The Planet We Call Home

by Aimee Isaac, Jaime Kim (Illustrator)

A lyrical and loving ode to Planet Earth and the ways in which its many features are interconnected--to each other and to us--told in the cumulative style of "This Is the House that Jack Built."

This is our Earth,
the planet we call home.

These are the mountains,
stretching from Earth,
the planet we call home.

This is the sun,
that warms up the mountains,
stretching from Earth,
the planet we call home.

And on the story The planet we call home has mountains that stretch from the earth, and those mountains have streams that swell in the sun, and those streams lead to rivers that meander by towns, and on and on—all interconnected and all dependent on one another. And throughout it all is us, the people who call this planet home, and who care for its many wonders and help keep it beautiful and vibrant for generations to come.

With a warm, cumulative text by debut author Aimee Isaac, gorgeous, sweeping art by award-winning and bestselling illustrator Jaime Kim, this is a perfect read for budding environmentalists—and for anyone who loves the planet we all call home.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Childrens, Nonfiction, Earth

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 21, 2023

Reviews

[Cherokee - Books With A Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And these are the children, who cherish the Earth"

[Ana Siqueira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful poem for our planet Earth. Poetic, and lyrical; it gives us a message of hope and help. Hope for all the beautiful things Earth gives us. And backmatter on how to help take care of this beautiful planet. Sometimes we take things for granted and forget to slow down and appreciate our beautiful planet. This ode to planet earth is also an ode to gratitude, happiness, and nature. I love it so much, I can deep feel the stream running through my mountains and escaping through my cloudy eyes. Congrats on the beautiful text and illustrations. Get your copy now.

[Carrie Kruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beginning with a breathtaking view of Earth from above, this cumulative story takes readers on a journey of interconnectedness, cleverly following the path of water from the top of a mountain, through farms and towns, all the way to the children who take an active part in caring for the Earth that provides for us all. An inspirational environmental message is subtly delivered by the rhythmic language by and gorgeous illustrations. A perfect addition to classroom Earth Day curriculum!

[Jack Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful text about nature builds on itself from one spread to the next, repeating the words from previous pages alongside each new addition. It’s gorgeous to read aloud, while literally reinforcing the connectivity of all natural things—a master stroke of concept and execution by Aimee Isaac. Jaime Kim’s illustrations are warm and inviting, perfect for the central message of the book: that children have a place in making a better world.

[Suzy Levinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything's connected in this beautiful story that serves as both a love letter to Earth and a call to action. Aimee Isaac's soft, cumulative text is perfectly matched with Jaime Kim's glowing art. Excellent backmatter shows kids how they can do their part to care for this planet we call home. A wonderful addition to any home, classroom, or library!

[Helen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the way this book takes a big abstract concept--the interconnectedness of life on Earth--and makes it very relatable and concrete. It would be a great way to introduce ecology to elementary-aged kids, and would also appeal to younger readers who appreciate rhythm and repetition.

[Susan]

A lovely cumulative book celebrating planet earth. Aimee Isaac’s text is lyrical and kid-friendly, while Jaime Kim’s colorful illustrations portray a wide range of terrain and perspectives. Back matter explains how we can help prevent pollution. I accessed a digital ARC.

[Laura Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely, lyrical, cumulative tale about the planet earth and how it nurtures all of us, wherever we are! Isaac's rhythm is delightful, and the early phrases are short enough that they don't become tedious, even though they're repeated many times. This is such a fun one to read aloud!

[Emily Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The informational book I chose for my nonfiction book pair is all about the Earth and parts of it. On each page, one specific thing, such as streams, mountains, or farms, on Earth is discussed in a lyrical way. The purpose of that thing is also written. I love that each paragraph/stanza ends with "Earth, the planet we call home," tieing each page together. Each page also gets longer and longer, which I think emphasizes the importance of Earth. This book would be relatively easy for children to follow, so I would use it for Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade; I think 2nd graders could read it on their own. It would be a wonderful addition to Earth Day, so children can understand why the Earth is important and what each part of the Earth is formed for. It could also be used for science and discuss different landforms such as mountains, streams, the sea and shore, and farmland. It could also just be used as a repetition book when learning poetry and writing styles, but I know that probably is too advanced for K-2. It is a book with widespread meaning, so lessons can easily be adapted to this book. I also adored the illustrations. They really showed the importance of the Earth in a beautiful way, and showed how we can make Earth our home. They used beautiful colors with the perfect amount of detail. I wouldn't change a thing about this book!

