A PLANET LIKE OURS

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.