Once Upon Another Time

Once upon another time,
the world was young and new.
If you want to know this world,
there's something you can do...With sweeping landscapes and up-close details of the natural world, Once Upon Another Time takes readers through a lyrical exploration of the world as it was before humans made their mark. Contrasting the past with the present, this expansive picture book serves as a warm invitation for children--and all people--to appreciate, explore, and protect the magic and wonder of this planet we call home.
Written by award-winning authors Charles Ghigna and Matt Forrest Esenwine, and illustrated by Andrés F. Landazábal, Once Upon Another Time is a stunning portrait of a world that used to exist, and can still be found--if you just know where to look.\nFrom School Library Journal\nK-Gr 2—The authors use playful rhyme and sweeping landscapes to remind readers about a time "before one human step" was taken. Each outdoor scene depicts the best of each season. Landazábal's artwork teems with abundant wildlife, pristine bodies of water, and clear skies. These "another time" pictures are contrasted with views of a modern city and the airport and towers that surround it. Skyscrapers and busy roads replace any kind of greenery in the city center. Halfway through the book, an illustration with dinosaur fossils shows the two time periods coexisting, and then segues into ways children can experience the richness of these earlier times. The suggestions (e.g., to breathe in the same air the dinosaurs breathed, to play in puddles, to put down screens and look up at the clouds) are active, mindful, and free activities that focus on difference senses. They include activities that can be done alone or with family and friends. VERDICT For Earth Day shelves, but all year around. It's a near-perfect way to remind children of all their planet has to offer.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake P.L., Alta.