‘This is a magical story about the powerful idea that we are connected to absolutely everything in the universe.

Everything is connected.
And since you are part of everything,
you are connected to everything:
to pharaohs, Ben Franklin, T. Rex, ancient Greece, to love and to poverty, hunger and peace!’

Everything is Connected by Jason Gruhl & Ignasi Font is a cute book with quirky art that shows kids how we are all connected, to one another and everything else in the universe. It's written in amusing rhyme, making use of things kids find funny. The lessons in this little book are big. It leaves open to the possibility of a beneficial dialogue between child and caregivers. Exactly how everything is connected is never mentioned, leaving it open to interpretation.

***Many thanks to Netgalley & Shambhala Publications for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is kind of a neat book, although I think the title may have missed the mark a little bit. The basic premise is that you are connected to everything, so while the title isn't necessarily inaccurate, it doesn't quite reflect what most of the book is about.

The idea that we're all connected to the world around us is one I have seen in picture books before (though not very often). This book has some cute illustrations to drive home the point, including a line that travels across all the pages, interacting with some of the drawings it meets along the way. I liked this visual representation of connection.

The writing was a little weird for me, though. Most of the book is done in rhyme, and the meter is pretty good. But there are also some sections where the rhyme doesn't exist, and I thought those bits kind of interrupted the flow. There was also the implication that chicken pox was something created by people (it was included on the page of things humans have made), so that threw me a little. (I'm thinking maybe the author was in love with the rhyme at that point and couldn't come up with something else that would've fit seamlessly into the verse.)

Overall, though, this is an okay book about interconnectedness. I found it a little repetitive, and there's no mention of how things are connected (this was apparently intentional, according to the author's note). Some kids may get bored reading what is essentially a rhyming list. But others may enjoy reading about all the things they're connected to. The illustrations are vibrant and colourful, and they emphasize the text nicely. It might be a little esoteric for some, but the intention in writing this book seems to have been a good one, and you can feel that as you read through the pages.

Beginning with the body, the text takes the readers through the connection of oneness that runs through the entire universe. The text is brief, light and written in an engaging style. Transition from the body to the surrounding to the space has been well accomplished. The book makes brief reference to major religions of the world, exclusion of Hinduism is a concern. The final transition from you are a part to you are the universe needs little more transition and expansion. Going from the part to being the owner is a leap.

This book is a great addition to the limited literature available for kids to explore their universality.

Previously an educator, author Jason Gruhl gives a wonderful philosophical exploration of humity for kids in this exciting picture book. Illustrations by Spainish artist Ignasi Font add a level of dynamism to the story. Younger children can follow the thread across the pages to see for themselves that which connects us all and the importance. This is the perfect book to foster compassion, understanding and an empowering thought provoking text for your child. Perfect also for educators. This is definitely a must own.

What a great way to remind readers of how we're all connected in this universe! The text is interesting and has a nice cadence when read aloud. Plus, it's varied in appearance so it's just FUN to read. The illustrations are great compliments to the text and further understanding of the story. You could spend a preview or pre-reading session just going over the visual features and guessing what they have in common and why they are all there. This book lends itself naturally to many extensions if it were to be used in an educational setting - and shouldn't be limited just to the obvious age group (which I would peg at kindergarten to second grade).

I received a digital copy of this book, and I have now added the physical copy to my Amazon wishlist for when it publishes! I'll also be adding it to our high school library's family reading shelves.