Jump to ratings and reviews

Hey There, Earth Dweller!: Dive Into This World We Call Earth

This engaging and quirky introduction into the history and facts about our world and its hidden wonders explores how humans came to inhabit planet Earth and much more.

Hey There, Earth Dweller! is a fun, educational journey into everything a kid would want to know about the planet we call home. Kids are invited to learn about large-scale topics, from what makes up the many layers of the Earth—from the core to exosphere—traveling all the way out into the solar system and our many neighboring planets and moons.

Presented in a vibrant mixed medium design that cleverly and humorously combines original illustrations with photographs of everyday items, this creative take on an institutional topic allows kids to engage and grasp scientific concepts covered, while encouraging them to inquisitively uncover the answers to all of their planetary questions.

176 pages, Hardcover

Published April 9, 2019

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Marc ter Horst

20 books38 followers
Marc ter Horst is a Dutch author who writes books for young readers of all ages, including picture books, fiction, non-fiction (STEM), and YA novels. His works have won several awards and have been translated into 13 languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, German, and Chinese. Marc's books are known for being both funny and engaging. His favorite themes include nature, the Earth, climate change, and the challenges of growing up.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
14 (31%)
4 stars
15 (34%)
3 stars
13 (29%)
2 stars
2 (4%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for La Coccinelle.
2,259 reviews3,573 followers
Did Not Finish
February 4, 2019
DNF @ 27%

When a book starts making me dread opening up the reading app, it's time to call it quits.

I believed the synopsis when it said the book would be "engaging and quirky". That was a lie. I was not engaged. And if "quirky" means "badly written" and "factually incorrect", then I'm afraid I need a new dictionary.

I made a number of notes about errors in the text as I was reading, and since I only got about 1/4 of the way through... well, I shouldn't have had any, really, if this is a non-fiction title. This book reads like a textbook, so I expect it to get its facts right. I don't want to have to look everything up because it may or may not be correct. In the 27% I read, here are a few things I noticed:

If the Earth weren't turning, we would be in either eternal day or eternal night.


Untrue. I learned about this in my astronomy class in university. If the Earth weren't turning at all, we would still have day and night... but it would last an entire year. Think about it: as the Earth is moving around the sun, the only way it could have one side always facing the sun is if it were slowly turning itself. This is what happens with the moon. Its rotation has slowed so that it's essentially locked with one side facing Earth. That's why our moon has a "dark side" that we can't see.

But in space there are simply too few air particles to slow the Earth down much.


The Earth's rotation is gradually slowing down, but air particles aren't what's doing it. It's the tidal pull from our own moon.

Your grandma's grandma didn't have a cell phone. She probably didn't even have a watch.


Maybe true... if you're a 60-year-old kid! I'm old enough to have children that could read this book, meaning that their supposed grandmother's grandmother would be my great-grandmother. Three out of four of my great-grandmothers lived until the 1960s and 1970s; the other died in 2004. Watches definitely existed!

But then a Roman astronomer calculated that it takes the Earth a little longer than 365 days.


I assume this refers to Sosigenes of Alexandria... who was actually a Greek astronomer from Egypt.

See what I mean about the errors? How can I trust the rest of the information? I shouldn't have to Google every fact just to verify that it's correct. Oh, and let's not forget the editing lapses:

Thing's that spin around want to get away from the center.


I chalk that one up to the translator and editors. That's just not good enough for a non-fiction book for children.

In theory, this sounded like a book I would really enjoy. But I found it to be too heavy on the text, making it more like a textbook than a picture book. I felt like I was back in school again, doing required reading... except I'm now old enough to realize that not everything I'm reading is true. This book needs better fact checking and editing before it's released on unsuspecting kids.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aladdin/Beyond Words for providing a digital ARC.
Profile Image for Cassandra Doon.
Author 57 books107 followers
November 27, 2023
Book: Hey there, Earth Dwelle
Author: Marc ter horst
Genre: Picture books, Children’s Books
Recommend: Yes
Amount of Pages 175
My feelings:

I really enjoy children's books.
And read them to my kids every night. But one thing I don't do is review them.
Why I don't know, but I decided it was time to start.

