Mother Earth: Poems to Celebrate the Wonder of Nature; Libby Hathorn, illustrated by Christina Booth18/11/2023 'Let’s dream of what we can become, Mother Earth, I am your son. Food and shelter, climate, water, Mother Earth, I am your daughter.’ Beginning and ending with haikus titled Earth and Food Chain respectively, Libby Hathorn channels a love for the natural world one poem at a time. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations that bring words to life, a collection of rhymes, raps, haikus, free verse and reflections gently implore us to care for and to respect nature, to play our part in looking after the planet and to protect and cherish the treasures of Australia, a place with flora and fauna so unique there’s no where else in the world quite like it. Written with a great awareness of both subjects and audience, Libby lyrically and rhythmically guides readers through the natural world on a journey that explores the weather, the environment, natural resources, human problems, natural disasters, the elements, plants, animals, endangered species, recycling, cane toads and our connectedness with nature. There’s a real breadth of poems here, all are timely, powerful and important. Whilst several are fun, lighthearted and simply celebrate the joys of nature and being present in the natural world it is those that raise awareness of the challenges that ecosystems, plants and animals face that leave a lasting impression. The sombre Beach Blues reflects on the dangers of progression whilst Iceberg’s Secret is a homage to the wonder of Antarctica and the threat that climate change presents to such a fragile ecosystem. The playful Bush Picnic celebrates the antics of Australia’s animals with the poignant and heartfelt Bushfire Baby revealing the terrible consequences of wildfires. Rainforest Song is a plea to stop deforestation and We’re All So Connected highlights endangered plants. Twitter and Tweet is a personal favourite that champions the tweet and twittering of birds rather than the social media platform. Far more enjoyable listening to bird song as opposed to scrolling on the screen.
Libby leaves us with much to ponder and a million reasons to protect Mother Earth, it is, after all, the only one we have. Her book of poems is as precious as the subjects she writes about and copies need to be widely accessible in libraries, classrooms and homes. Wonderful for reading all at once or for sharing relevant poems throughout the seasons, this glorious and colourful celebration of nature will be enjoyed be all. Recommended for 6+. With huge thanks to Hachette and Lothian for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
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