The Earth and I

   Asch, Frank (1994). The Earth and I. Orlando: Harcourt Brace and Company.

    ISBN # 0-15-200443-2

‘The Earth and I’ tells the story of a friendship between a boy and the Earth. They listen to each other and they go for walks, play, grow, sing and dance together. However, when the Earth is sad and polluted, the boy gets sad as well. He helps the Earth become happy again by helping clean up the pollution.

I would use this book for 3 to 5 year olds because the sentences are short and written using simple language that the children can understand. With the simple language, children can understand and relate to the important message that the book conveys, which is being friends and respecting the Earth.

The watercolour paint illustrations evoke a positive mood as they are bright, colourful and sunny. The rainbow, tye dye-like feel of the illustrations draw children to the book as it’s almost as if the Sun is within the book. The bright colours make it easier for children to see the contrast between the bright, happy, clean Earth, and the dark, sad, polluted Earth.

To help build background knowledge and provoke interest for the children, I would put out a globe during free play for the children to explore with.

I would also get different pictures of places on the Earth (forests, rivers, gardens, etc). I would enlarge and laminate the pictures and put them around the room for children to see and think about.

3 ways to present the story

Nature Walk: I would take the children on a walk outside. To introduce the story-telling during the walk, I would say that we were going on a walk with our special friend. When they asked who, I would say the Earth! I would ask them to tell the Earth what’s on their minds and then to listen to the Earth. We would sing for the Earth and then listen to the Earth sing for us. We would dance together and look for signs if the Earth is dancing for us (i.e.: rustling leaves). If we saw litter during the nature walk, given hygienic reasons, I would promote the children to clean up or get me to clean it up.

Magnet Board: I would make a magnet board for children to come up with their own stories about the friendship between the boy and the Earth. I would make a ‘Boy’ piece, as well as several changeable backgrounds (forest, river, garden) that will serve as different settings for their stories.

Puppet: I would use the boy puppet and talk from his perspective. During the story-telling, I would get the children to act as the Earth. For example: I (the boy) dance for her (the Earth), I would make the puppet dance, then after get the children (the Earth) to dance. 

3 possible extensions

Growing plants: Growing plants is a simple and fun activity for the children to engage with. Bean seeds are particularly effective at growing. Growing plants gives children an opportunity to have a relationship with growing, living things, as they are encouraged to water their plants regularly and talk to their plants.

Start a recycling program: If your preschool/or daycare doesn’t so already, after reading the story you could start a recycling program. This can be something as simple as putting blue bins for plastic / paper. During snack time, putting out a container for compost (i.e.: banana peels, orange peels) makes the children aware of what happens to their waste.

Art project with recycled materials: Gather loose parts that would have otherwise been thrown away (i.e.: toilet rolls, bottle caps). After ensuring that they are safe for children, allow the children to explore with the materials. Do not put glue out; glue implies a ‘one-time’ ethic with the materials, which at times can be wasteful. Rather, let the children explore the many different ways they can manipulate the loose parts.