[Marie Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy spending time in nature as it often helps me feel grounded. With its repetitive rhythmic text and lovely illustrations of “the planet we call home,” this book did the same. The book beautifully portrays our home and I found myself lingering over both the text and the art. One of the things I really appreciate about The Planet We Call Home is it weaves humans and human activity throughout its depictions of earth. The back matter provides helpful tips on how we can help protect our home as well as URLs for other resources. This would make a lovely bedtime read-aloud, but it would also be great to start conversations about environmental issues at home or in the classroom.

[Martha Bellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my favorite new release of 2023! The cumulative text is enthralling and keeps those little ones engaged as it builds slowly, steadily across different landscapes and scenes, then brings it all back to them, as they realize they can do something to help care for our planet. Dream illustrations, beautifully rendered by Jaime Kim, add so much to the magic and enjoyment of reading this book again and again. I would hope that every child has a chance to experience this book and gain a stronger sense of what an amazing world we live in and how important it is to do what we can to be good stewards and keep it beautiful for generations to come.

[Laura Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful love letter to Planet Earth. Issac uses lyrical, descriptive language to discuss elements of Earth (mountains, streams, oceans, etc.) each one building on each other to demonstrate the interconnectness of our natural world. The last few spreads discuss the human connection. Backmatter on how to prevent pollution to protect our Earth is included as well as additional resources. The Planet We Call Home is educational and inspiring. It would be an excellent addition to homes, libraries and schools! The illustrations by Kim are beautiful and enhance the beauty found throughout the text.

[Lynn Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In lyrical prose and gorgeously warm illustrations, THE PLANET WE CALL HOME is a lovely tribute to Earth. Using the familiar “This is the House that Jack Built” format, this soothing story shows how our planet’s mountains, streams, towns, etc., are all connected. More importantly, this book shows young environmentalists how they are connected to our planet, and what they can do to love and preserve it. THE PLANET WE CALL HOME would be perfect for Earth Day…or any day! I’ve pre-ordered this book and can’t wait to receive my copy!

[Chanta Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best words to describe The Planet We Call Home would be “lyrical beauty”. It’s poetic. It’s lyrical. It’s gorgeous. It’s inspiring.

The descriptive words and spectacular illustrations flowed together nicely. I was especially moved by the powerful and timely message to save “the planet we call home”. The illustrations reflecting a diverse community of children added to the magic & beauty of this book as well. I look forward to hearing this brilliant author read this book aloud.

I’m excited to see and hear more from Aimee Isaac. Bravo!!!!

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars (I really liked it)

This book had a beautiful sentiment and the illustrations were great. There was also a really good message about taking care of our Earth and even backmatter that gave examples of concrete ways to do so. I found it weird that it didn't follow a linear path in regards to largest to smallest items or smallest to largest items (for example, first it's the planet, the Earth, the mountain -- getting smaller but then the sun-- bigger, then the stream --smaller again, and then later a river). I just think that a cumulative tale should have a bit more order.

[Kimberly Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful cumulative story pans in from a stunning illustration on the first spread to the mountains, farms, towns, and bodies of water on earth—along with the children who cherish all of the amazing things our planet has to offer. Lyrical, rhythmic language and vibrant illustrations pair perfectly, encouraging an appreciation of earth and what it provides and inspiring readers to help preserve it. Back matter gives kids more information on how to prevent pollution. This book is perfect for bookshelves at home and at school!

[Kelsey Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PLANET WE CALL HOME uses lush language and a cumulative structure to show our connectedness to nature, and the many beautiful environments it offers. There’s a rousing call to action, with children shown caring for the earth, and back matter about how to prevent pollution. The rhythmic text is a joy to read aloud, and the pictures depict vivid landscapes. Readers take away important messages about the wonder of nature and our need to protect it. I highly recommend this gorgeous book – perfect for school and home bookshelves!

