An intriguing picture book with an abstract theme and illustrations that invite young readers to reimagine themselves as...
A boy describes his identity as an Earthling in this clever, enchantingly illustrated picture book by veteran author Weisberg (Talking to the Dead, 2005, etc.) and artist Arnold.
Most people think of the unnamed narrator as a boy and his sister as a girl, “But we’re Earthlings,” he explains. Grouping himself with other residents of the planet—animals as well as humans—the narrator describes things that make Earth and Earthlings special. Scientific concepts such as gravity, the atmosphere, the water cycle, and general human anatomy are described in dramatically simplified layman’s terms. Rather than delve into the science, the narrator skims over the ideas to focus on how some of these things are unique to Earth and how earthlings are “perfectly made” for their environments. The theme underlying the concepts is a little more abstract: “I can’t see my own back or face without a mirror, but I can see those of other Earthlings….We can see one another, but we can’t directly see our whole selves.” Although never stated directly, the philosophical implication that other beings are required for us to truly see ourselves is an interesting one for a picture book aimed at the lower grade school audience. While most of the illustrations focus on the narrator—a small blond boy wearing primary colors—in the final pages, a diverse spread of humans fill the pages, featuring different skin tones, clothing styles, and religious and cultural details, further suggesting that seeing ourselves through diverse eyes helps us better understand who we are; after all, our shared planet is more important than our differences. Arnold’s watercolor images are delightful, with nods to space travel and sci-fi at every opportunity (robot toys and rocket ships are typical inclusions). But the premise is almost too clever: since there’s no story here, only abstract concepts, some young readers may scratch their heads. “He’s an Earthling—so what?” It is not quite detailed enough to please science readers nor direct enough to give an explicit moral. But the quiet, thoughtful tone may well work for others, especially independent readers more interested in questions than answers.
An intriguing picture book with an abstract theme and illustrations that invite young readers to reimagine themselves as citizens of the planet.Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2015
ISBN: 978-1500941215
Page Count: 42
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
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