You Are Never Alone

I requested this book from NetGalley because I read You Are Stardust years ago and really enjoyed it. You Are Never Alone is actually even better! It's all about interconnectedness, which is a topic I'm seeing more in children's books. I recently read Everything is Connected by Jason Gruhl and thought it was okay... but You Are Never Alone is everything I wish that other book had been. It doesn't just state that we're connected to everything; it actually shows and tells us how, through simple text and beautiful, unique illustrations.

Soyeon Kim's gorgeous illustrations are one of the main reasons I enjoyed You Are Stardust as much as I did, and they're just as wonderful here. Drawings and collage are combined to create cute, fantastical landscapes that show how we're connected to the world around us.

The environmental message doesn't hit readers over the head. At least, it didn't hit me over the head. I was too busy absorbing the interesting factoids and basking in the beauty of the pictures. The author's note at the end gives a little more information about the facts presented in the book, with a link for further information (http://www.owlkidsbooks.com/youareneveralone/).

I would highly recommend this book to kids of all ages, and even to adults who appreciate good-quality picture books with beautiful artwork.

A beautifully illustrated book with a lovely message about the interconnectivity of life on Earth. The idea that we are never alone, there is always some type of life around and within us is comforting, and I love the thought that gravity is hugging me as the Earth goes twirling through space!

The creative pair who brought us You Are Stardust have created another book that combines whimsy with wisdom. The text reminds us of the myriad connections between us and the world. We "gobble fruits from plants pollinated by bats by night and bees in the day." Whether it is the air we breathe or the food we eat, everything in our lives is interlinked in many ways.

Kim's dioramas create illustrations that are as layered as those connections. Children shrink to the size of microorganisms, or help a beaver gather sticks. Others swim the sea with whales or ride on beetles. The tiniest details are there - seeds on strawberries, tiny plankton in the sea, and snails crawling on mangrove roots.

Anyone teaching the interconnectedness of nature - food chains, ecosystems, etc. will find this book a wonderful introductory text to spark discussions and inspire student dioramas and displays. But this is also a book to simply savor and reflect on. It offers hope and comfort and an antidote to loneliness. As it tells us, "You are never alone. Feel gravity hug you tight as you twirl around the sun."

I read an ARC provided by the publisher for review purposes. The text I have quoted may change slightly before final publication (although I hope not).

Elin Kelsey pulls through with a beautiful book about feeling connected to nature and the world all around you. The Author's note talks about how often the environment is presented to kids as something that is broken and needs to be fixed which only leads to worry and hopelessness but this is a wonderful example showing that the world is already beautiful and is so good to us so we should absolutely protect it. The artwork by Soyeon Kim is a beautiful addition that adds whimsy and brightness to an already heartwarming story.
This book is about Earth in a way that is very "down to Earth" (pun intended..). I think this explains how we, as humans, coexist on the planet with so many other things like bacteria, animals, plants, etc. in a way that is non-threatening to kids - I never thought I would smile reading about microorganisms on my skin or "wee little cleaning mites" on my face but this book achieves those warm fuzzy feelings, even with those topics.

The whole earth is our community and we exist within "the blast of it's love."

Elin Kelsey and Soyeon Kim, with lyrical text and gorgeous art, make the interconnectedness of life here on our blue planet very clear. The positive message is scientifically based. Our relationships benefits us in remarkable ways. These two creators remind us that "Mother Nature has your back."

Did you know that mud and dirt is full of bacteria that releases serotonin that in turn, increases mood and makes you smarter! Now I know why I love to garden, and why, even though I wear gloves, they never stay on my hands for long.

You won't read about this in the book, but I couldn't help but realize that we tinker with our environments at our own peril.

Notes at the back of the book explain where the information comes from. You can also go to Owl Kids Books for more details. Once there you can watch videos of the author and illustrator discussing their work, download a Teacher's Guide, and much more.

http://owlkidsbooks.com/youareneveralone/

From the creator of "You Are Stardust" comes another fabulous creation. The main theme of the book is to highlight the complex, dynamic, and extraordinary connections and interconnections that exist in the Earth. It takes one beyond nations, politics, and right into the core of the meaning of human existence. This book explains the interconnections with wonderful illustrations. A great book for curious kids and adults. Highly recommend this book for classrooms, homes, nature clubs, and libraries.
#ecoliteracy #nature