When the Earth wakes

by Ani Rucki

Artist and writer Ani Rucki uses two charming bears and Earth's dynamic landscape to compare the season's "waking" in spring and "falling asleep" in winter to a child's day.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Nature, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1998

Reviews

[Desi A · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve actually had this book for years (I think it was a hand-me-down?) and have read it multiple times. Pulled it out again to acknowledge the changing of the seasons and to admire the beautiful illustrations and quiet, melodic prose that lulls us into slumber.

[Tamra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent, but not brilliant. The artwork was so-so.

I didn't mind the 2 minutes I spent reading it, but it isn't a must read.

2.5 stars.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 3 out of 5]

This bedtime sleeper takes a mother bear and her cub through the seasons from the time of one hibernation to the next using soft, simple text to highlight the beauty found in each season.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a simple, lyrical, and surprisingly deep poem. And the illustrations, which also look deceptively simple, are rich in dimension and texture.

[Kalynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting with early spring when the bears and the earth wake, Ani Rucki, takes us through the seasons. Bears remain the main character as the earth starts to become full of life, which helps the bears' stomach to become full of food. I love the bold lines in the artwork. I think it is something the intended audience of PreK-2 would connect with, because of their own drawings. Also, because of the drawings, I think it makes for a great picture walk book, so the students can discuss what they notice about the changes--connecting it to what they have learned, or previewing what they are about to learn more about.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bear and her cub wake up in spring and experience the seasons before going to sleep in winter.

This picture book introduces young readers to the four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Short simple text describes each season’s defining characteristics. It also touches on hibernation.

The illustrations are berol prismacolor pencils on black illustration board. They have a lovely primitive quality and texture. I enjoyed the seasonal details included in the pictures such the redwing blackbird and the fireflies.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple text and beautiful pictures take a Mama Bear and her cub through all the seasons from spring all they way back around to the next spring. Nothing super special here, but a decent and easy story time read about the earth and her seasons.

[Carly MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice simple book about different seasons and hibernation/ migration.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too “Mother Earth” for me, but good progression through the seasons.

[Little Champs]

2952

[Nikki Horne · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the Earth Wakes by Ani Rucki is a short picture book about the different seasons. It is very simple and easy for a child to follow. It tells a story about the different weather in the seasons and also uses bears for illustration to show how they live in the seasons also.

I liked this book because it is very simple for young children. It teaches them little things about what the weather is like in the different seasons on Earth. I also liked how it used bears to tell the story instead of just showing the seasons changing colors, etc. The children would be able to relate to the bears in the story and how they feel. Another reason I think this is a good book for young readers is the small amount of writing that it has. Very young readers they might be able to grasp the meaning better with less words instead of a lot of words that they wouldn't understand.

[Ashley Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would use this book to talk about the different seasons that happen during the year. I would also use it to talk about what bears do in the winter, spring, summer, and fall. We would talk how the bear survives during the winter.

[Tristan Doane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows how a bear will travel through the seasons, it is brilliant to show children how animals live and it may give them the love for animals. Even the scariest of them, including the bear, needs love every once and a while.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is simple enough to read with the youngest student and it personifies Earth's passage through the seasons. Good book for a simple literary device lesson or for reading about the seasons.

[Bridget]

Have the audio version