Happy Earth Day, Apr. 22, 2018
Heal the Earth
Julian Lennon with Bart Davis, Authors
Smiljana Coh, Illustrator
Sky Pony Press, Fictions, Apr. 3, 2018
Suitable for Ages: 3-6
Themes: Nature, Environment, Conservation, Ocean reefs, Rain forest, Medicines, Green spaces
Opening: Welcome to our planet Earth.
Book Synopsis:
The magical White Feather Flier is back on a new adventure to heal the Earth! Use your imagination power to make it fly and take you on a great helping journey.
The Flier’s mission is to transport readers around the world, to engage them in helping to save the environment, and to teach one and all to love our planet. Just press a button printed on the page, and point the plane up in the air to fly, or down to land it!
Bring medicine to people in need!
Dive below the ocean to bleached coral reefs!
Visit the city to cultivate green spaces!
Help the rain forest return and give its animals a home!
Explore the planet, meet new people, and help make the world a better place!
An inspiring, lyrical story, rooted in Lennon’s life and work, Heal the Earth is filled with beautiful illustrations that bring the faraway world closer to young children.
Why I like this book:
It beautiful interactive book that speaks directly to younger children and empowers them to be part of the magic of healing and loving our planet and its inhabitants. The spare text is lyrical and skillfully written with vivid imagery. Smiljana Coh’s gorgeous illustrations will appeal to children’s senses. She includes a diverse cast of characters and children will see someone who looks like them.
Readers are asked questions and invited to join the adventure. They will be encouraged to use their imaginations and push buttons at the bottom of the pages to transport them to areas of the earth that are in need of healing. They see the problems that exist and then are given the opportunity to make a positive impact. Every time they succeed, they are congratulated for a job well done.
There is age-appropriate geographical information about the planet and how it is divided into continents. Kids are encouraged to touch each continent, say its name and pick the continent where they live.
The book includes words to a new, special poem written by Julian Lennon, specifically for Heal the Earth. It is a lovely addition to the book and could be a stand-alone-book.
A portion of the proceeds from book sales will go to support the environmental and humanitarian efforts of the White Feather Foundation, the global environmental and humanitarian organization that Lennon founded to promote education, health, conservation, and the protection of indigenous culture.
Resources: The book is a great way to approach the subject of caring for the earth, during Earth Day. It is a resource because it encourages children to discuss problems around the globe and ask a lot of questions about getting involved in preserving their planet.
Julian Lennon is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, photographer, documentarian, philanthropist, and author of the New York Times bestselling children’s book Touch the Earth. Born in Liverpool, England, Lennon is an observer of life in all its forms developing his personal expression through his artistic endeavors. He hopes that his kids book trilogy will inspire and educate children to preserve our planet for future generations.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
Children's Books Heal 
What a perfect choice for Earth Day! I heard an interview with Julian recently. Like his parents, he is so talented & so committed to making the world a better place.
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I listened to an interview with him and almost included a short one. He really is committed to healing the planet in many ways. He has another book coming out in this series.
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This sounds like a great book, Patricia. I didn’t know about the White Feather Foundation, or any of the other wonderful things you told us about Julian Lennon. I will look out for these books. They would make a wonderful addition to any library.
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This wonderful series is perfect in helping young children understand the importance of protecting the planet.
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Hopefully the adults reading to the children will learn too. The children have done no harm. Yet.
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Yes, parents reading the book will learn. It starts at home with parents teaching their kids to recycle, etc. The kids are the future and as we are seeing, many have a different perspective.
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We hope the children don’t make the same mistakes with the environment as our generation has.
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How wonderful to see a book so important to today’s world. What a perfect way for Julian to carry on his father´s legacy.
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Yes, I thought so. It is a wonderful legacy with a real caring for the planet!
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The ultimate Earth Day book to share with us. I love that the book is interactive. Kids will enjoy learning about ways to help heal our planet. Sounds like a book teachers should be sharing in class.
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I hope this book reaches many teachers and school libraries. Lennon has written two now, with another book planned. I love his foundation.
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Perfect for Earth Day! We all need to be invited into adventures, no matter what our age.
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Kids will enjoy this adventure to protect the planet. Beautiful illustrations.
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I’m interested in seeing the interactive component. Looks lovely!
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It is interactive, asks kids questions and encourages them to protect the planet.
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What a cool cover!
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I love the cover on both books. They are awesome for children.
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What a beautiful book. Love to see how the interaction part works with the reader. Closer inspection is needed. 🙂 Thanks Pat
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You are welcome. I hope you have access to the book! Another one is planned.
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Interesting and timely! I’m wondering now, that since you say it’s part of a trilogy, whether it will be affected by the reorg of Sky Pony?
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That I don’t know about. I hope not. I want to see the third book.
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Oh, there is so much to learn from this book, and so much new for me. What a beautiful choice for Earth Day, Pat.
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Thank you Joanna! This is perfect for school libraries and reading out loud. I loved your share and want to read it too!
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What a great title to celebrate Earth Day. I agree this would be a perfect book for teachers to share in the classroom. Thanks for featuring.
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I’m glad you enjoyed my review. It is such a terrific series for young children.
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Perfect pick for Earth Day; this looks incredibly magical. Great post as always, Pat.
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It is magical and kids are invited to use their imaginations. Lennon’s poem at the end is a must read.
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Looks like an ideal book for Earth Day. My library doesn’t have it on order yet, but I will keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Thanks for this recommendation. Love books that break down complex topics for young audiences!
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Seems like a book kids will enjoy!
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It is a fun journey for kids!
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Oh my gosh this sounds so freaking adorable. Definitely relevant for Earth Day. Happy late Earth Day! I love lyrical books! They are so cute and fun. Especially when they are spreading knowledge relevant in this day and age of climate change. If the cover is any way to tell, the book’s illustrations must be wonderful! And the interactive aspect is super creative as well. Thank you for sharing!
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You would enjoy this book Sue. It is a creative way to involve both children and parents in an adventure that will certainly encourage many discussions. You are right, the illustrations are stunning.
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Looking forward to reading both of Julian Lennon’s books. Love the idea that the reader has to press buttons and becomes a part of the narrative. Great review for Earth Day!
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Both books are excellent and a third is on the way. And, I love how this book will start discussions between parent and child, and teacher and classroom. Just discovered Lennon linked my review to his site today.
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