Review of If You Come to Earth | The Children’s Book Review
Written and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Age Range: 5-8
Hardcover: 80 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (September 15, 2020)
ISBN: 978-1452137797
What to expect: Inclusivity, Diversity, Earth
“Dear Visitor from Outer Space,
If you come to Earth, here’s what you need to know.”
And so begins this stunning picture book perfect for the times and all ages!
Wholly fulfilling is two-time Caldecott award-winning author-illustrator Sophie Blackall’s If You Come to Earth, which is inspired by the thousands of children she has met during her travels around the world in support of UNICEF and Save the Children. From a bedroom, around the world, and back again, the narrator guides the readers through a call-to-action to stand together, united on our beautiful planet. To care for one another and to value each other—our likeness and our differences. We learn about people, young and old—inclusivity and diversity, joy and pain, are all represented. It’s a compendium of all living things and the way we inhabit our world—while also offering up the sense of something greater than ourselves. The conversations that can be prompted from reading If You Come to Earth feel rewardingly infinite.
From the use of a handmade typeset, hand lettering by Blackall, the artwork rendered in Chinese ink and watercolor, gold embossed speckles scattered across the dark sky on the cover, the book is so beautifully crafted. All of the intricate little details bring thoughtful prose to life in a way that is accessible for curious young minds. Delightful and varied skin tones warmed with classic Blackall-style rosy cheeks are a gorgeous depiction of global humanity. There’s so much to take in, and it’s all designed and laid out to perfection.
If You Come to Earth is incredibly heartwarming and highly recommended!
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About the Author-Illustrator
Sophie Blackall has illustrated many books, including the Ivy + Bean series, Ruby’s Wish, and has twice won the Caldecott Medal. Originally from Australia, she now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Learn more about her at www.sophieblackall.com
Read our exclusive interview: Sophie Blackall Discusses If You Come to Earth
If You Come to Earth, by Sophie Blackall, was reviewed by Bianca Schulze. Discover more books like If You Come to Earth by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Australian Authors, Diversity, Inclusion, Picture Book, Sophie Blackall, and Travel.