One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth

A journey around the globe highlights ecological dangers the world over. . . Beautifully illustrated.

Davies and Desmond use time zones as the framing for a conservation-oriented tour of Earth in this eye-opening journey led by two kids, both portrayed with brown skin. The pair begin at nearly midnight in Greenwich, London, then head to Svalbard at 1 a.m., where they spot a polar bear mother and cubs: "Every year now the ice melts earlier, making hunting hard. The future of this little family is not certain." At 8 a.m., they swim among whale sharks in the Philippines, while a 4 p.m. stop at California's Pinnacles National Park finds them nestled in a red wildflower. On each page, text contrasts the beauty of the setting with the danger lurking from human-caused environmental damage. Lushly imagined mixed-media illustrations offer a birds-eye view, suggesting the vastness of the planet with documentary-style spreads of penguins dotting the snow far into the horizon or hundreds of baby sea turtles covering a moonlit beach. The suggestion that all this ecological magic exists at the same time buttresses the direct call to save the Earth. Creators' notes conclude. Ages 6-9. (Mar.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Davies is careful to depict both the harmful and helpful impacts that humans can have. . . . Filled with informative prose and stunning art, One World delivers on its creative concept and leaves readers with not only a sense of awe at our planet's remarkable biodiversity but also newfound feelings of respect and responsibility.
—BookPage (starred review)

Davies and Desmond use time zones as the framing for a conservation-oriented tour of Earth in this eye-opening journey. . . . Lushly imagined mixed-media illustrations offer a birds-eye view, suggesting the vastness of the planet with documentary-style spreads of penguins dotting the snow far into the horizon or hundreds of baby sea turtles covering a moonlit beach. The suggestion that all this ecological magic exists at the same time buttresses the direct call to save the Earth.
—Publishers Weekly

The focus stays on Earth's flora and fauna, and Davies points out the necessity of each ecosystem and the human impact on that environment. . . The combination of awe and wonder at nature's beauty along with the various ways it is threatened is a poignant reminder of the caretaking role humans have mostly failed at. Mixed media art has varying textures and richness to match the settings. . . This could make an engaging Earth Day storytime, especially when paired with Davies' previous work.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 

This award-winning team takes a trip around the world to see what's happening on Planet Earth. . . This is a very interesting oversized book with lively depictions of day and night.
—The Pioneer Press