It's Up to Us: Building a Brighter Future for Nature, People & Planet (the Children's Terra Carta)

K-Gr 2—Thirty-three artists are each given a spread to illustrate a slice of the world. The collection of artwork is broken into four parts: Nature, People, Planet, and Terra Carta—which is a UK document to address climate change, and the primary focus of this book. The artwork depicts a range of scenes, from microorganisms that we can't even see to farms, cities, oceans, deserts, and even littered public parks. The scale and execution of the artwork seems almost too big for a picture book—and that makes the text feel out of place. In colored blocks placed over the artwork, a didactic text tells young readers why "we" need the Terra Carta, which is a jarring contrast to the gorgeous and engaging visuals. The front and back materials offer some opportunities for further research, with an index that serves as a glossary, too, and the preface text of the Children's Terra Carta. The foreword by HRH, the Prince of Wales, invites children to become artists of nature, too. VERDICT Despite some stylistic shortcomings, as a way to introduce the Children's Terra Carta, this is a beautiful book.—Jessica Schriver

"A beautiful book." - School Library Journal

"As much as this is a celebration of nature it also celebrates the global community ... Christopher Lloyd's words shine on each page." - Sarah Street, The Silvan Reverie

"I grew up in a country which was very polluted, very industrial ... through the years of growth I started to become aware about the power stations and the industrial companies, and I have been trying to do any project I can to talk about the importance of the preservation of the planet, but also how beautiful things can be and how we have to be careful and caring about all this." - Peter Sís, illustrator

"I wanted to paint and create a piece which felt like there was a lot of movement going on ... the water, the environment, the people, the landscape have this great force to it that is bigger than us." - Sally Deng, illustrator

"I saw that there is an imbalance with Nature and farming and how that's affecting the globe, so I took the idea of an imbalance, like a waterfall, and mashed it up with a farm, and put the two together, and I thought that would be a nice metaphor which is open to interpretation and gets down to the feeling that things aren't the way they are supposed to be." - Wesley Bedrosian, illustrator

"I have been thinking a lot about how I can use art to inspire and educate people about what they can do to take care of the Earth around us, so I was really thrilled to be part of this project." - Harmony Becker, illustrator