Bea Reviews You Are Never Alone by Elin Kelsey, Illustrated by Soyeon Kim

Publisher: OwlKids Books
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: April 15th, 2019
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository  | Google |
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Blurb from goodreads:

From the creators of You Are Stardust and Wild Ideas comes a new informational picture book that explores how humans are inextricably connected to nature. This book draws examples from the clouds and the cosmos, the seafloor and the surface of our skin, to show how we are never alone: we are always surrounded and supported by nature. Whether it's gravity holding us tight; our lungs breathing oxygen synthesized by plants; the countless microorganisms that build our immunity; or the whales whose waste fertilizes the plankton that feed the fish we eat: nature touches every aspect of how we live.

Using lyrical text grounded in current science alongside detailed diorama art, this book presents the idea that we thrive through connections to the land and sea and sky, and togetherness is key to nature. It encourages inquiry-based learning, inviting readers to wonder, ask questions, observe the natural world, and engage with big ideas. An author's note at the end offers more insight into the research behind the text.

My Thoughts:

The message in this book is a good one, full of hope and joy. Where the book is less successful is the execution of the message. While the author does a decent job of explaining connections and introducing environmentalism, and the art complements the text beautifully, the text is long winded and lacks a hook to grab and engage the child reading or listening to this story. I did appreciate that Kelsey didn't talk down to the readers but used appropriate terminology, which could lead to discussions about the concepts introduced.

Honestly, the artwork makes the book. Full of color, but not overly bright or shiny, and full of details, the pictures are a delight to the heart and mind. You can play I Spy or talk about the great variety of animals and images. There's also a nice variety of children of different ethnicities though a lack of children who are 'different' - no one with eyeglasses or hearing aids, no crutches, braces or wheelchairs, etc.

"You Are Never Alone" has gorgeous illustrations, and is whimsical and educational. I didn't love it but it has a place in your home or classroom.

I would recommend this book for children age 6 and up.