The Earth Book: A world of exploration and wonder

by Jonathan Litton, Thomas Hegbrook (Illustrator)

Overview

Explore the incredible place we call home! Marvel at the physical planet, learn how the weather works, meet some of the most influential people from the past and present, and much more. Examine every corner of the Earth, from outer space to underground and from the Maasai steppe to Manhattan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781944530068
Publisher:	Tiger Tales.
Publication date:	03/07/2017
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 12.70(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	IG1140L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jonathan Litton has written numerous children's books in prose and verse. He loves using his science background to write about sea creatures, space and saving the planet, but is also fond of penning stories about pirates, princesses and picnics. When not writing, he can usually be found on his bike.

Editorial Reviews

01/23/2017
Though the Earth may seem vast, it’s more fragile and mutable than people realize, Litton suggests in a far-reaching tour of the planet, which covers the formation and physical makeup of the Earth, life forms extinct and still present, regions and ecosystems, and the presence of humanity. Through a conversational and accessible narrative, Litton adeptly explains complex topics, such as the sheer scale of Earth’s history (“You might be surprised to learn that less time separates us from T. Rex than separated T. Rex from Stegosaurus”), assisted by Hegbrook’s handsome, softly textured graphics. Litton puts humanity’s relatively brief presence on Earth, particularly in light of past extinctions and geological time, into sharp perspective, while highlighting the creatures, landscapes, and human accomplishments that have made the planet what it is. Ages 8–11. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

03/01/2017
Gr 3 Up—This fascinating oversize volume harbors a wealth of information relating to Earth. Divided into four sections—each made up of numerous maps, charts, diagrams, illustrations, and bits of wisdom in paragraphs of tiny print—the work highlights the movements of the continents over millions of years; natural formations such as mountains, geysers, etc.; ecoregions; the evolution and migration of humans; a sampling of human cultures from around the globe that continue ancient traditions; an introduction to 10 of the world's largest cities; a selection of "Influential Earthlings," from Lucy to J.K. Rowling; and more. A final, sobering look at threats to Earth considers the need to address the increasing numbers of superintelligent machines, climate change, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The arrangement, scope, and depth of this engaging presentation will captivate both youngsters and adults. VERDICT A browsable purchase for earth science collections.—Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH

School Library Journal

2016-12-14
Litton (Hello World, 2016) and Hegbrook (Storyworlds: Nature, 2016) link up for a large-format "grand pictorial tour of our humble home."It's not a happy pairing. Along with a tendency to use dark background colors that render the narrative's small type difficult to read and nearly illegible in places, the illustrator shows a general disregard for clarity. He renders the Milky Way as a blotchy abstraction, for instance, fails to produce evidence beyond the desert rose for Litton's claim that the island of Socotra is "the most alien-looking place on Earth," and turns an already tangled "Tree of Life" into a bewildering mess with globs of superfluous, stylized leaves. The book has other weaknesses. The gallery of "Influential Earthlings" is diverse enough to include Lucy, Laika, and Henrietta Lacks, but an earlier international "Parade of People" includes only three women among the 17 figures. The author's overview of the Earth's history, its biosphere's regions and residents, and our human impact on the planet is chock-full of lively examples and sidelights, but the illustrations waste his efforts. Also, he doesn't always get his facts right: New Zealand's fiordland crested penguins do live in a rain forest but do not nest in trees, and Hiawatha did not "end wars across the Great Plains." The unpaged volume has no index, and maps are rare and heavily stylized. Ambitious of scope but a clumsy mismatch. (Nonfiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews