This Is the Planet Where I Live

A stunning tribute that will make future conservationists out of all who read it.

K-Gr 3--Using the template of "This is the House that Jack Built," Going demonstrates some of the ways that we are all interconnected: "The insects who fly nearby over the animals who graze on the fields beside the homes that shelter the people who share the planet where I live" then adds in birds, trees, clouds, the ocean, and ending with "every creature alive on each other depends--all on the planet where we live." The text is only part of the story. Frasier's bold, colorful, eclectic (occasionally surreal) illustrations bring the interconnections to a whole new level. Using her familiar style in a collage format with a mix of photos and paper cutouts across spreads, she visually brings the text to vibrant life. Using the image of a sunflower to represent the sun is priceless. VERDICT This is a look at how all Earth's flora and fauna (including humans) are dependent on the planet and one another. It is visually delightful and begs to be read aloud. Perfect for Earth Day and everyday.--Catherine Callegari

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starting with the "planet/ where I live" and "the people/ who share the planet/ where I live," rhyming cumulative first-person lines cycle outward to include flora, fauna, and more for a compelling portrait of ecological interdependencies. Encompassing homes and animals in adjacent fields as well as birds, clouds, insects, and trees, the verse draws connections to the creatures "who live and die/ deep in the oceans/ on which we rely." Embracing spiral motifs that visualize such connections, Frasier's collages incorporate boldly colored cut paper and photographs set against flat, vibrant backgrounds. Opening and closing pages present a sunflower-filled sun whose rays consist of marigolds and other florals scattering into space, while the globe envisioned throughout is comprised of multicolored human silhouettes rejoicing as they mingle with the natural world. The result is a lively celebration of interconnected life. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"This Is the Planet Where I Live is the perfect way to jump-start a young environmentalist's education. Its eye-catching illustrations will capture the reader's attention, and its lively text will hold it. This is the sort of book that grows alongside children, gaining broader, deeper meanings as their comprehension develops.... This Is the Planet Where I Live gloriously captures the teeming natural treasures of our beautiful, delicate world."—BookPage "4/1/2023"