A charming and lighthearted introduction to Earth and space that every child should read.
When I came across "Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth" I bought it right away, and I can't think of a better book to review as my inaugural blog post. I created SciFiParenting in order to celebrate science fiction, kids, and the parents who love them both. This book is the perfect blend of all three of these topics.
Oliver Jeffers offers a simple introduction to the Earth, space, and humanity. It has adorable illustrations which glide the story effortlessly forward and give your children plenty of fun scenes to explore. All throughout, the book is infused with a sense of togetherness and inclusiveness that I found wonderful. How many kids books have Sufi dancers, astronauts, and everyone in between hanging out as equals?
The only feature which I found a bit disconcerting is the way the story seems meant to be read to an infant, yet delves into topics that only older children will understand. Infants won't care either way, of course, but my kindergartener was reading this on his own and encountered lines like "I know you can't talk yet."
In the end, if a little narration issue is my only complaint, it's because I loved nearly everything about this book. I'm more than proud to make it my first recommendation to the SciFiParenting community.
Enjoy!