Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth

I wasn't impressed. :-(
I saw all the great reviews and purchased this book-- but there were places where the author didn't give any information even though he could have-- like saying "stratosphere" instead of "stratothingy..." Seriously? Just fill in with the right word. My kids should know what it's actually called.
There's also a place where he says that animals can't talk (actually they CAN talk, we just don't speak their language)-- the book just didn't mesh for me and I didn't want to read it to my kids.

It was very basic overall without much information and seemed to be lacking in substance.

I returned it.

What an absolutely beautiful book - from the colors and details of the illustrations to the message. I love Oliver Jeffers stories and illustrations, and this book does not disappoint. I can't wait to share it with my daughter.

I bought the book after I read the reviews highly praising it. I was disappointed. I found this book not informative, not appealing to any age and the illustrations not attractive to a child. The author talks to his new baby about the world, so if you want to do the same get the book. I don’t see that it’s interesting for any other age.

I absolutely love this children’s novel. What a gem! I picked this one up at the library but this novel is one that I will be buying for my own library. It was a fun novel with fantastic illustrations.

This children’s novel describes the world to the main character. The world is huge, it’s confusing, it’s interesting and there is so much for anyone to learn so come along and listen while they explain it to the main character. They touch on different subjects (sea, people, sky, solar system, etc.) and provide to the reader details about each of these subjects. The illustrations are wonderful and they sell the novel. They’re bold, colorful and the detail is outstanding, I took my time looking at these wonderful works of art.

I liked the tone of the novel, it was friendly and encouraging. It showed me just how amazing Earth is and the ending left a warm feeling in my heart. This is definitely a children’s novel that needs to be read and cherished. Highly recommended!

With a gentle tone and a comprehensive eye, Jeffers welcomes someone newly born to our planet. He does a quick tour, whisking past the land, the sea and the sky. He mentions being careful of your body, since the part don’t just grow back. Jeffers celebrates life on earth in all of its diversity, both human and animal. There is night and day, slow and fast. The book ends with a message to share the earth with others, since there is enough for everyone. It is the tone of this picture book that is particularly effective. Jeffers embraces the contradictions of our world, the beauty of life, and the spectacular nature around us. His illustrations show the vastness of the universe and the wonder of our planet. Meant for older children who will enjoy the tone and the joy of exploration. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

I really enjoyed the information that was simplified to a young ones level, but not dumbed down. Oliver, I have a word choice question. A planet "spins" on its axis and "revolves" around the sun? I think you need to make a correction.

Here We Are: Notes for Living on the Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers explores the place each of holds in the wide world and the interconnectedness of the world in which we live. Jeffers starts with our place in the universe in a move that feels a bit reminiscent of Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot. Here We Are is about how vast and yet how small our world is. Jeffers brings together both the smallness and the largeness of existence in this simple yet engaging and informative picture book.

This is the most sincere, insightful, beautiful children’s book I have ever read. I shared this with my 7 year old son and I have never seen him so interested and enthralled! Elegantly presented in prose and illustration, and filled with simple yet profound observations. A true love letter from parent to child. Highly recommended!

I wish I had listened to reviewer Cheryl G. instead of to the prestigious publications that praised it so highly. Just as she said, it is written as though it is addressed to a very young child, yet assumes a grasp of concepts far beyond that of a preschooler.

Following a cute diagram of a bit of our sky (which includes "outer space, " "air we breathe," and "stratosthingy" and the facts that we spin around the sun and the moon spins around us --and which also reveals to him that rain is falling water) the reader or listener is informed, "On our planet are people. One people is a person. You are a person. You have a body. . . ."

So who is supposed to be the audience here? The only use that I can think of for this book is for a second-to-fourth grader to read to a toddler. The toddler won't be able to understand it but the older child will enjoy it.

Chills after reading this book. Texted my cousin right after reading it to my boys and told her to buy. Amazing message, beautiful pictures. Perfect gift for new parents. Perfect gift for any parents and their young kids.

This is a beautiful book. It’s entertaining, engaging, and really shows the importance of acceptance amongst all on our planet. I nearly teared up reading the last pages to my 6 year old son. He doesn’t get how touching the story is, but I loved it.
We will share this story again, and again.

Gorgeous illustrations - we have loved so many Oliver Jeffers stories. But in this case, he has fallen short. The illustrations seem to depict every type of person. My question is, however, why normalize alternative lifestyles (some of which are harmful, or at the least experimental, with the jury out on their overall impact on children, families and society as a whole), while leaving out lifestyles which have historically been proved to be the ideal for children and famillies (a happily married man and woman with children, perhaps - don't we desire the best for our children - why not normalize for them what is an ideal?). Also, my six year old daughter was bored - the text was aiming at a baby. Wow, the experimental liberal agenda begins earlier all of the time. I would recommend a book "mole music" over this one for promoting peace and harmony.

Gorgeous illustrations - we have loved so many Oliver Jeffers stories. But in this case, he has fallen short. The illustrations seem to depict every type of person. My question is, however, why normalize alternative lifestyles (some of which are harmful, or at the least experimental, with the jury out on their overall impact on children, families and society as a whole), while leaving out lifestyles which have historically been proved to be the ideal for children and famillies (a happily married man and woman with children, perhaps - don't we desire the best for our children - why not normalize for them what is an ideal?). Also, my six year old daughter was bored - the text was aiming at a baby. Wow, the experimental liberal agenda begins earlier all of the time. I would recommend a book "mole music" over this one for promoting peace and harmony.