One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth by Nicola Davies, Jenni Desmond
Published by Candlewick Press on March 14, 2023
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

An ideal book to put on display for Earth Day, this gorgeous over-sized picture book uses the device of children traveling around the world to see what is happening at the exact same moment. At one minute to midnight on April 21 (the minute before it changes to April 22, the day that Earth Day is celebrated), two sisters from London, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) 11:59PM, witness that same minute across the globe. Focusing on natural scenes like turtles in India and pollinators in California, Davies’ clear prose highlights the flora and fauna at each location. Jenni Desmond’s beautiful, mixed-media illustrations fill each page and readers will delight in finding the sisters as they interact with the scene. Notes at the end of the book offer further insight into the book’s concept and defines climate change as well as suggesting actions readers can take to help preserve all of the wondrous sites and vulnerable plants and animals mentioned in the text. A well-crafted, thoughtful, and beautiful book.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School