If We Were Gone: Imagining the World Without People

Illustrated by Natalie Capannelli

“We need plants to survive. But do they need us?”

People need water, air, sunlight, and plants to live in this world, but does the world need people? What would happen to the world if humans were gone? This thought-provoking picture book by Wisconsin author, John Coy envisions our world without people. His insightful text explores how nature would reclaim the planet. Although Natalie Capannelli’s accompanying watercolor illustrations depict ecologically healthy multicultural human activities such as walking, biking and farmers’ markets, the progression of natural resilience and reclamation is strikingly beautiful and more engaging. As our infrastructure decays, pipes burst, pavement buckles, roofs collapse. Lightning strikes cause fires to burn uncontrolled. Air becomes cleaner with each rainfall. Animal habitats such as bird nests are accurately depicted. As nature reclaims what humans once controlled, the abundance of healthy plant and animal life across various ecosystems indicates that the life of the planet may well be better without us.

Through text and illustration If We Were Gone considers the significant impact humans have had on earth’s geology and ecosystems and envisions what life would be like beyond the Anthropocene period of geological history. Capannelli’s colorful, child friendly illustrations show no evidence of why humans are gone, no apocalyptic event or natural catastrophe. Rather there is a progressive flourishing of plant and animal life among archeological remains, electronic trash, broken artifacts, and graffiti. As humanity becomes a dim planetary memory, human evidence remains long after we are gone. Although some reviewers have labeled If We Were Gone “dystopian,” there is no indication of a dystopian political system. It is instead a cautionary tale and a call to earth stewardship: “we must take care, / in all the ways we can, / so we’re here on Earth together / now / and in the future.” Back matter includes a selected bibliography and gives further context for what can be done to create a healthier ecology.

Although the vocabulary and illustrations are appropriate for younger students, some five and six-year- olds might find the concept too troubling.

©2025 ClimateLit (Sandra Lindow)

More:

  • Flow. Directed by Gints Zilbalodis. Written by Zilbalodis and Matīss Kaža. Golden Globe Best Animated Film of 2024. This wordless Latvian film shows animals during and after a flood as nature begins to reclaim buildings and land where humans once lived.

Publisher: Millbrook Press, 2020

Audience: Ages 4-7

ISBN: 978-1-5415-2357-9

Pages: 32

Lexile Score: 500L

Format: Picturebooks

Topics: Anthropocene, Cultural Diversity, Deep Time, Earth Stewardship, Ecosystems, Ecosystems Health, Habitats, Nature, Nature Reclamation, Planetary Health, Resilience