Letters to the Earth: Writing to a Planet in Crisis

by Emma Thompson (Introduction), Jackie Morris (Illustrations)

A profound, powerful and moving collection of 100 letters from around the world responding to the climate crisis, introduced by Emma Thompson and lovingly illustrated by CILIP award winner Jackie Morris.


‘All power to this amazing project.’ JOANNE HARRIS
‘Makes sense of the climate crisis in a whole new way’ MAGID MAGID


How can we begin to talk about what is happening to the world? How can we explain to our children, and to ourselves, what the future of our planet might look and feel like?


Letters to the Earthis the beginning of a new conversation. One that attempts to answer some of these questions by listening to the voices of parents and children; politicians and poets; songwriters and scientists. Gathering together over 100 letters written in response to the climate emergency, each entry begins to give language to the unspeakable, and shows how our collective power is present when we are ready to slow down and listen to each other.


It’s natural to feel worried or concerned about what the future of the earth holds. These letters are an opportunity to reflect on our connection to the planet and each other in times of crisis. They are also an opportunity to act and respond to this crisis. To put pen to paper and make your voice heard.


Includes contributions from activist Yoko Ono, actor Mark Rylance, poet Kate Tempest, author Laline Paull, illustrator of The Lost Words Jackie Morris, novelist Anna Hope, environmental writer Jay Griffiths Green Party MP Caroline Lucas. , Booker prize Winning author Ben Okri and actor Freya Mavor.

Genres: Nature, Poetry, Nonfiction, Environment

272 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2021

About the author

Emma Thompson is an Emmy-, BAFTA-, Golden Globe- and two time Academy Award-winning English actress, comedian, and screenwriter. She is also a patron of the Refugee Council.

Reviews

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

a few of these were absolutely amazing and the children’s letters were really poignant too!

[Nalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seseorang di benua lain, berusia 17 tahun menulis kalimat ini
"A place where the people with the least money are the ones that suffer the most"

Sebuah fakta yang sangat solid terpapar dalam dunia nyata. Bukahkah itu yang terjadi pada negeri kita, ah tentu, ada begitu banyak masalah selain climate change yang terjadi pada negeri ini. Mereka bilang tidak ada waktu untuk memikirkan climate change, namun hal yang harus kita ingat bahwa Indonesia adalah salah satu negeri with the least money yang akan menderita karenanya. Keruk saja semua alam negeri ini, mereka yang mengambil hasil dari negeri ini tidak akan menderita konsekuensi dari kerusakan yang terjadi, namun penduduk lokal yang akan terkena dampak dari segala kerusakan itu.

[Elizabeth♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that prompts you to digest the reality we are all living in; if you're not ready for that level of uncomfortability, read this anyways. With poems and letters from frustrated yet hopeful children, worried parents kicking themselves for their generations inaction, and members of coalitions like the Extinction Rebellion, the content of this book happens to be both unsettling and inspiring. Letters to the Earth offers solidarity in distress; it allows us to openly weep and feel deeply together for such a tremendous wound inflicted by our species upon our mother earth. Still, this is not a book that incites doom. There are resources and insights offered that left me able to walk away from the book with a renewed sense of vigor for climate justice. A must read for anyone and everyone.

[Yige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earnest & important

[Kübra Sıla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just really love this book and everything it made me feel but especially the feeling of not being alone.