Have you ever heard or sung the Raffi song about the great beautiful planet in the sky that is our home? I thought about that song while immersing myself in this beautifully illustrated book that is suggested for children aged 7 to 10. I think that adults will enjoy it too!
The conceit is that we are in a hot air balloon traveling around the globe. We are high enough up for a panorama but close enough to see the details of each landscape. We start the journey in the Florida Everglades and end in France. Along the way, we spend time in other places including the Amazon, Uluru Rock in Australia, the Himalayas, the African Serengeti, Scandinavia and more. In each place that is visited, readers learn about the flora, fauna and unique aspects of each locale. The book ends with a reminder to take care of the environment and to value nature.
The detail in the illustrations is remarkable. The text itself also is filled with interesting facts. This book is a great introduction to the geography of our world.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the experience. All opinions are my own.
From the publisher:
Flying the world
Hold on tight! We’re about to go on an adventure, up into the sky to see the natural world spread out below. As we go on our journey, we’ll get a brilliant bird’s eye view of its amazing landscapes, and the animals and plants that live in them. Starting in the Florida Everglades, follow our journey across the map below. Ready?
Over woods and grass
In the winter, the vast centre of Asia is icy cold, but as we fly over in the summer, it’s pleasantly warm.
Arctic flight
The long, cold winter of northern Scandinavia is almost over.
Down to Earth
Watch out for the bump – we’re coming into land! We’ve just flown all the way round the world.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 