I grabbed this book at the bookshop here in Australia, which I cannot remember now. But I grabbed it for my Joey scouts so that we could learn more about our environment and the issues.
This was fantastic and really portrayed relevant issues that we have today!
Highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tapasya.
367 reviews
November 10, 2018
A wonderful colorful educational book filled with information about our planet. It’s a fun book for kids. I enjoyed reading it with my son.
It delivered the information in a really playful way, without being dull.
A very good add to my kid’s bookshelf.
Profile Image for Allie.
67 reviews1 follower
Want to Read
March 25, 2019
Great job Marc on Hey there, Earth dweller !
My sister in law took it to the school where she teaches
and her class already has questions on the first few pages !
I will let you know when I get a report from her on how involved the kids got.
Thanks ! Keep kids thinking !
Allie
Profile Image for Roger.
209 reviews4 followers
March 23, 2019
Splendid, both in content and illustrations

Going into the first chapter, the author asks us such curious questions that I would not have imagined, sowing interest in our minds, encouraging the innate curiosity in our children. We begin with an overview of the formation of the solar system, providing us comparative data of the Earth with the other planets that astound us. Then the author takes us by the hand to playfully explore the features of our planet that sustain life and all cultures have adapted their lifestyle to them.

The whole book is narrated in a provocative way that feeds the imagination, questioning what we take for granted but that gives shape to our changing reality (gravity, our atmosphere, the origin of life, the tides, the tectonic movement, our anthropological origin, the climate change). The tour of our planet is explained concisely with comparative numbers to understand the macro with metaphoric examples, for example if the water of the planet filled a bathtub only 4 liters would be fresh water and the rest salty water. All information is very friendly and playful for children without falling into complexity, illustrated in a very creative and original way to create interest and smiles in our children.

I loved the book from beginning to end, as an educator and as a father I totally recommend it, the author manages to connect with his inner child to transmit scientific knowledge, it is a must have science book and can be one of the favorites for educators. I will definitely be a follower of Marc ter Horst's publications. I also congratulate the illustrator Wendy Panders and the translator Laura Watkinson, whose participation has been essential for this excellent result, who adapted their work to the author's style very well.

My sincere appreciation to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book
Profile Image for Sharon Tyler.
2,815 reviews39 followers
March 27, 2019
Hey There, Earth Dweller!: Dive Into This World We Call Earth by Marc ter Horst is a children's nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on April 9 2019. This is a journey into everything young readers would want to know about the planet we call home, and the universe around us. Readers are invited to learn about what makes up the many layers of the Earth—from the core to exosphere—traveling all the way out into the solar system and our many neighboring planets and moons. The content is offered in a vibrant mixed medium design that combines original illustrations with photographs of everyday items, allowing readers to engage and grasp scientific concepts covered, while encouraging them to inquisitively uncover the answers to all of their planetary questions.

Hey There, Earth Dweller!: Dive Into This World We Call Earth is a well balanced non fiction book for young readers. The information is laid out in an easy to understand way, without talking down to the readers, but with humor and fun illustrations to keep the attention of readers that might otherwise lose interest. The book does not go into great depth in any subject, but gives a good foundation on a large variety of subjects. I think this book might peak the interest and curiosity of readers and inspire them to research further on a topic that interested then more than others, or help them discover what topics they have the most interest in for further reading. I enjoyed the read, and some of the humor made me smile. While there were no new facts for me, some of the mnemonics and hints for remembering were- which might come in handy when trying to help my own kiddos with their homework and projects.

Hey There, Earth Dweller!: Dive Into This World We Call Earth is an engaging and informative read. I found it well balanced and interesting.
45 reviews5 followers
June 18, 2019
I have to confess that I skimmed through parts of “Hey There, Earth Dweller!: Dive Into This World We Call Earth” book as I was giving it to my granddaughter who is a huge fan of science…did not get that from my side of the family! Anyway, what I did read was not too far out in their lingo, but I have to say the illustrations by Wanda Panders are fantastic!

Granddaughter is still reading her book by Marc ter Horst and seems to be enjoying it too! Her goal is to read a few pages a day till she has completed the book. My goal is to keep her reading and learning!

Thank you, Goodreads, for the opportunity to review this book and thank you Mr. Horst and Ms. Panders! This is good summer reading!

