The Earth and I [Hardcover]

Frank Asch (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

This is a story about a friendship that one child has with the earth. They play together. They listen to each other. They nourish each other. But when the earth is sad, the child is sad--so he finds a way to make his friend, the earth, happy. “The vibrant use of pastel colors and simple, big details in close-up perfectly communicate the tender empathy children feel towards something loved.”--Children’s Book Review

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"The Earth and I are friends," begins this sentimental picture book in which a boy inventories the many ways he and the planet benefit and enjoy each other. Examples both obvious ("I help her to grow. She helps me to grow" accompanies pictures of the boy tilling soil, then eating food) and inspired ("I dance for her. She dances for me" is paired with the boy raking leaves, then the leaves being blown about by a gust of wind) give way to the book's ultimate "green" message: "When she's sad, I'm sad" captions a view of a scrap heap. The simple text is consistent with Asch's repertoire of very young picture books (Happy Birthday, Moon; Bear Shadow), but it lacks the humor that have made the others preschool classics. He paints a dreamscape of liquidy watercolors, with blues, purples, greens and reds bleeding together in a wash of rainbows that cover both the boy and the earth: hair, clothes, leaves, clouds are each multicolored. Jaded adults may have to stifle a laugh at the final, feel-good illustration, which features the narrator hugging a tree. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-A simple story in which a boy describes his interactions with his special "friend," the Earth. ("I tell her what's on my mind. She listens to every word.") Asch's paintings show the child in close harmony with nature as he rides the back of a tortoise, plants vegetables, sings with the birds, and dances in the wind. Pollution mars their play towards the end ("When she's sad, I'm sad"), but he cleans up the garbage, plants a new flower, and hugs a tree on the final page. Despite the rainbow tones woven into each illustration, the muted pictures are blandly drawn and have little personality. They are in keeping with the universality of the author's message, but make for a rather unexciting picture book. The basic ecological theme is delivered in a straightforward manner; the book could be used to introduce nature units and is well suited to beginning readers. Nancy Carlstrom's Northern Lullaby (Philomel, 1992), Doug Florian's Nature Walk (1989), and Charlotte Zolotow's Say It! (1980, both Greenwillow) address the subject with more charm and imagination, but The Earth and I will reach even younger audiences.
Steven Engelfried, West Lynn Library, OR
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (September 26, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152004432
• ISBN-13: 978-0152004439
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #641,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great message for kids and beautiful illustrations, August 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Earth and I (Hardcover)

A child makes friends with the earth and its creatures. When the earth gets sad because of trash and pollution, the child cleans up the garbage and makes the earth happy. The beautiful color illustrations captivated my daughter before she was one. Now it is still a favorite of hers, and she knows the words by heart and makes observations about the story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book - beautiful story & pictures, December 5, 2009

By 

James Groves "Yoga DADA" (Wash, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Earth and I (Paperback)

What a wonderful story and the pictures are beautiful. I love to share this with my students. The kids love he pictures.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great even for little ones, December 6, 2000

By 

christine gael (CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Earth and I (Hardcover)

I got this book from the library for my 2 year old and he loves it! The illustrations are wonderfully colorful and eyecatching, instantly holding his attention. He wants me to read it over and over. I know this book is meant for kids a little older but the message is great for even the littlest children! Exellent!