THIS IS THE PLANET WHERE I LIVE

So many things on our planet are connected.

Using a cumulative nursery rhyme format similar to “The House That Jack Built,” the text begins with “This is the planet where I live” and slowly builds to give a simple but detailed account of ecosystems and the food web. While the rhyming text is appropriate for younger readers, skillful storytellers may want to use this book with older children as well to help start discussions of conservation, science, and even climate change. The verses themselves are magnificent, culminating in a story that’s equally pleasing to say aloud as it is to consider: “These are the creatures / who live and die / deep in the oceans / on which we rely / to produce the clouds / that coast and cry / to water the trees / that stretch up high / giving nests to the birds / who soar in the sky / who feed on the insects / who fly nearby. // Animals, fields, / shelter for friends, / every creature alive / on each other depends— / all on the planet / where we live.” Though the text is a delight, the collage illustrations are the real stars of the show, a mix of Matisse-inspired art and photography. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

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