LJN
Profile Image for Jynger Dagey .
2 reviews
March 25, 2019
A fantastic educational book about space written and drawn to keep the attention of younger students. This book covers everything from how the Earth was created all the way to today with everything any elementary student needs to know.
Profile Image for Jo-ann Walsh.
174 reviews5 followers
July 23, 2019
@kidlitexchange #partner
Thank you to @kidlitexchange for the free review copy of Hey There, Earth Dweller! All opinions are my own.
This book is a great nonfiction resource for kids! Have you ever wondered how the earth and planets were formed? What causes tides and why are there different time zones? What are the layers of the earth made of? Where are the highest points on earth? All of these questions and more will be answered in this very informative and clever book! I love how this book is set up into chapters for different topics. Each chapter gives information, examples, and pictures to explain numerous topics- from high and low tide and natural resources to planets and weather patterns! Information is explained with child friendly language!
I highly recommend this book for elementary school children, especially for grades 3-6! This will be an excellent resource for my 4th grade social studies and science curriculums! I look forward to adding it to my classroom library!
Profile Image for Maria.
306 reviews5 followers
April 15, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was published April 9, 2019.

Hey There, Earth Dweller is a science and nature book that aims to describe the included subjects in a simple way that elementary age kids should be able to understand and presents it in a way that the child would find interesting and enjoyable.

I read at least half of it out loud to my 3 and 5-year-olds (that’s why it took me 6 months!) and they really enjoyed the volcano and extreme weather sections the most. The 3-year-old fell asleep several times on other sections.

I really like the cute illustrations that accompany the text, however the pictures often don’t line up with the text correctly. (For example, the book will tell you about the moon and then you’ll see a picture of the moon on the next page when it’s already talking about the sun.)

Also, sometimes the explanations were too simple or too brief and therefor I didn’t gain anything by reading about those topics. (The one that stands out the most is the “Race for the Map” section where Horst talks about the different countries and cultures who explored the world and added to our knowledge of the world.)

Overall, I would describe this as an interesting introduction or supplementary reading for earth sciences. I will keep it around for my kids to look at as they get older.
Profile Image for Kate Waggoner.
418 reviews
May 15, 2019
@KidLitExchange #partner

Thank you to the @KidLitExchange network and publisher for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Hey There, Earth Dweller!: Dive Into This World We Call Earth is a middle grades nonfiction book that is perfect for science teachers and/or lovers of science. The book provides an introduction to a variety of topics and subjects including: astronomy, geology, biology, volcanoes, and more. Each topic is handled in a kid-friendly way. The author uses a lot of metaphors, analogies, and illustrations to explain complex concepts in easy-to-understand terms. The author uses humor, illustrations, and creative comparisons in a way that allows younger readers to engage and grasp scientific concepts while simultaneously encouraging them to ask questions and seek out answers. This book also covers several Common Core state standards for grades 5 through 8 which, as a teacher, is something I'm also interested in knowing about. To the average reader this book may not be overly engaging, but when used in the context of a classroom or in the hands of someone who loves learning about science, it has the potential to be both incredibly engaging and informative.
Profile Image for Laura Gardner.
1,904 reviews124 followers
January 3, 2019
Hey There, Earth Dweller aims to explain scientific phenomena from the solar system to the earth's crust to the atmosphere. The mixed media format lends itself to quick browsing for interesting facts; in fact the illustrations may be my favorite parts of the book. For example, in the section on water all over the earth, there is a page with different shaped fish with the image of the body of water inside the shape of the fish. Other effective images include visual explanations of how tides are affected by the revolution of the moon. The book attempts a conversational, jokey tone that works some of the time.

Students who like browsing factual books about scientific topics may like this book.

The book feels like just one fact on top of another without a particularly novel approach. The book is also very Euro-centric with a brief cursory mention of conquered peoples in a discussion of the age of exploration. There is no index or bibliography, but there are source notes.
Profile Image for M.L. Little.
Author 13 books49 followers
April 30, 2019
@kidlitexchange #partner: Hey There, Earth Dweller by Marc ter Horst. Available NOW!
Hey There, Earth Dweller is the first English-language translation of a Dutch book published in 2014. It’s a cheery, informative book that makes education entertaining through the use of simple but intelligent language, stories kids will love, and graphics that add to the text without distracting from it.
Opening with a “Did you know...?” section to whet kids’ interests, this book has things even non-science-minded people will love. I personally learner the most from the part about how climate change is not a new issue, just a new discussion. The text is easy enough for older-elementary kids, but intelligent and engaging enough for everyone.
#HeyThereEarthDweller is available now through @penguinkids and would make an amazing addition to your classroom! Thank you @kidlitexchange for a review copy—all opinions are my own.
3,334 reviews37 followers
September 25, 2018
Awesome little fact book for kids! It's science in a fun way- creation of planet onward. It really wouldn't be too useful for a science project per se, but just a casual read it here or there to satisfy curiosity. it's well written and chummy rather that a you must learn this info! kind of book. Lots of interesting trivia, too. I think kids might enjoy reading it, especially those interested in the science. I am thinking grades 4th to 7th will like this book.

