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Our House Is Round: A Kid's Book About Why Protecting Our Earth Matters
Called “the perfect children’s introduction to environmental issues” by Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, Our House Is Round gently guides young readers through a smartly narrated conversation illuminating the concept of global connection and environmental cause and effect. This book teaches the “whys” behind earth conservation in a colorful, positive way that encourages maturity, responsibility, and problem-solving discussion. Author Yolanda Kondonassis encourages children to answer questions about their planet and discusses the issues of global warming, recycling, energy conservation, planting trees, and more. This book is a must for every school and family library.
Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers—picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers—picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
- GenresPicture Books
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 28, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 1, 2019
This book tells of the shape of our Earth and why we need to protect it. The book goes through several examples of things that hurt our planet and then tells ways that we can fix it. It has several examples of ways that EVERYONE can help protect and save our Earth!
I really liked the illustrations in this book. They were very cute and funny how they drew things that could never actually happen. For instance, a tree eating pollution. I think the kids would enjoy those funny illustrations. I did feel that the book was a little long. It would be fine for older kids but you would be struggling to keep little kids attention span.
I think this book could be used before or on Earth Day. This book would allow you to teach the children about our Earth and why it is important to protect it and keep it clean. As an activity, kids could write a short amount on what they can do to protect our Earth.
I really liked the illustrations in this book. They were very cute and funny how they drew things that could never actually happen. For instance, a tree eating pollution. I think the kids would enjoy those funny illustrations. I did feel that the book was a little long. It would be fine for older kids but you would be struggling to keep little kids attention span.
I think this book could be used before or on Earth Day. This book would allow you to teach the children about our Earth and why it is important to protect it and keep it clean. As an activity, kids could write a short amount on what they can do to protect our Earth.
March 11, 2014
"Our House is Round: A kid's Book About Why Protecting Our Earth Matters:" by Yolanda Kondonassis, illustrated by Joan Brush. Copyright date 2012. Suggested for ages 7-9.
The author wanted a book to explain "why" we should recycle, and clean up the earth. This book has simple illustrations and is great for opening discussion on environmental concerns with younger students or older students. The Kirkus review called it a "medley of environmental tweets". I still think this colorful simply illustrated book is a good way to introduce climate change and environmental concerns to students.
The following website contains more details and pictures from this nonfiction book: socialcafemag.com/our-house-is-round-... .
The book's text structure is very simple for young readers. I would focus on picture clues using the simple illustrations to begin discussions on the environment topics. Before reading I would look at the books text structures and have students see how the author has organized the information. Each topic could be the introduction catalyst to spur more reading. Climate changes has a colorful page on rising sea levels, extreme weather patterns, melting polar ice caps etc. Each of these pages could be the beginning of further exploration into global warming.
I chose the twin text of "Night of the Spadefoot Toads" by bill Harley with copyright date of 2008 as my fiction read to go with this nonfiction book. This book is also won the Green Earth Book Award. The nonfiction books gives the spark to read more and I would suggest "Night of the Spadefoot" to give students a controversial look at an environmental issue. This book 'Spadefoot' will provide a contextual setting for a topic that isn't in the more sterile factual text. Students can relate to the fifth grade boy trying to make a difference in "Spadefoot". He works to save a toad's habitat. The story involves friends, relationships and issues that involve being the "new kid".
My rationale for this twin book selection is for a bit older students (3-4) to relate to the issues involved with environmental habitats. I would use the nonfiction twin even though for younger audiences to introduce the environmental issues to older students. Next I would offer several different fiction books along with "Night of Spadefoot" to entice students into reading fiction books that encompass the subject that they can research with the nonfiction books.
Students could then have literature circle discussions on their different environmental issues read in there fiction books that they can relate too and back up their statements with the nonfiction facts. I would use a chart similar to KWL with a few tweeks for students to show how the facts can be checked from the fiction to the nonfiction book.
(2012, April 25).Kirkus Reviews.https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
(2012, April 12). Social Cafe Magazine. http://socialcafemag.com/our-house-is...
The author wanted a book to explain "why" we should recycle, and clean up the earth. This book has simple illustrations and is great for opening discussion on environmental concerns with younger students or older students. The Kirkus review called it a "medley of environmental tweets". I still think this colorful simply illustrated book is a good way to introduce climate change and environmental concerns to students.
