The Earth: One-Of-A-Kind Planet
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
The Earth: One-Of-A-Kind Planet
By (Author) Laura Perdew
Illustrated by Hui Li
Nomad Press
Nomad Press
15th March 2021
United States
Classifications
Children
Non Fiction
525
Physical Properties
Paperback
32
Width 241mm, Height 239mm
136g
Description
Age range 5 to 9
Earth is our home, but do we really know about this planet
Quite a lot! We know how the Earth came to be the planet we live on, how oxygen made it possible for life to develop, and how the climate is changing in ways that affect everyone and everything. In The Earth: One-of-a-Kind Planet, the narrator, who just happens to be the Universe, explains where Earth is located in the solar system, how life evolved on Earth, and more. Universe uses a friendly, relatable tone to engage young readers and explain complex science content in ways kids can understand and relate to. And the alien commentators are hilarious for both kids and adults!
Vivid illustrations, text-to-self connections, and a hands-on science activity all provide foundational learning opportunities to explore planet Earth. A poem at the beginning encourages language arts connections. Perfect as a read aloud or for beginner readers, with a glossary to support language development.
Reviews
Kirkus "The universe brags about one of its best and favorite parts. Depicted as human with lightly toned skin and billows of black hair a-glimmer with stars, Universe squires two wisecracking ETs past the planets ("a pretty neat system, if I do say so myself"), then recaps the history of this one from "hot, bubbly, gassy mess" through the development of life to the appearances of satellites and pizza. In simple language she explains the roles oceans, the water cycle, and our planet's placement in the "Goldilocks" zone played in the appearance of us. If she sounds a note of warning about the need to fix pollution and other hazards to life, it only briefly dims her conviction that we will indeed step up. Heavenly bodies, microorganisms, and, on later pages, racially diverse groups of children sport bright, googly eyes and benevolent smiles in the cartoon illustrations. In co-published tours that echo the upbeat tone, Universe presents viewers with basic introductions to The Moon (our "Small-but-Mighty Neighbor"), the life cycles of a "gazillion" Stars, and our own "Shining Star," The Sun. Each outing ends with general directions for a relevant activity (for Earth, creating a terrarium) and, injecting the Art into STEAM, opens with an earnest poem. With its companions, breezy flyovers with light but sound informational payloads. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 7-9.)"
Praise for other books by Laura Perdew Biodiversity Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth with Environmental Science Activities for Kids Booklist
Top 10 Nonfiction Series for 2020
"Build It Environmental Science (4 titles) Gr. 4-8. Mixing comics and thoughtfully designed activities with solid information, this series accessibly explores with precision such topics as biodiversity, biomes, and Earth's garbage problem."Read more online.
Booklist
Top 10 Books on the Environment & Sustainability for Youth: 2020
"Activities and accessible text bring the importance and complexity of biodiversity to upper-elementary and middle-school students."
"Nomad applies its dependable activity-book format to the new Build It Environmental Science series (4 titles). Here biodiversity is placed under the microscope--sometimes literally--in a text that makes daunting concepts, such as evolution, levels of biodiversity (genetic, species, or ecosystem), and why biodiversity matters, easy to understand without sacrificing scientific precision. . . By book's end, readers will truly understand what biodiversity is, its importance to the health of the planet, and humans' impact on the complex natural systems where it thrives."
Extinction: What Happened to the Dinosaurs, Mastodons, and Dodo Birds
National Science Teachers Association Recommends"This book uses the concept of extinction to teach a little chemistry, a little climatology, paleontology, biology (biodiversity), ecology, and a lot of geology. The science information is historical and current, drawing on three-dimensional learning, incorporating science practices to determine what factors affect extinction in general and specifically. The integration of concepts help bring the science alive and relevant."
Praise for other books in the Picture Book Science series Forces: Physical Science for Kids, by Andi Diehn Booklist Starred Review March 15, 2018
"Forces, despite its down-to-earth scientific grounding, manages to do the nearly impossible. Diehn brings gravity, magnetism, push-pull forces, and friction to life in everyday contexts, without a hint of schoolroom jargon. Children, parents, and teachers alike can enjoy learning the charming, often funny, relatable, and accessible science within this Picture Book Science series (4 titles) offering."
Author Bio
Laura Perdew is an author, writing consultant, and former middle school teacher. She has written more than 30 books for the education market on a wide range of subjects including, wetlands conservation, renewable energy, animal adaptations, and extinction. Her book Biodiversity: Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth (Nomad Press, 2019) earned a Booklist starred review and was a Junior Library Guild selection. Laura is a long-time member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and an avid runner and hiker. She lives in Boulder, Colorado. Shululu (Hui Li) has always been driven by curiosity. She is the illustrator of several nonfiction picture books from Nomad Press. She earned a PhD in computational chemistry from the University of Chicago and her research has been published in the world's most influential science journals, including Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. She lives with her family in New York, New York.
