide variety of recognizable environments and snapshot-like images of children serenely enjoying nature. The story's tempo segues to a gentler, lulling tone at the end, soothing readers into a peaceful mindset, making the book a perfect end for the day. For more explorations of mindfulness, pair this with Susan Verde's I Am Peace (2017), Kate Messner's Over and under the Pond (2017), or Julian Lennon's Touch the Earth (2017).--Vivian Alvarez Copyright 2019 Booklist
