Brains On! Presents...Earth Friend Forever

by Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, Sanden Totten, Mike Orodán (Illustrator)

Overview

The creators of Brains On!, the award-winning science podcast for kids, present a humorous, fact- and fun-filled look at the effects of plastic on Earth and how young readers can help protect their planet. Perfect for STEM enthusiasts!
​
Hi Friend,
It’s me, Earth! I hope you like living on me, but we need to talk.
I need your help to solve a BIG problem…You’re covering me with plastic!
But don’t worry, I know you’ve got my back—after all, you do live on it.
Love, Your Earth Friend Forever

Told in the form of a letter from Earth to the reader, this humorous picture book takes an in-depth look at how the actions of humans, particularly their use of plastic, is impacting the planet and how they can make simple changes in their every day life to help protect the place they call home. Additional back matter includes a letter from the reader to Earth, information on what plastic is and how it's made, and scientific solutions that are currently in the works.

Turn your BRAINS ON! with more books and check out:
Brains On! Presents...It's Alive
Brains On! Presents...Road Trip Earth

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316459419
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	03/01/2022
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	1,081,473
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten are the creators of American Public Media’s Brains On! and the authors of It’s Alive and Road Trip Earth. They became friends while working at Minnesota Public Radio and decided to make a show for kids, because kids are awesome. They invite you to visit them at brainson.org, follow them @Brains_On, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Mike Orodán is the author-illustrator of the Peek-a-Baby series, as well as Crossings by Katy S. Duffield. He lives in Surrey, England. He invites you to follow him on Instagram @thebundad.

Editorial Reviews

"A playful expression of a serious concern, hopeful enough to be suitable even for the read-aloud crowd."

—Kirkus Reviews

"[This book] brings warmth and humor to STEM content and invites approachable environmental action by young readers who may share an invigorated sense of loyalty to their pleading pal Earth."—Booklist

Praise for Brains On! Presents...It's Alive
"A grab bag of bio-wonders."—Kirkus Reviews

"This eye-catching and engaging offering will perk up STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math, medicine) collections and will appeal to browsers and researchers alike."—Booklist

"Science and humor come together to create a title that will be picked up again and again."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

04/29/2022

PreS-Gr 3—This book, from the hosts of the popular BrainsOn! podcasts, definitely captures readers' hearts and minds in thought-provoking spreads in which the Earth, personified, narrates major human milestones like visiting the moon. Along the way, Earth tells of the beautiful friendship between it and humans, and being there as humans grow and develop, listing all the benefits this wonderful relationship provides. The clever images convey the joy and the connectivity between people and the planet. Then Earth, our friend forever, stops the happy tale by throwing bags, cartons, and other popular plastics at us because that is what we do to our best friend. Earth Friend Forever delineates all the human habits that are destroying its oceans and deserts and the large landfills of garbage further humanizing our sad planet by showing all the awful ways we are not honoring our friendship with our home. Our EFF brings all of us to a revelatory experience in hopes that we will restore our friend, our pal, our best buddy—the Earth. VERDICT Earth Friend Forever will challenge children to be better friends but also offers the tools we need to change our fatal habits.—Tanya Haynes

School Library Journal

2021-12-03
An anthropomorphic planet Earth pens an open letter to humans appealing for an end to plastic pollution.

On the heels of Brains On! Presents...It's Alive: From Neurons and Narwhals to the Fungus Among Us (2020), the creators of American Public Media’s science podcast for kids, Brains On! turn their attention to one of the major ecological threats of our time. Addressing the young reader directly, a winsome-looking Earth with an expressive face, arms, and hands introduces itself: “Dear little humans living on me: It’s your E.F.F.!” With this endearing riff on BFF (Best Friends Forever) setting the tone, Earth describes how it has proudly followed human development from the dawn of creation and loyally provided fresh air, food, and water: “I always have your back because you live on mine.” But Earth has a complaint: Plastic is everywhere. Though useful and important, it doesn't disappear, and it’s making the animals and the environment “uncomfortable.” Confident that this problem can be solved, Earth offers readers some practical solutions: using eco-friendly plastic alternatives, refilling water bottles, recycling, picking up trash, and perfecting chemical recycling methods that break down plastic. Orodán’s exuberant illustrations, rendered in digitally colored pencil sketches, depict people of all races, ages, and sizes and include a girl wearing a hijab and a person using a wheelchair. The endpapers reinforce the message with two contrasting seascapes.

A playful expression of a serious concern, hopeful enough to be suitable even for the read-aloud crowd. (letter, further facts, science solutions) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews