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One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth
Take a magical ride around the globe to see the wonders of a single moment in a story illuminating our precious and fragile natural world.
Our planet is always turning. It may be midnight in London, but in different time zones other living things are waking up, ready to hunt or feed or fight. As the clock strikes twelve, two sisters are spirited away on a journey to glimpse, in the span of a moment, extraordinary biodiversity: a mother polar bear and her cubs hunting seals in Svalbard, tiny turtles in India following the moon toward the sea, and enormous whale sharks gulping plankton in the Philippines. Quietly profound, this glowing tribute to the natural world—and reminder of its fragility—blends accessible science, lyricism, sweeping artwork, and a call for climate awareness into an ideal companion book for Earth Day, or any wondrous day on Earth.
Our planet is always turning. It may be midnight in London, but in different time zones other living things are waking up, ready to hunt or feed or fight. As the clock strikes twelve, two sisters are spirited away on a journey to glimpse, in the span of a moment, extraordinary biodiversity: a mother polar bear and her cubs hunting seals in Svalbard, tiny turtles in India following the moon toward the sea, and enormous whale sharks gulping plankton in the Philippines. Quietly profound, this glowing tribute to the natural world—and reminder of its fragility—blends accessible science, lyricism, sweeping artwork, and a call for climate awareness into an ideal companion book for Earth Day, or any wondrous day on Earth.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published March 14, 2023
4 people are currently reading
3198 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Davies
173 books185 followers"I was very small when I saw my first dolphin," says zoologist Nicola Davies, recalling a seminal visit with her father to a dolphin show at the zoo. Enchanted at the sight of what she called the "big fish" jumping so high and swimming so fast, she determined right then that she would meet the amazing creatures again "in the wild, where they belonged." And indeed she did--as part of a pair of scientific expeditions, one to Newfoundland at the age of eighteen and another to the Indian Ocean a year later. In WILD ABOUT DOLPHINS, Nicola Davies describes her voyages in a firsthand account filled with fascinating facts and captivating photographs of seven species of dolphins in action.
Nicola Davies's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for studying animals of all kinds has led her around the world--and fortunately for young readers, she is just as excited about sharing her interests through picture books. The zoologist's latest offering puts a decidedly quirky twist on her years of experience: POOP: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE is a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating world of poop across species. "As a zoologist, you are never far from poop!" the writer explains. "I've baked goose poop in an oven with my dinner, looked at bat poop under the microscope, and had my T-shirt stained pink with blue-whale poop. I was obviously fated to write this book."
The exceptional combination of Nicola Davies's zoological expertise and her first-rate children's writing is apparent in her remarkable catalog of award-winning titles. Her first book with Candlewick Press, BIG BLUE WHALE, was hailed by American Bookseller as an "artfully composed study" offering "language exactly appropriate for four- to seven-year-olds and precisely the right amount of information." In ONE TINY TURTLE, Nicola Davies's clear, compelling narrative follows the life of the rarely seen loggerhead turtle, which swims the oceans for thirty years and for thousands of miles in search of food, only to return, uncannily, to lay her eggs on the very beach where she was born. The author's next book, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, is a tenderly written ode to a much-misunderstood flying mammal, the pipistrelle bat, while SURPRISING SHARKS--winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award--contains unexpected facts about another one of the planet's most infamous animals.
When she is not off on scientific expeditions, Nicola Davies lives in a cottage in Somerset, England, where she is lucky enough to have pipistrelle bats nesting in her roof.
Nicola Davies's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for studying animals of all kinds has led her around the world--and fortunately for young readers, she is just as excited about sharing her interests through picture books. The zoologist's latest offering puts a decidedly quirky twist on her years of experience: POOP: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE is a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating world of poop across species. "As a zoologist, you are never far from poop!" the writer explains. "I've baked goose poop in an oven with my dinner, looked at bat poop under the microscope, and had my T-shirt stained pink with blue-whale poop. I was obviously fated to write this book."
The exceptional combination of Nicola Davies's zoological expertise and her first-rate children's writing is apparent in her remarkable catalog of award-winning titles. Her first book with Candlewick Press, BIG BLUE WHALE, was hailed by American Bookseller as an "artfully composed study" offering "language exactly appropriate for four- to seven-year-olds and precisely the right amount of information." In ONE TINY TURTLE, Nicola Davies's clear, compelling narrative follows the life of the rarely seen loggerhead turtle, which swims the oceans for thirty years and for thousands of miles in search of food, only to return, uncannily, to lay her eggs on the very beach where she was born. The author's next book, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, is a tenderly written ode to a much-misunderstood flying mammal, the pipistrelle bat, while SURPRISING SHARKS--winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award--contains unexpected facts about another one of the planet's most infamous animals.
When she is not off on scientific expeditions, Nicola Davies lives in a cottage in Somerset, England, where she is lucky enough to have pipistrelle bats nesting in her roof.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 17, 2022
2.5 stars. Two children go on an imaginary journey around the earth to see what is happening in different parts of the planet. They visit parts of the earth and ocean inhabited by animal life, at the end of the book the children huddle together, they are frightened and are looking down at a city, the text tells of how everywhere there are signs of global warming, fires burning etc. I would rather this book had stuck to the concept of showing that the world is still going whilst we sleep or devoted the whole book to global warming. I think if we discuss global warming with children we need to come up with some positive ideas to help. the back cover states this book is 'A call to action to the defence of our wild, wonderful planet' If this was the aim of the book, in my opinion it didn't succeed. The back of the book has a line of text saying to turn off lights, don't waste food and water or to talk to your parents or teachers about what you can do. For me that seemed way too little, this depressing subject needs to be balanced out with positive action, without it it's a wasted opportunity and adds to children feeling hopeless about the world.
February 11, 2025
Read for my toddler's bedtime. An excellent book of animals living on planet earth. If you ever wonder what happens at any given time of the day, 24 hours in the day, anywhere around the world, this book gives you a glimpse. The children in the story will take readers around the world starting in London, UK. Their first stop was at the Arctic Circle at 1am where the polar bear is looking for food to feed her small cubs. The ice is melting so life is a bit hard for them. At 2am, the kids traveled to Zambia where a family of elephants protect their newborn from poachers who might kill elephants for their tusks. At 5:30am readers will see a beach in India with lots of baby sea turtles hatching and making their way into the sea. They're protected by wildlife rangers. At 6:30am, readers will see a national nature reserve in China with gibbons hanging on tree branches. At 8am in the Philippines, whale sharks are feeding on tiny creatures. They have unique spotty patterns similar to human fingerprints.
Each page features one city and country and what the animals are doing as well as what people are doing to keep the animals safe. This book is great and the illustrations are beautiful! The notes from the author at the beginning and end of the book has useful information.
Thank you Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review!
Each page features one city and country and what the animals are doing as well as what people are doing to keep the animals safe. This book is great and the illustrations are beautiful! The notes from the author at the beginning and end of the book has useful information.
Thank you Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review!
August 12, 2022
It’s one minute to midnight in London. Two Brown sisters are awake and looking at the moon. A journey of the imagination takes them through the time zones to see the natural spectacles the world has to offer: polar bears hunting at the Arctic Circle, baby turtles scrambling for the sea on an Indian beach, humpback whales breaching in Hawaii, and much more. Each spread has no more than two short paragraphs of text to introduce the landscape and fauna and explain the threats each ecosystem faces due to human influence. As the girls return to London and the clock chimes to welcome in 22 April, Earth Day, the author invites us to feel kinship with the creatures pictured: “They’re part of us, and every breath we take. Our world is fragile and threatened – but still lovely. And now it’s the start of a new day: a day when I’ll speak about these wonders, shout them out”. A lot of research went into ensuring accuracy, and the environmentalist message is clear but not overstated. Fantastic!
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
October 29, 2025
I get that there's a lot going wrong with the Earth right now and we have a lot of change to make but boy howdy this book was depressing and I can't imagine it would inspire kids to action. As an adult it felt like an overwhelming downer and it very rarely phrased things in an optimistic we-can-help-in-this-way frame. Alas. A great idea almost well executed in my opinion.
August 24, 2024
I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. This book would be a good introduction to many things for K-3rd grade readers: climate change, time zones, countries around the world, different kinds of animals, etc. The jacket cover is absolutely beautiful. The main characters are amongst a variety of animals found around the world. An imaginary trip, if you will. That is sure to interest even the youngest of readers. The illustrations are explained in the text, but even if there were no text on the page they would tell a story all their own. Mixed media with subtle watercolor hints throughout. I would recommend this to K-3rd readers just as a way to introduce topics to them that I'm sure they have heard/wondered about. This book is beautifully put together and easy to understand.
June 19, 2025
This book could’ve been so beautiful but is instead heavily politicised and disappointingly inappropriate for young children. Children need to be aware of sustainability but don’t need to be given anxiety about climate change, or told that they shouldn’t use any of the earths resources or protect themselves from dangerous animals, and that humans are bad, bad, bad. Also, it’s inaccurate to depict Antarctica as about to go into winter (months of darkness) while at the same time having Australia scorching hot with bushfires…
September 25, 2022
The book starts with a globe and a straightforward explanation of time - days, hours and time zones with Greenwhich London marked as the starting point of the book. The story begins at one minute to midnight before the start of Earth Day on 22nd April with two children looking out of the window wondering what else is going on in the world. The children then 'fly' to a series of locations around the globe as a ‘bong’ of the clock takes them nearer to midnight. This is an effective way to demonstrate what is happening in different time zones, and carefully researched to reflect the seasonal differences as well. They begin in the Arctic circle with a visit to a polar bear and her cubs hunting seal at +1hrs ahead, then make another 11 stops before landing back safely in bed for the beginning of Earth Day on 22nd April.
Each beautifully illustrated double spread sees the sisters flying to a new location around the globe as a ‘bong’ of the clock takes them nearer to midnight. They begin in the Arctic circle with a visit to a polar bear and her cubs hunting seal at +1hrs ahead, then make another 11 stops before landing back safely in bed for the beginning of Earth Day. Some other places visited include Zambia, India, China, Brazil, Australia and Antarctica - between them a range of different ecosystems are presented with a focus on specific animals that are native to that area. The text on each page is descriptive prose that presents what the animals are doing at that moment and then includes a shorter statement that focuses on sustainability challenges including threats to the animals' welfare through climate change, human use of the land, or good things such as national parks that help maintain a natural balance. The children's return to London on the stroke of midnight is sombre, and somewhat despairing with a black and foreboding cityscape. The final page shows a tipped over globe and a grim faced older sister with a plea for "the sleepers to WAKE UP as tomorrow is already here."
Overall I think this is a powerful book with a very clear purpose - to introduce young people to the beauty of our natural world and, at the same time, challenge them to consider the negative effects of climate change, so that they do not take things for granted but actively engage in sustainable behaviors. End notes from the author and illustrator share their inspiration and thinking underpinning the book (excellent for exploring author intent as a literary device), explain climate change in simple terminology and a paragraph as a call for action. This was the weakest piece of writing in the book and a missed opportunity to inspire youngsters. Most of the book speaks directly to young inquiring minds but the latter pages are quite bleak and I think this pushes the target age up - for sharing and talking with 7 to 8 year olds, and for older, primary age, children as independent readers.
The journey would be excellent for a story-mapping activity and geographical studies of the countries, habitats and time zones. The fantasy elements and narrative style make it hard to categorise the book - fiction or literary nonfiction.
Each beautifully illustrated double spread sees the sisters flying to a new location around the globe as a ‘bong’ of the clock takes them nearer to midnight. They begin in the Arctic circle with a visit to a polar bear and her cubs hunting seal at +1hrs ahead, then make another 11 stops before landing back safely in bed for the beginning of Earth Day. Some other places visited include Zambia, India, China, Brazil, Australia and Antarctica - between them a range of different ecosystems are presented with a focus on specific animals that are native to that area. The text on each page is descriptive prose that presents what the animals are doing at that moment and then includes a shorter statement that focuses on sustainability challenges including threats to the animals' welfare through climate change, human use of the land, or good things such as national parks that help maintain a natural balance. The children's return to London on the stroke of midnight is sombre, and somewhat despairing with a black and foreboding cityscape. The final page shows a tipped over globe and a grim faced older sister with a plea for "the sleepers to WAKE UP as tomorrow is already here."
Overall I think this is a powerful book with a very clear purpose - to introduce young people to the beauty of our natural world and, at the same time, challenge them to consider the negative effects of climate change, so that they do not take things for granted but actively engage in sustainable behaviors. End notes from the author and illustrator share their inspiration and thinking underpinning the book (excellent for exploring author intent as a literary device), explain climate change in simple terminology and a paragraph as a call for action. This was the weakest piece of writing in the book and a missed opportunity to inspire youngsters. Most of the book speaks directly to young inquiring minds but the latter pages are quite bleak and I think this pushes the target age up - for sharing and talking with 7 to 8 year olds, and for older, primary age, children as independent readers.
The journey would be excellent for a story-mapping activity and geographical studies of the countries, habitats and time zones. The fantasy elements and narrative style make it hard to categorise the book - fiction or literary nonfiction.
January 15, 2023
We’ve enjoyed plenty of Nicola Davies books but this one just didn’t do it for me. If it’s meant to illustrate how different things are going on in different parts of the world, it might have worked better to focus on humans (having breakfast in one country, heading to school in another, going to bed on the other side of the world). If it’s sending a strong conservation message, there are plenty of other books that do it more effectively. Mixing the two themes didn’t quite work.
February 27, 2025
This is an interesting picture book showing kids what is happening around the planet during one day. What is happening on the planet when it is midnight in the UK? In Svalbard a polar bear mother hunts for food, while elsewhere an elephant baby is born and kangaroos box. This paperback is bigger than A4 in size and is filled with thick pages of some really lovely illustrations and text.
The book begins with a note to the reader about the different timezones on planet Earth before the story begins. Following two girls who wonder what is happening on planet Earth when it is midnight where they are, the two go on an adventure to see all the different wildlife that exists and what is happening at different times of the day in those different parts of the world. I like the idea of this book, showing the different animals and what they are doing. On each double page there is an image of some animals as well as information about where on the Earth and what hour it is there and also some more information on the animals there and some environmental facts too.
While the idea of the book, showing all the different animals and wildlife that exists on the planet is a good one and one I would have loved looking at as a child to find out about what is happening at any one time, the book does have a heavy environmental message which did make the book feel like an important read, but also possibly for some children, quite a sad read too. On some pages, like the polar bears, the future of the bears is made clear that it’s uncertain. On other pages there is information about how the environment is being destroyed or disappearing, and one of the final pages shows the two girls scared of the modern world (the world and city they live in) and its disasterous environmental impact. I do think that the message about how we need to do more for the planet is a good one to share with kids, and there is a mesage at the end of the story telling kids that we need to do something, but I couldn’t help feel that the way it came across throughout the book was a little too dark, and left the book feeling more of a sad or depressing read than it should have been.
The ilustrations are really fantastic and really bring to life the animals and creatures that you see. I love the way the two girls show up on each page, but sometimes you need to look around a little to really spot them hiding somewhere. Each illustrations brings the outside world to life and it’s amazing how realistic so many of the animals look. The back of the book does have a bit more information about climate change and messages from the author and illustrator too.
I do think this is a nice book to share with children especially if they understand the environmetal message that’s being shown, and the fact the book mentions Earth Day at the end makes this a good book to show at such a time, however, I do think that without the input of an adult, the book’s message might be more lost on some children and I do think that despite the dire situation the planet is in, the book could have had a more positive and uplifting feeling at the end than it does. Overall a good environmental read, but not quite the story I thought it would be.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy.
The book begins with a note to the reader about the different timezones on planet Earth before the story begins. Following two girls who wonder what is happening on planet Earth when it is midnight where they are, the two go on an adventure to see all the different wildlife that exists and what is happening at different times of the day in those different parts of the world. I like the idea of this book, showing the different animals and what they are doing. On each double page there is an image of some animals as well as information about where on the Earth and what hour it is there and also some more information on the animals there and some environmental facts too.
While the idea of the book, showing all the different animals and wildlife that exists on the planet is a good one and one I would have loved looking at as a child to find out about what is happening at any one time, the book does have a heavy environmental message which did make the book feel like an important read, but also possibly for some children, quite a sad read too. On some pages, like the polar bears, the future of the bears is made clear that it’s uncertain. On other pages there is information about how the environment is being destroyed or disappearing, and one of the final pages shows the two girls scared of the modern world (the world and city they live in) and its disasterous environmental impact. I do think that the message about how we need to do more for the planet is a good one to share with kids, and there is a mesage at the end of the story telling kids that we need to do something, but I couldn’t help feel that the way it came across throughout the book was a little too dark, and left the book feeling more of a sad or depressing read than it should have been.
The ilustrations are really fantastic and really bring to life the animals and creatures that you see. I love the way the two girls show up on each page, but sometimes you need to look around a little to really spot them hiding somewhere. Each illustrations brings the outside world to life and it’s amazing how realistic so many of the animals look. The back of the book does have a bit more information about climate change and messages from the author and illustrator too.
I do think this is a nice book to share with children especially if they understand the environmetal message that’s being shown, and the fact the book mentions Earth Day at the end makes this a good book to show at such a time, however, I do think that without the input of an adult, the book’s message might be more lost on some children and I do think that despite the dire situation the planet is in, the book could have had a more positive and uplifting feeling at the end than it does. Overall a good environmental read, but not quite the story I thought it would be.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy.
July 11, 2023
One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth is a children’s book all about the environment and climate change. The story follows two small children just before midnight on the 21st of April as they travel the world to different countries and time zones and see what is happening to the animals in that place at that time.
Beginning in Svalbard, Artic Circle at 1 am we meet a mother polar bear and her two cubs who are looking for seals to eat. The message here is about the ice melting. We then move onto Luangwa Valley, California where a baby elephant has just been born and is protected from the lions by her family and poacher by the rangers.
At the beginning of the book, the author explains to the reader how the earth is split into 24 segments, like an orange. Each segment represents an hour and each hour is different in different places. I did expect the book to follow this 24-hour pattern especially as the first two places the children visit are at 1 am and 2 am, however, the book then jumps to 5.30 am and it does this numerous times. This did disappoint a little as I expect it to follow with 3 am, 4 am, etc., just to have some consistency for children. We only get to visit 12 places so that is 12 time zones.
The illustrations are amazing and full page and the information provided is basic but is enough to whet children’s appetite about climate change and there are some basic actions at the back which the author says can help in the fight.
Overall, a good starter book for children about the world, animals, and what is happening to them because of climate change, plastic waste, pollution, poachers, etc.
Beginning in Svalbard, Artic Circle at 1 am we meet a mother polar bear and her two cubs who are looking for seals to eat. The message here is about the ice melting. We then move onto Luangwa Valley, California where a baby elephant has just been born and is protected from the lions by her family and poacher by the rangers.
At the beginning of the book, the author explains to the reader how the earth is split into 24 segments, like an orange. Each segment represents an hour and each hour is different in different places. I did expect the book to follow this 24-hour pattern especially as the first two places the children visit are at 1 am and 2 am, however, the book then jumps to 5.30 am and it does this numerous times. This did disappoint a little as I expect it to follow with 3 am, 4 am, etc., just to have some consistency for children. We only get to visit 12 places so that is 12 time zones.
The illustrations are amazing and full page and the information provided is basic but is enough to whet children’s appetite about climate change and there are some basic actions at the back which the author says can help in the fight.
Overall, a good starter book for children about the world, animals, and what is happening to them because of climate change, plastic waste, pollution, poachers, etc.
May 17, 2023
i wish i could tell you why there are some books and some that do not have this feature????????? ???? ???? ...this doesn't have the "zoom in feature" i was reading a Kindle FIRE through my local library leaning program. had the book had that feature it would make it so much better. more improved. i will explain ... when reading the kindle FIRE ..it is only in the middle bit of the screen ...so you cannot enlarge the illustrations or text ...had that been available ...you could and ...would be able to see the tiny text and illustrations even more ...get into those details ...but close and personal. for this book it is needed. so so so much. these illustrations are just so great ...but that "zoom in feature" who have made it perfect. a 5 star or more. for that reason, ...i would recommend to folks who are looking for a book ...go for the handheld real book instead of kindle version. i would wish that this could be changed. i don't know if it is a publisher/author or Amazon issue? i think folks need to realize & understand that when you have this feature you can see even more details ...there are so many parts in this book where it would be greatly appreciated and needed ...i will give an example ... on the page where, it is almost the last page "a note from the author, what is climate change, a note from the artist, what can people do to help" ...if you had that zoom in feature ...you would be able to read this ...but you could possible grab a magnifying glass or such ...maybe that might help a bit??! seems silly though.
February 2, 2024
A picture book that engages young children to learn about ecology by following time zones on one specific hour (12 midnight GMT) as April 21st becomes April 22nd which is Earth Day. There is a story element as our main character and her younger sister appear to move around the world with the change in time zones. Along the way we meet animals like gibbons in China, kangaroos in Australia, and jaguars in Brazil as we learn about their habit and what threatens them. The book also gives hopeful notes about successes in keeping habitats sustainable for these species.
The oversize case and book allow for some truly stunning visuals as the illustrations creatively show the animals, habitat and our children as they gaze in wonder at the scene around them. The text offers a generous, but bite-sized information that can be easily read aloud to young children without losing their interest. I would recommend this as a read aloud for ages 4-8 and a read alone for children ages 7-10. Extras include an opening note to the reader explaining how to read the book with a globe marking the starting point of Greenwich, England, a page from the author and illustrator talking about the book and a page explaining climate change and what an average person can do to help.
I would highly recommend this book for purchase by school and public libraries. The book would be an exceptional addition to an early childhood or elementary Earth Day collection.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
The oversize case and book allow for some truly stunning visuals as the illustrations creatively show the animals, habitat and our children as they gaze in wonder at the scene around them. The text offers a generous, but bite-sized information that can be easily read aloud to young children without losing their interest. I would recommend this as a read aloud for ages 4-8 and a read alone for children ages 7-10. Extras include an opening note to the reader explaining how to read the book with a globe marking the starting point of Greenwich, England, a page from the author and illustrator talking about the book and a page explaining climate change and what an average person can do to help.
I would highly recommend this book for purchase by school and public libraries. The book would be an exceptional addition to an early childhood or elementary Earth Day collection.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
May 5, 2023
I've loved many of Nicola Davies' children's books, and her passion for nature and wildlife is almost unrivalled within little readers storytelling which I think is so important; perhaps ever more so in the changing climate.
One World looks at the 24 hour clock and strips it back, hour by hour, into the various things happening around the World at various hours of the day. I really liked seeing all of the illustrations of each habitat and some of its animal heroes living across the globe from Ecuador, China and Brazil to Zambia, the Arctic and the UK.
There is a somewhat negative, but truthful, undertone to the book. With every beautiful insight we also are told the stark reality of some of the challenges the creatures of our World are now up against - plastic in our oceans, light pollution confusing turtles trying to follow the horizon and melting ice for polar bears. It's hard to read - stories about animals are quite literally filled with warm fuzzies and the lead balloon that drops at the end of each page can be hard hitting. I think there's a balance to be struck, as the author points out herself towards the end of the book, in showing the beauty of nature and wildlife, alongside the action we really need to be taking to preserve it. I'm not sure if that balance was totally achieved here to be honest, but it was a nice collection of illustrations and an interesting approach all the same.
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
One World looks at the 24 hour clock and strips it back, hour by hour, into the various things happening around the World at various hours of the day. I really liked seeing all of the illustrations of each habitat and some of its animal heroes living across the globe from Ecuador, China and Brazil to Zambia, the Arctic and the UK.
There is a somewhat negative, but truthful, undertone to the book. With every beautiful insight we also are told the stark reality of some of the challenges the creatures of our World are now up against - plastic in our oceans, light pollution confusing turtles trying to follow the horizon and melting ice for polar bears. It's hard to read - stories about animals are quite literally filled with warm fuzzies and the lead balloon that drops at the end of each page can be hard hitting. I think there's a balance to be struck, as the author points out herself towards the end of the book, in showing the beauty of nature and wildlife, alongside the action we really need to be taking to preserve it. I'm not sure if that balance was totally achieved here to be honest, but it was a nice collection of illustrations and an interesting approach all the same.
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2023
Showing off the varying times around the world because our earth is always turning, Nicola Davies dedicates pages to the things happening all over the world, at their time, at our time! For example, starting in Greenwich, London at midnight, it's time for bed. Yet, in Mutawintji National Park, Australia, it's 10 a.m. and we learn the challenges of kangaroos as their water holes are drying up. Most of the pages not only show the time of day, or night, but highlight a climate change challenge. In Luangwa Valley, Zambia, at 2 a.m., elephants welcome a new baby and also protect it from lion predators. They are also being protected by wildlife rangers by all poachers. So much information fills the book and the illustrations by Jenni Desmond add to the information with inviting and beautiful double-spreads. There is added information in the backmatter. It's a book that invites further research, is especially welcome for the coming Earth Day!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
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August 9, 2023This picture book is an adventure around the world. Two little kids hop around the globe starting in on Greenwich, London when the clock strikes midnight. From the visiting the polar bears at the arctic circle, to baby turtles hatching in India, to hummingbirds buzzing in California it is a journey that looks at the beautiful world we live in that is in danger of slowly dying off due to climate change. I love the layers in this book; time changes, telling time, geography, climate change and imagination are all addressed. The real scene stealer however is the art. The absolutely gorgeous mixed media paintings are breathtaking and truly highlight the awe inspiring natural beauty of our planet.
May 9, 2023
A beautiful picture book that explains time zones through a fantastical trip around the world. It is 12:00 in Greenwich England, but 1 am in the Arctic Circle, and 8 pm in Brazil. At each stop, the children meet a new animal and learn of the challenges they face. The end of the book is a somber look at climate change as the children celebrate earth day. I wish this were two books- one the flight around the world in one day, learning about time zones, the other focused on climate change and the animals around the world facing challenges to their habitat.
November 15, 2023
Gorgeous pictures, important message. Not sure but I think the girls who show us the world are younger than the target audience... but then, one is never too young to start caring for our biosphere.
I particularly liked learning that in Brazil the ranchers are "switching to keeping cows related to Spanish fighting bulls which can stand up to the jaguars and send them running. This keeps the ranchers happy and the jaguars safe."
I particularly liked learning that in Brazil the ranchers are "switching to keeping cows related to Spanish fighting bulls which can stand up to the jaguars and send them running. This keeps the ranchers happy and the jaguars safe."
April 1, 2025
It was a lovely journey around the world. The book did mention for the reader to imagine the planet split into 24 parts, but there was not a page for each hour of the day. I fan imagine how difficult it is to find 24 things happening at the same time on the planet, but my 10 years old kept asking why we were skipping hours, since the 24 parts had been mentioned at the beginning.
Illustrations and tiny information is still cute thought.
Illustrations and tiny information is still cute thought.
June 9, 2023
One World is a visual adventure take by two children around the globe starting at the international dateline in London. The two children present at children of color. The trip includes humpback whales, elephants, turtles, wildflower parks and other natural environments. Conservation and mending of the environment is discussed in the book.
April 27, 2023
Won this on goodreads giveaways, im always looking for good innocent books to read to my sister’s kids when they come over. Trying to get them into reading like me . And this book is a great book to read to children . To love animals and care about the environment. I highly recommend it
September 18, 2023
The sub-title really explains the book well - 24 hours on planet earth. What a marvelous story of a mix of fantasy and reality as 2 kids pretend to travel the world in one minute and return home as the clock strikes midnight and it’s Earth Day.
March 7, 2024
A great journey around the world and explaining time differences. If you are trying to work out if it is a non fiction or fiction be careful! It is a non fiction narrative, this confused many of the children in my class when using it in guided reading.
May 21, 2024
Cool concept. But if you’re billing this book as 24 hours on planet earth, I expect a spread for each one. Not 1:00 am, 2:00 am, 5:30 am?!? While I appreciate the climate change message, it was a bit heavy handed.
Solid 3.5, but I just couldn’t round up to the 4 stars.
Solid 3.5, but I just couldn’t round up to the 4 stars.
February 22, 2023
Wonderful! Interesting, informative writing with classic Jenni Desmond illustrations. Just beautiful. Perfect for young and older naturalists.
May 4, 2023
Kiddo loves the illustrations and learning about different animals and places in this. I find it a bit depressing at times.
January 21, 2024
This book takes an hour out of the day, around the world. It is a cool concept, that can be kind of clunky in places, but amazing illustrations more than make up for it.
December 24, 2024
Prachtig en belangrijk boek voor elke schoolbieb, huishouden, kind, persoon…
April 20, 2025
pages are too small.
Cannot read the pages, the font is too small and my phone is not allowed to zoom in.
I’ll see if the library has this book because I really want to read it.
Cannot read the pages, the font is too small and my phone is not allowed to zoom in.
I’ll see if the library has this book because I really want to read it.
February 12, 2026
いろんな世界のいろんな時間に動物が何をしているか見ることができる
April 22, 2022
This nonfiction book is written as a story; a dream-like journey across the globe and it’s time zones to observe life as it happens in just one minute of time. A glimpse of biodiversity combined with an urgent message about climate change, the world is given to us in all its’ wonder through the eyes of two young girls. The message is clear; it is One World and it is ours, but we share it with so many other creatures. Our actions have impact. We must understand this and consider how what we do affects the rest of the world. The rich, detailed illustrations show us a beautiful world, full of life. And it asks us to consider the lives around the planet; the wonders we see here and so many others, as well. An interesting, compelling look at the world in just one minute, it begs questions about all the other minutes, all the other creatures… what is happening while we are asleep? A marvelous journey; a well-considered narrative; fascinating, beautiful, imaginative, sure to invite curiosity about the natural world…and indeed, a call to action.
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