From the Publisher
"Make[s] geography accessible and relevant...expect plenty of discussion.—Kirkus Reviews
"The pictures should provoke questions; parents and teachers can use the answers to provide kids with more information. Useful for many library collections." —Booklist
Children's Literature
- Melissa A. Caudill
For young readers just beginning to get a sense of geography, this book shows the beautiful variety of landscapes on Earth. From glaciers to coral reefs, Rockwell has crafted a simply written and illustrated book that depicts the great diversity of our planet. It will encourage further exploration of the different landforms and most importantly, it will instill an appreciation for our beautiful home.
School Library Journal
PreS-The statement "Our earth is where I live" appears under a picture of a suburban home with dandelions on the lawn. On the opposite page, a picture of the planet is labeled, "It is a big, round globe." So begins this first look at the development of the earth and its geographic components. Simple sentences state very basic information about the North and South Poles, how an island is born, the path water takes to the sea, hot deserts, damp caves, high mountains, and tropical forests. Grasslands are not included. The watercolor-and-gouache illustrations are colorful, in Rockwell's typical flat, uncomplicated style. The pictures extend the text with appropriate details-an ocean teeming with brightly colored coral and fish, a tranquil cow pasture with rock walls and a red barn, lizards in the desert, and bats in a cave. After such an introduction, preschoolers can move on to Jack Knowlton's Geography from A to Z (Crowell, 1988).-Martha Gordon, formerly at South Salem Library, NY
Kirkus Reviews
Rockwell (One Bean, p. 501, etc.) joins simple lines of text and soft-colored, rudimentary drawings to convey some of the important concepts in geography. The line, "Our earth is where I live," accompanies a cozy cottage and yard; "It is a big, round globe" appears with a shot of the earth in space. Among the topics, given a page each, are the North Pole and South Pole, the work of glaciers, the formation of volcanoes, the flow of streams to rivers, and various habitats and biomes. The transition from page to page may be troublesome for some readers, who are not given any sense of passing time or consistent perspectives. For example, dinosaurs in a swamp appear opposite a tree-covered hill and daisy-covered meadow that are part of a discussion of glaciers, past and present. One page shows the continent of North America in outline, while the facing page shows a close-up of a tropical island as if viewed from a boat offshore. The stylized drawings make geography accessible and relevant; pair this book with more straightforward treatments to avoid confusion, and expect plenty of discussion. (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-7)
