Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth

"Oliver Jeffers is an exceptionally brilliant artist and children’s author and illustrator. He has a lovely, playful streak. He is funny and very witty in a soft, gentle kind of way. He can explore quite profound themes, like loneliness, and he’ll play with them and make them less frightening. He uses laughter as a kind of foil to worrying thoughts so he is very comforting to read. I love his artwork and his use of colour—it’s distinctive. I always look out for a new book of his. I get the feeling this is quite a personal book for him. I think he’s just had a baby, and this is his book for his child. If I just describe it, it’s going to sound a bit heavy, but it’s not, because he has this light touch. It’s not a story in the sense of a beginning, middle and end. It’s more a list of of facts about the planet(s). It begins in space, and then we travel towards our planet. The facts he gives are broad and simple – Planet Earth is made up of two parts, the watery bit (the sea), and the rock and dirt bit (the land). My son really enjoyed that level of clarity. Yes, he lists important basic things for people (and children) to remember—to eat, drink and stay warm. It’s absolutely charming. Reading the book together inspired a rush of questions from my son, the most difficult being, ‘Why are animals all different shapes and sizes?’ Which is actually a very difficult question to answer because then you’re into evolution.It is a book that generates curiosity in its readers. It’s a springboard for ideas and creativity. It is also taking a bit of a risk–it doesn’t quite conform to the standard illustrated picture book. It is refreshing to see these rules challenged so skilfully. It is quite a poignant book. It says that sometimes you have to “move slowly here on Earth. More often, though, things move quickly, so use your time well. It’ll be gone before you know it.” It’s enough to bring a lump to your throat, but there’s a beauty to that, and a nice, simple honesty. I found it very impressive. Yes, but it’s not heavy-handed. It’s just led to so many delightful conversations between me and my 4½-year-old. For that, I’m very grateful."