EARTHSONG

"A lyrical tribute to the earth and its amazing diversity, with plenty of information and colourful artwork. How can we keep our earth green and blue? How can we care for and share this planet with others and at the same time, enjoy being part of it? Sensitively written, it's a must-read for youngsters." - Print Pick, The Hindu

"Our Earth's a gift in green and blue
To men and women, children too
So let's enjoy this planet rare
Let's remember to care and share ..."

The Hindu
(Young World, April 7, 2006)

A story about the beauty of the planet and the need to preserve it.

"Home to creatures big and small
To the wind and waterfall
To the trees and all things green...
To the worms that work unseen
To elephants that roam the wild
... To cows and draft animals mild
To men and women, children too
Our Earth's a gift in green and blue
So let's enjoy this planet rare
Let's remember to care and share."

This verse also serves as a delightful content page for the book, Earth Song by Geeta Dharmarajan. The snippets of information can be easily understood.

A page would contain six to seven capsules. For example in the page "Home to creatures big and small": "There are about 24,000 known species of butterflies. Do you know that butterflies taste with their feet? Their taste sensors are located there and by standing on their food, they can taste it!"

The creatures mentioned have their names in bold, for quick identification. A huge illustration dominates the page. Each animal is numbered and a list of names corresponds to the numbers on the side of the vividly colourful illustration. You can discover the animal with the corresponding number. The artwork by Enrique Lara and Luis Garcia, stand out especially as they appear to have been made with plastercine.

- Rohini Ramakrishnan

The New Indian Express
(School Magazine, July 19, 2006)

Geeta Dharmarajan has a unique way of adding life even to the most boring subjects. If you read Earthsong, you'll realise it. it's not the environmental studies book you must have read in school. Or maybe it is, just a better one, a much better one. The book opens with a little poem which almost sounds like a version of the "All things are bringht and beautiful" song you learnt in school. Then the more serious stuff follows, in a way that doesn't sound so serious. Every page has a group of living beings in their natural environment with their names mentioned in a separate box.

And there's a small piece of trivia on each - trivia that's interesting and something that not many are aware of. For example, did you know that cats have 244 bones in their bodies, that's even more than humans have. Or that flamingos get their pink colour from the carotene-rich food they eat. Or that the front lawns of eight houses have the same cooling effect as 24 large air-conditioners. This and other interesting stuff comprise a greater part of the book. A strong point of the book is the art work by Enrique Lara and Luis Garcia, with every creature looking like it's about to come out of the page.

And, in the end, there is also a message for all you young readers out there. A message book that isn't too preachy. What else do you want?

- Shalini Shah

About the author

Geeta Dharmarajan

About the Illustrators

Enrique Lara & Luis Garcia

Publishers: Katha
Language: English
32 pages, size 8 x 10
Age Group: 5 - 8 Years
ISBN 81-89020-40-4 [HB]
ISBN 81-89020-44-7 [PB]
Price: Rs 150 [HB]
Rs 120 [PB]