AWESOME EARTH

Written by Joan Bransfield Graham

Illustrated by Tania Garcia

(Clarion Books; $19.99, Ages 4-8)

 

 

 

 

 

★Starred Review – Booklist

 

There are so many things I love about this fabulous 40-page poetry book, Awesome Earth, written by Joan Bransfield Graham and illustrated by Tania Garcia! Considering its title, it can easily be called an Earth Day book.

 

Artwork: The most obvious is the eye-catching artwork. Tania Garcia uses such vibrant hues and striking color combinations that I was surprised to learn it’s her first ever picture book. Her seemingly simple illustrations deliver a powerful message. If you weren’t awake before reading this – both physically and symbolically —you will be afterward.

 

 

 

 

 

Concrete poetry: closely related to the bold artwork is the graphic arrangement of the words. Words shapeshift on every page to emphasize what’s written. Just as importantly, they underscore the book’s core message that earth never stands still.

 

Rhythm: I loved the variety of rhythms in this book. They felt fresh and reminded me of spoken word poetry, which kept me engaged with each poem.

 

 

 

 

Science: This book is slyly educational … I was so focused on admiring the elements mentioned above that it took me a while to realize I was actually learning about landforms, too!

 

A Love Story: This collection of poems goes beyond simply educating readers about landmasses. It makes us fall in love with our planet all over again:

 

The earth is an artist, at work every day, with powerful tools that come into play: pressure, time, wind, water, ice, too — all forming wondrous features to view. It sculpts, chisels, carves, etches, creating awe-inspiring sketches. Explore the world, enjoy its glory, listen to it whisper its unfolding story. Walk gently, with care, when you roam. Earth is a treasure, the earth is our home.

 

Even More Learning! As if this weren’t enough of a great book, the end is filled with interesting facts, definitions, and additional resources to explore.

 

• Reviewed by Susan Corry. Susan Corry writes picture books and has more than ten years of experience writing and editing articles for top universities and corporations. She lives in LA with her husband, daughter, and two fluffy rescue dogs. Bluesky: @susancorry.bsky.social