Overview: a New Way of Seeing Earth: Young Reader's Edition by Benjamin Grant and Sandra Markle

Overview: a New Way of Seeing Earth

Young Reader's Edition

Benjamin Grant with Sandra Markle

Crown Books for Young Readers. 2019

Grades 2 up

When astronauts view Earth from space, the sense of oneness they feel is termed the Overview Effect. It describes the awareness that we are all part of the same humanity.  Astronauts, when they see Earth from space, say the experience changes them forever. The view gives them a greater connection to Earth, its people, and the environment. 

The large-format sized book is divided into nine chapters. Each chapter examines a different aspect of our planet. From natures wonders to how humans are affecting the plant, each full-page color photograph is captioned, giving a brief explanation as to why it is included in the book. 

“Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, in Australia’s Northern Territory, is a giant sandstone rock formation that rises above an otherwise flat plan. Estimated to be 600 million years old, Uluru is 1,142 feet (348 m) high and 6 miles (9.7 km) around at the base. Like a land iceberg, Uluru also extends underground another 2 miles (3.2 km). The rock is a sacred site for the Aboriginal people of the area, who first settled there 10,000 years ago.”

Grant and Markle also include environmental concerns to encourage readers to contemplate their role in creating a healthy planet.

Back matter includes bibliography, resources on how you can help our planet to have a healthy future, and index that includes not only page numbers but coordinates to use when searching Google Earth or the satellite mode of Google Maps!

A truly awe-inspiring book.

 To write this review, I borrowed the book from my local public library.