This Pretty Planet

Product Description
Based on the touching song “This Pretty Planet” by Tom Chapin and John Forster, this hopeful and whimsically illustrated picture book celebrates the pretty planet we call home.\nWinds blow. Tides flow.\nShooting stars descend. \nOur lives begin, middle, and end on \nThis pretty planet.\nFrom icy tundras to sandy beaches, lush forests to tall mountains, this exuberant picture book journeys around the globe and presents the natural wonders of the planet with a contagious sense of awe and whimsy. Young readers will get lost in the detailed illustrations as the narration serves as a gentle reminder of why we must care for and protect our pretty planet.
From School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2-With two siblings to guide readers, the popular children's song gets a remix that becomes a tender picture book poem celebrating the wonder, variety, and fragility of Earth. A bunny wakes two children as their bed sails out the bedroom window via hot air balloon. One child has brown skin, hair in double buns, and a polka dot nightgown, and the other wears striped pajamas and has peach skin and short red hair. They float over their sleeping town, then on to brighter destinations. They peer down on a duck and crocodile flying kites as the poetic text begins, "Winds blow. Tides flow." They sit on a giant mushroom to admire constellations. A time line shows Western civilization from the pyramids, through the era of the Mayflower, the Industrial Revolution, and up to the Information Age. The illustrations are bright and filled with details. There are mermaids in the water and houses shaped like books, as well as more somber images such as dirty smokestacks and landfills. Those are followed with more empowering ones of the children picking up litter and composting. Sheet music on the endpapers repeat the text set to the song's simple melody. Due to the detailed illustrations and abstract themes, this is not a good fit for large group readalouds, but those same features make it a lovely choice for starting conversations with small groups or one-on-one. VERDICT Many songs have been turned into picture books, but this one is particularly deft at capturing hope and possibility, which defined the original work. It's a sweet accompaniment to Earth Day sing-alongs.-Amelia Jenkins, Juneau P.L., AKα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
"The many allusive details in the illustrations will make adults smile and keep child readers coming back for more....Engaging and true to the message." -- Kirkus Reviews ―
October 2020\n"The illustrations are bright and filled with details....A lovely choice for starting conversations with small groups or one-on-one. Many songs have been turned into picture books, but this one is particularly deft at capturing hope and possibility, which defined the original work. It’s a sweet accompaniment to Earth Day sing-alongs." -- School Library Journal ―
December 2020\n"The lyrics...offer inspiration for some really magical illustrations. The fanciful detail-rich pictures, on full-bleed single pages, double-page spreads, and panels, celebrate the song's message to care for our planet." -- The Horn Book Book Bundles ―
May 6, 2021
About the Author
Tom Chapin has entertained, amused, and enlightened audiences of all ages for more than forty years and through twenty-seven CDs, eight Grammy nominations, three Grammy awards, and thousands of live performances. A pioneer in the field of children’s music, he is also a respected singer-songwriter and a strong advocate for the arts in education. Tom lives in Piermont, New York. Find out more at TomChapin.com.\nJohn Forster is a singer-songwriter, playwright, and humorist whose acclaimed output includes musicals on and off Broadway, Grammy-nominated recordings, humor books, and many delightful projects for children, including the perennial stage musi