Hello, Earth! Poems to Our Planet

In 22 accessible free-verse poems, Sidman (The Girl Who Drew Butterflies) addresses Earth as a living being, marveling at its grandeur (“Earth,/ How can we ever understand/ your bigness?/ Our smallness?”), contemplating its long history (“Which was your favorite part?”), tracing its slow geological changes (in a poem called “Big Puzzle”), and celebrating the miracle of its ecosystems. Paintings by Lora (A Good Day) underscore the fragility of humankind as tiny figures travel over land and swim in the ocean, dwarfed by lush, primordial forests painted in cool shades of marine blue and pale red ochre. Sidman’s final poems take on a meditative, prayerlike tone, asking Earth to give humans the will to preserve its wonders: “Help us remember/ the quiet, daily things/ we can do/ to keep your water clean/ your air fresh/ your soil full of life.” Requesting that the planet supply resolve to its denizens on top of supporting life seems like a big ask, but Sidman does a credible job of demonstrating Earth’s resilience. Back matter includes further details about many of the subjects treated in the poems, along with a bibliography. Ages 5–9. [em](Feb.) [/em]