Posted by Casey on Friday, Jan 26, 2018
9780399167898
Last, and last to be published in 2017, but certainly not least in our Mock Caldecott review series is Here We Are: notes for living on planet Earth by acclaimed author-illustrator, Oliver Jeffers.
Written for his son during the first few months of his life, Here We Are is exactly what the title suggests, a guide to life on our planet. With his singular illustration style and tongue in cheek humor, Jeffers takes us through what makes Earth, Earth, and in the process what makes us, human. The overarching theme throughout is respect for our planet, ourselves and one another.
"It looks big, Earth. But there are lots of us on here so be kind. There is enough for everyone."
Be sure to watch out for characters from other books throughout the illustrations and read the quotations he has chosen for the dedication and copyright pages. Also, don't forget to vote in our Mock Caldecott awards by January 31st.
About the Author
Casey buys books for ICPL's youngest readers. However, she enjoys reading books of all shapes and sizes. You can find her at the Children's Desk, out and about at one of our area preschools, or providing in-house programming like StoryJAM.
Fabulous illustrations by Christopher Silas Neal accompany this cumulative food chain text. "Creep, Leap, Crunch!" is great for sensitive youngsters with alternate endings for each of the animals offered, reminding readers that predators are not always successful. A lovely glossary adds more information about the animals and temperate setting as well. Add this to the picture book nonfiction shelf! -Casey