I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
Profile Image for Andreea.
1,955 reviews67 followers
November 9, 2018
I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Every once in a while I read a non-fiction book for kids that is simply perfect!!

The information is really good, but easy to understand - and there were some things I learnt too. The book is written in such way that it makes you wonder more and more and be curious about the Earth. It is a really great book, and the illustrations make it even better!

I only have good things to say about this book! I loved it and I am going to get it for every little Earth Dweller in my family!

Full review to be shared on publication date!
1,004 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2019
Hey There, Earth Dweller!: Dive Into This World We Call Earth by Marc ter Horst is a science fact book for Kids . It is easy to understand and the facts are awesome. The visual images are good so the younger set as well as the adults can see what is being discussed. There are source notes.

I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
135 reviews2 followers
January 29, 2021
Won this through goodreads. If you are a teacher or have children you might want to check this out. Good for ages 8-12,but hey you know your children better than me. I enjoyed reading about things I learn't in school along time ago. Good to refresh your brain once in awhile.
76 reviews23 followers
June 14, 2019
Loved this book. Loved the cover. Very informative and fun to read for all. This book is good for all students to have in their home libraries to read all the time. Highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for D.
68 reviews18 followers
September 13, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free Digital Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of Hey There, Earth Dweller! from Aladdin/Beyond Words through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full review will be shared closer to publication date!
Profile Image for Ms. Arca.
1,193 reviews50 followers
September 13, 2018
2.5.

I like the concept and I do think kids who love learning about the planet (I can think of a few I’ve taught!) will enjoy flipping through this book at home. Besides that, I’m not exactly sure how it could be used .. in a non-fiction book bin for kids to flip through during independent reading time? I’m not exactly sure this totally nails it image-wise or with its contents organizationally. But it’s fun and informative and for the right kid, I could see it being something they pored over?

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Laura Maher.
82 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2018
What a fun book! I would say the science concepts the book discusses are most appropriate for children around 9 years old and up. The book is written and presented in a fun, easy to read way that focuses on the big picture interspersed with trivia facts. I can see a child, every few minutes, yelling - "MOM! Did you know....!" and reciting one of the many compelling factoids they're learning. There is a lot of education packed into here, but condensed and more of a fun overview of many topics ranging from the the solar system, the origin of the Earth, weather, Earth inhabitants, innovation, natural disasters, evolution, and the eventual demise of the Earth. The illustrations and graphics are very helpful and complete the book.

This is a book to buy a physical copy of. The e-book (Kindle format, ARC) was decent and worked better than most kid's books with illustration, but I would enjoy actually seeing it all well-formatted more. Plus, it's probably one that you'll be keeping and passing around between friends and family over the years!

My toddler obviously doesn't understand the concepts, but she did enjoy some of the photos. A good investment for a book the family will enjoy!
Profile Image for Siusan.
176 reviews4 followers
November 28, 2018
Mac ter Horst’s Hey There, Earth Dweller! was an interesting read. I enjoyed all the science packed into the book along with the wonderful illustrations by Wendy Panders. It was a good primer for a lot of different topics that make for fun conversations between kids and other kids and kids and adults. Also it was a great refresher for this adult. I will say, while I appreciated some of the bluntness of what could happen to future earth, whether thru human impact or just nature taking its course, it may be a little too much for some more sensitive readers. Overall, I feel this would make a great read for any young mind that enjoys learning more about this wonderful place we live.
Profile Image for RedRobinXXX.
479 reviews
February 14, 2019
I am reviewing this book for Marc ter Horst and NetGalley who gave me a copy of their book for an honest review.
A very informative book about the world and the impact we have on which would make a good non-fiction book for any book shelf. There were even bits in there that I hadn't thought about for a while. It's one of those books which grabs your interest and then makes you want to explore further. The numerous illustrations fit alongside the text and enhance some of it.
Profile Image for Kristina.
291 reviews
April 18, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


I enjoyed the tone of this book. It was conversational, which I felt was appropriate for the intended audience. It reads sort of like an Earth science class with a mildy entertaining teacher. Any young reader curious about Earth will find it helpful and easy to understand. Any middle schooler will see a helpful explanation about things if they didn't quite understand their teachers or textbooks. I would give this as a gift to young adventures and young scientists at heart.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews