Our Planet! There’s No Place Like Earth
Illustrated by David Litchfield
“There’s no other planet like me in the solar system. And I need your help to stay awesome.”
Our Planet! There’s No Place Like Earth is the sixth book in the nonfiction Our Universe series and a follow-up to Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years. In Our Planet, the anthropomorphic narrator Earth begins by reminding readers that it’s the most awesome place for humans to live. Unfortunately, its perfection is being threatened by human activities. Excessive use of non-renewable energy sources has been changing the climate and causing significant harm to the planet. Earth hopes that educating readers about these dangers will motivate them to take action and help stop the damage that has been done to their home.
Engaging with the concept of a Goldilocks planet, Our Planet! provides readers with a captivating introduction to climate change and its effects. Earth is described as a “just right” planet in terms of temperature, atmosphere, and resources. This frames Earth as an irreplaceable home—no other planet offers such a balanced environment for sustaining life. Therefore, it is our responsibility to protect and preserve this unique environment, ensuring its continued ability to support life for generations to come. Our Planet! even expands its focus beyond human interests to emphasize the importance of protecting all life forms on Earth. Earth encourages readers to adopt practices that benefit the entire ecosystem, such as renewable energy, green waste management, and rewilding trees. These recommendations can empower readers with an understanding that they can make a positive difference.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is how the anthropomorphic Earth narrator communicates directly to readers, showing emotions like frustration and sadness. This encourages readers to see Earth not just as an abstract concept, but as a living entity with feelings. This is especially powerful when Earth explains how humanity has “accidentally moved my climate into the fast lane.” This phrase captures the concept of the Anthropocene in a simple, relatable way and also introduces the concept of deep time. The emotional impact of this message is amplified by the spread on pages 15-16 that depicts Earth with a hauntingly distressed expression on its face. This evokes empathy and a sense of urgency in young readers, provoking concern for the planet’s well-being.
©2026 ClimateLit (Alexandra Delacruz)
More:
- Our Universe Series archives
- Read aloud by author
- This book would pair well with Buried Sunlight by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm. Buried Sunlight is also narrated by a celestial body (the sun) and explores many of the same topics as Our Planet! but with a more scientific approach.
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 2022
Audience: Ages 4-7
ISBN: 9781250782496
Pages: 40
Lexile Score: AD540L
Format: Picturebooks
Topics: Anthropocene, Deep Time, Earth Care, Earth Stewardship, Earth's Aliveness, Ecocentrism, Ecocide, Gaia, Global Warming, Goldilocks Planet



