Wonderful Earth

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This child-friendly, interactive book about earth's history and its current state of disrepair is part creation myth, part environmental-awareness tale. In a chatty, upbeat tone, British collaborators Butterworth and Inkpen explain how God created light, darkness and the planets, including one standoutthe earth. The authors provide an extensive list of God's handiwork (plants, animals, land masses, water and people), while also describing how humans have "chopped down the forests... filled the air with dirty smoke... poisoned the rivers and seas." On the up side, they also assert that, with God's help, humans can learn to restore and care for the earth He made. The pair's engaging text and cheery, often comical, artwork makes the oft-told tale from the Bible's book of Genesis sound fresh for young readers. And the interactive elements, including a rousing roaring-lion pop-up and several clever lift-the-flaps, will keep readers coming back for more. Ages 3-9. (Apr.)

Children's Literature - Patricia Timbrook

Inside its twenty-four pages of spot illustrations, the Creation story is retold in a kid-friendly tone and style. All throughout, the book reinforces the message that God is Creator. It also allows children to interact with the many, zany animal illustrations. The book closes with an ecological viewpoint about what makes Earth sad and what makes Earth happy, an additional interactive nudge to make children think beyond the book's end.