When the Earth Shook

by Lisa Lucas, Laurie Stein (Illustrator)

For the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a mythic framing of climate change and one little girl’s response.

Alya and Atik are stars. Their job is to twinkle in the night sky over Earth, and for billions of years they do it well. Plants stretch toward them. Animals look up at them. And, eventually, humans gaze up at them and marvel. But then humans invent powerplants, factories, and cars, and smog pours into Earth’s atmosphere. It becomes harder and harder for Alya and Atik to do their jobs―until, finally, the stars yell at Earth, and Earth feels sick and begins to shake, and things look pretty dire.

The clueless king’s response is to command Earth to stop shaking. But a little girl named Axiom tells the king to hush, then tells humans what they must do to make the Earth feel better.

When the Earth Shook provides a mythical framing for kids to understand that it will be their job to help save the Earth. Bravo, Axiom! Keep using that huge megaphone until the earth no longer shakes! Axiom’s list of instructions to humans―some well-known and others new but critically important―appears in the back of the book.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Conservation

36 pages, Hardcover

Published March 3, 2020

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remarkably timely tale takes the "earth-shaking" period of history we are in––a period when kids are hearing about climate change, imperial political leaders, and youth activists such as Greta Thunberg––and transforms it into a simply elegant parable that affirms the power of a child's voice to change the world around them. The illustrations are gorgeous and papery-textured, conveying a sense of both poignant fragility and hopeful innocence that plays perfectly alongside the text. Magical and moving, this is a book that young kids and old alike will connect with and return to.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastical story that serves as an allegory of our mistreatment of the planet through our greed and in the name of progress, this book teaches kids to consider what humans have been doing and change their ways to reverse the course of damage to our home. The multi-media artwork has a lovely textural feel and enhances the story in an organic way.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about helping the environment or taking notice of the devastating effects of climate change seem to pop up every few weeks these days. They are needed. I don't think there's a more timely issue or more pressing concern for our children's generation. This, however, must be the most unique book about the environment I have read yet. It is a mythical framing to help kids understand what is happening to the earth and how they can help. Perfect for an elementary school audience, it is powerful and clear but childlike and empowering. A unique and timely book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the way the illustrations were done in this book. I thought it fit the story well. The text was short and flowed well, except for the last two pages where she lays out all the ways humans can save the earth. I think it's a good way to explain pollution and recycling and such to children. I think some of the ideas laid out are a bit far fetched, but good for the most part. There are also links to resources for children to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

[Amber Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Earth Shook is a precious book about how the earth responded to the work humans have done to ruin and destroy the planet. Two stars tell the story and it explains the process the earth has gone through to get to where we are. We all have to play a role in order to make a difference and save our planet Earth.

[Deborah Kerbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of two stars and a little girl named Axiom, this picture book tells the story of the day the earth shook so hard, it started to cry. A great book to get kids thinking and talking about climate change and the environment. The pastel and recycled paper illustrations pair perfectly with the text.

[Taylorc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great book - lovely illustrations, thoughtful text!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I appreciate this book's positive message and reminder that humans need to take better care of their Earth home, I wasn't a fan of the illustrations, created with pastels and then scanned and enhanced through Photoshop. While two stars keep watch, Earth begins to change over the eons. The pollution makes it hard for the stars to be seen. While the king dithers and Earth cries, a little girl named Axiom takes action, talking gently to the planet to comfort it, and reaching out to the humans and animals for help. The book doesn't say what Axiom told those helpers to do until after the story concludes, but it's clear from the illustrations that they got busy recycling and removing plastic from the ocean, among other things. I'm not sure whether it's more effective to place her words there or if they would have fit better in the narrative. Either way, she offers some simple but useful tips to help reduce our carbon footprints. The unique perspective from the two stars makes this picture book a little different from others that cover similar territory.

[Cara BookShelfMomma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It defiantly brings to light about climate change and how little children can be the ones with he loudest voice to help stop and solves issues at hand.

I felt that the king and his three followers were a politically reference and dig and didn't really need to be in a children's book.

Overall the message and illustrations were beautiful.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A contemporary fable about the perils of climate change told from the unique perspective of two stars.