[Lisa Varchol Varchol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this story, from the language and structure to the art to the gentle message. With lyrical text by Aimee Isaac and warm, inviting illustrations by Jaime Kim, THE PLANET WE CALL HOME inspires readers to consider our interconnectedness and to take care of the Earth. In addition to the stunning main text, the book offers back matter with concrete steps readers can take to prevent pollution. I highly recommend for every home, school, and library.

[Sarah Hovorka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would make a great addition to a geography collection. Written in the vein of Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, this rhyming book introduces many geographical features and landscapes around our planet Earth that other geography picture books often don't. Plus, there's an excellent introduction to preventing pollution in the backmatter that would add to a lovely science unit or project for families.

[Erin Dealey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every lyrical phrase of Aimee Isaac's beautiful, cumulative story of THE PLANET WE CALL HOME will grow in your heart as it does on the page. Matched with award-winning, bestselling illustrator Jaime Kim's art, this simple, mesmerizing ode sweetly shows children what a big part of this world they truly are. I guarantee it will be read over and over in homes and classrooms and libraries. I am a fan!

[Heather Kinser · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book for getting kids on-board with caring for the planet. A delightful cumulative structure helps us see how interconnected our lives are with nature—and how we’re really looking after people when we’re looking after the planet. Lush green-blue-and-gold illustrations of mountains, streams, and beaches are the perfect compliment to this soothing story of stewardship for and appreciation of our beautiful natural world.

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Planet We Call Home is lovely! Told in cumulative format, this nature and conservation-based picture book is filled with heart and care for the earth. I love the beautiful illustrations, lyrical text, and hopeful message. The Planet We Call Home is inspiring and will make the perfect gift for my little gardener granddaughter. Care for the planet back matter provides information for further reading and projects.

[Laurie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a lovely job of explaining a huge, abstract concept--the interconnectedness of Earth--and making it both personal and individual, all via a rhythmic "House That Jack Built"-style cumulative structure that never feels dull or repetitive. Gorgeous illustrations complement the lyrical text, and backmatter covers ways to help fight pollution. A delightful introduction for budding ecologists!

[June Smalls]

A cumulative text that takes you by the streams, mountains, rivers, towns, and oceans on this planet we call home. But when it gets to the end and the children come in cleaning and studying, and playing in all of these locations it really takes the book a level up from other cumulative texts. The art is engaging and it reminds children that they can, and should, take care of our home.
Simple tips for ways they can prevent pollution in back matter.

[Robynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book and story! I love cumulative stories - they are such fun to read aloud and this one has a lovely flow! Following along all the way from the mountains to the farm to the bay and then seeing the children that take care of our home was a wonderful progression. This is a great story for any child and the tips at the end for how to help take care of our planet were very helpful and things children can start doing themselves as well!

[Laura Smetana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Planet We Call Home is a love song to the planet and a beautiful reminder of how we are all interconnected and dependent on one another. The lyrical text by Aimee Isaac combined with the vibrant art by Jamie Kim invites readers to bask in the beauty of our planet and will inspire readers to take steps to care for it. The backmatter offers actionable steps children and adults can take to help prevent pollution. A great addition to any home or school library!

[Vicky Fang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book that showcases the beauty and vastness of our planet, and our role within it. The book does a wonderful job of showing the connected nature of our world and of instilling the desire to be a positive part of it. With backmatter on How to Prevent Pollution, this is a lovely book to help kids feel proactive about protecting our planet.

[A.J. Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely read aloud! Young readers will be drawn to the lyrical, cumulative text and warm, inviting illustrations in THE PLANET WE CALL HOME by Aimee Isaac and Jaime Kim. This picture book has a wonderful message of interconnectedness. Children will feel inspired to do their part to save the Earth after reading this beautiful book. An excellent choice for school and home libraries!

[Gabriela Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the sounds of the river, the ocean, or the wind, The Planet We Call Home brings a peace over the reader through its lyrical lines and repetition. Isaac's text paired with Kim's illustrations highlight the beauty and connection that we all have with our home. Perfect for home and school, the possibilities for Earth day activities with this one are endless!

[Luciana Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This engaging, beautifully illustrated, earth-friendly non-fiction for kids makes for a perfect read aloud. The cumulative structure is simple and yet so well done that it reads like a poem. The bright art will keep the readers engaged, and back matter includes resources to further readings on preserving nature, and how to prevent pollution. A fantastic choice for home, school and library!