The following website contains more details and pictures from this nonfiction book: socialcafemag.com/our-house-is-round-... .
The book's text structure is very simple for young readers. I would focus on picture clues using the simple illustrations to begin discussions on the environment topics. Before reading I would look at the books text structures and have students see how the author has organized the information. Each topic could be the introduction catalyst to spur more reading. Climate changes has a colorful page on rising sea levels, extreme weather patterns, melting polar ice caps etc. Each of these pages could be the beginning of further exploration into global warming.
I chose the twin text of "Night of the Spadefoot Toads" by bill Harley with copyright date of 2008 as my fiction read to go with this nonfiction book. This book is also won the Green Earth Book Award. The nonfiction books gives the spark to read more and I would suggest "Night of the Spadefoot" to give students a controversial look at an environmental issue. This book 'Spadefoot' will provide a contextual setting for a topic that isn't in the more sterile factual text. Students can relate to the fifth grade boy trying to make a difference in "Spadefoot". He works to save a toad's habitat. The story involves friends, relationships and issues that involve being the "new kid".
My rationale for this twin book selection is for a bit older students (3-4) to relate to the issues involved with environmental habitats. I would use the nonfiction twin even though for younger audiences to introduce the environmental issues to older students. Next I would offer several different fiction books along with "Night of Spadefoot" to entice students into reading fiction books that encompass the subject that they can research with the nonfiction books.
Students could then have literature circle discussions on their different environmental issues read in there fiction books that they can relate too and back up their statements with the nonfiction facts. I would use a chart similar to KWL with a few tweeks for students to show how the facts can be checked from the fiction to the nonfiction book.
(2012, April 25).Kirkus Reviews.https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
(2012, April 12). Social Cafe Magazine. http://socialcafemag.com/our-house-is...
February 21, 2015
Personal Reaction: I love how relatable the concepts in this book are to young readers. it explains how common things they do everyday can have positive and negative impacts on the earth. Paired with the bright illustrations, the book explains why it is so important to save the planet in a fun and engaging way.
Purposes
-read aloud for enrichment: "Our House Is Round" is a very engaging story with an important message. Toward the end of the book, the author included a "Messy Planet Action Plan." I would likely have individual volunteer readers read these aloud to the class. The "Our House is Round" poem would also be a good thing to split up and have students read aloud. A final read aloud would be the "Earth-Smart Dictionary" included in the back. This method would engage students and understand the main concepts after reading the story.
-read aloud for curricular purposes: I would absolutely use this book in my classroom for science when I was doing an Environmental Impact unit. It bring a large concept (pollution of the planet) to something students can relate to (a messy room/house). It is positive in that in empowers students to act by being encouraging a providing real-world examples of things they can do. I would likely provide a log for students to have at home and school for them check off for a whole week when they did any of the provided tips. For example, if a student turned off the lights when they exited a room on Monday, they would check that off for Monday in that activity's slot. The terms at the end of the book would be great for a vocabulary matching test.
Age level
-I would target this book to about third grade students. The concepts and accompanying activities are appropriate for this age level.
Purposes
-read aloud for enrichment: "Our House Is Round" is a very engaging story with an important message. Toward the end of the book, the author included a "Messy Planet Action Plan." I would likely have individual volunteer readers read these aloud to the class. The "Our House is Round" poem would also be a good thing to split up and have students read aloud. A final read aloud would be the "Earth-Smart Dictionary" included in the back. This method would engage students and understand the main concepts after reading the story.
-read aloud for curricular purposes: I would absolutely use this book in my classroom for science when I was doing an Environmental Impact unit. It bring a large concept (pollution of the planet) to something students can relate to (a messy room/house). It is positive in that in empowers students to act by being encouraging a providing real-world examples of things they can do. I would likely provide a log for students to have at home and school for them check off for a whole week when they did any of the provided tips. For example, if a student turned off the lights when they exited a room on Monday, they would check that off for Monday in that activity's slot. The terms at the end of the book would be great for a vocabulary matching test.
Age level
-I would target this book to about third grade students. The concepts and accompanying activities are appropriate for this age level.
July 15, 2013
A highly attractive book designed with strong striking colours. The educational content of book is well presented to engage children.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews