I really enjoyed this book-- the illustrations are lovely and they move you between the pages. Having actually quotes from Rachel Carson was an unusual choice, but I really enjoyed having them inline, it would make this a good book to read with multiple age groups. Most of all I liked teh repeated use of the five senses, making this a perfect book to read alongside a natural journalling or sit spot lesson. It felt like more of a book about wonder than Carson's advocacy, although it covered both. I haven't posted a blog for this book yet, but I will as I thoroughly enjoyed it and see a number of classroom possibilities for ir.

This beautifully illustrated biography about Rachel Carson not only captures the magic of nature, but also the magic that was Rachel and her passion to learn about and protect our planet. Starting with her life as a young girl exploring the woodlands of Pennsylvania through her early adult life writing and providing for her family, the story takes us through her adult life, caring for the natural world and her loved ones. I especially loved the quotes from her writings throughout the story and the author’s note at the end. I have heard of Rachel and her impact on environmental sciences, but I didn’t know that she too was a breast cancer survivor. It’s wonderful how children’s books can be so rich and full of history and inspiration!

If I ever have to do research or write a biography report ever again in my life, it will be about Rachel Carson. She is inspiring and contagiously wonder-filled. This picture book is a beautiful tribute to her life and legacy. Ever since I first read about her in Consider the Octopus and then read more about her with Gabby, I've been fascinated. Do yourself a favor and read this book with every little you know and in every k-3 classroom. Her message and her life need to be known. (This picture book can also be used to teach sensory details! eee! Bonus for every classroom. As well as it can be used to teach the scientific method - triple bonus!). Go outside and explore your world like Rachel Carson did after this.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ebook ARC of this title. I love Rachel Carson, so I was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, the formatting did not end up cooperating with Kindle at all. As a result, I will try to revisit this book in print form.

I’m always on the lookout for new biographies. This one will be perfect for my environmental activism unit. It’s just right for a read aloud and will inform my kids of Rachel Carson’s contributions to science.

Our family reads biography picture books weekly and adore nature/science picture books and biographies. We sadly did not feel connected to the main character in this story but instead was only told facts. The journal entries were a nice touch but in the end this book wasn't for us. I appreciated the additional information in the back of the book. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me early access to this informative picture book.

I love reading books to my young daughters that highlight strong and independent women who may be overlooked in the great annals of history, but who made important contributions to society and can also serve as inspiration. This book checks all these boxes. I had never heard of Rachel Carson before, but I am glad I've had the opportunity to learn more about her story and share it with my daughters.

The book follows Rachel Carson throughout her life, from being a young girl with a deep appreciation for nature, to a student who built her academic learning on those childhood experiences, made her way through the adversities of the Great Depression by her writing "with the mind of a scientist and the heart of a poet." She used her myriad experiences with different facets of nature and translated them in to accessible writing that inspired children and adults and connected them to nature. Her concern for habitat destruction and the dangers of pesticides lead her to inspire change and inform society of these dangers which established widespread awareness and established groundwork for future legislative efforts to protect the earth.

I particularly enjoyed the recurring theme of Rachel experiencing nature through her five senses throughout the book and different times in her life. We liked how Kate Hannigan included quotes of Rachel's writing throughout the book - sometimes incorporated into the illustrations, including one instance where it is situated amongst fish jumping off the page! (Our favorite illustration in the whole book.) The illustrations of this book illuminate and enrich the story, and my daughters really enjoyed the art. The text was geared for 4th graders and upward, an my older daughter connected with the story and the lessons taught on a deeper level than my younger daughter, who especially loved the illustration style and how it helped her understand the book better. We all enjoyed reading more about Rachel Carson in the biographical pages at the end.

This picture book biography about Rachel Carson introduces children to her life, beginning with her nature-loving childhood, covering her educational and work accomplishments, and explaining her environmental activism and groundbreaking publication of Silent Spring shortly before her death. The lovely, light-filled illustrations feature beautiful nature scenes, and also include some quotes from Carson's writing. The backmatter at the end is extensive, including more information about Carson's life, the danger of pesticides, and the history of the early environmentalism movement. This book is great for elementary-aged kids and older readers who are interested in the topics

Thank you for the advanced copy! This was a great story for young readers and very well written! The pictures were entertaining!

This is a nonfiction illustrated account of the life and accomplishments of Rachel Carson who viewed the world outside in its entirety and loved all of it except what the chemicals were doing to it. The story is simple, clear, cohesive, and has relevant sidebars to clarify with or without personal quotes. Excellent and very readable book!
The illustrations by Katie Hickey are imaginative, simple, delightfully colorful, and FUN!
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age from 7 and up, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley on NetGalley Reader from Astra Publishing House | Calkins Creek via NetGalley. Pub Date Mar 11, 2025 @astrahousebooks
#RachelCarsonsWonderFilledWorld by @katehanniganbooks and @katiehickeyillustration
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I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. A kids non fiction book about Rachel Carson a naturalist who wanted to save nature and all who belonged to it. Kind of a great time to come out with the defunding of our National Parks.

I am a big fan of biographical picture books and this one tells the story succinctly while being informative. The text paired with some beautiful illustrations really walks the reader through Rachel Carson's life. Interspersed with quotes from Rachel's writings, this book will inspire readers to think about the environment and the human impact upon it.

A beautifully illustrated introduction to Rachel Carson and her tremendous impact on the way we take care of the environment. Interspersed with the story of her life are quotes from Carson herself (which I always think is great in a children's biography) and I especially love the incorporation of the five senses as a way to relate her experiences. The back pages are also incredibly detailed and informative about her life, along with a glossary, bibliography, and much more for kids to delve into.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an inspirational and educational book for older picture books readers. At first, I found the extra quotes (Carson’s quotes from her later work are interspersed within the illustrations of her childhood) to be a bit confusing. I wasn’t sure if those were the quotes that inspired her or if they were her words. But eventually I caught on, and the beautiful illustrations kept my attention while the text struggled to keep up. This book is definitely one for older readers and will likely serve as a teaching tool more than as an entertaining, punchy read.

Thank you to Net Galley, Calkins Creek and the author/illustrator for the early e-copy!