THIS IS YOUR WORLD

A father deer introduces his fawn (and readers) to the wonders of nature and the importance of caring for our world.

The gently rhyming stanzas take readers from a meadow filled with monarchs to an acorn that will grow into a massive tree that protects numerous animals to a waterfall and the edge of the sea. All the while, the adult imparts environmental lessons: “With every step, tread gently. / We must treat our world with care. / Let’s only take the things we need; / there’s plenty here to share.” The world is for everyone, from birds to whales, and it’s so big the duo might never see it all. While the message is an important one, Temple sometimes crosses the line into preachiness, reducing the book’s efficacy: “At times you might feel tiny, / like the smallest drop of rain. / But you can make a difference, too. / Come here and I’ll explain….” By working together, the adult deer continues, they can do anything. The softly colored artwork is full of tiny details that will enthrall children: A tiny mouse clings to a flower stem, birds dive into the ocean, an owl sleeps the day away. All the animals are adorable and have lightly anthropomorphized facial expressions, though the male deer–fawn dynamic will strike kids familiar with deer biology as unrealistic.

The environmental messaging is staid, but the artwork is sweet.