Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  The story of a small piece of land began five hundred million years ago, when it was part of the ocean.  Dinosaurs walked on it sixty-seven million years ago, and ice covered it one hundred thousand years ago.  There have been many, many changes, and different forms of life have come and gone.  But the land has always survived…until humans came along.  Starting with a single house, people gradually built more and more on the land, even digging into it to create structures to support them.  The impacts grew and grew until one day “…it seemed unstoppable,” shown with an upside down black and gray illustration.  Kids start to make changes, reclaiming the land with clean-up efforts, flowers, and trees.  Even a small gift to the Earth can reap big rewards.  Includes an author’s note, a list of words that inspired the book, animals and plants in the book, a list of epochs represented, and additional resources.  48 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A gorgeous introduction to environmental concerns, covering a surprising amount of information with deceptively simple text and illustrations that reminded me a little bit of Virginia Lee Burton (and should be considered for a Caldecott!).  The last few pages and back matter will empower kids to figure out what they can do to help the planet.

Cons:  My usual discouragement and angst when I read books about the environment.