Here We Are
Notes for Living on Planet Earth
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4.4 • 22 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
#1 New York Times Bestseller and #1 TIME Best Book of the Year for 2017!
The exquisite and thought-provoking new book from the multi award-winning, internationally best-selling picture book creator of Lost and Found, Oliver Jeffers.
Well, hello.
And welcome to this Planet.
We call it Earth.
Our world can be a bewildering place, especially if you’ve only just got here. Your head will be filled with questions, so let’s explore what makes our planet and how we live on it. From land and sky, to people and time, these notes can be your guide and start you on your journey. And you’ll figure lots of things out for yourself. Just remember to leave notes for everyone else… Some things about our planet are pretty complicated, but things can be simple, too: you’ve just got to be kind.
Here We Are is the utterly heartfelt new book from Oliver Jeffers. We’re glad you found it.
“An optimistic snapshot of contemporary life, this heartfelt hug of a book ought to become a classic” The Guardian
Reviews
‘The witty images are atmospheric and full of enthralling detail’ Nicolette Jones, The Times
‘An optimistic snapshot of contemporary life, this heartfelt hug of a book ought to become a classic’ Guardian
‘Beautiful illustrations’ Creative Review
‘There is a childlike awe and wonder about the stars and planets in the book’ The Irish Times
‘Delightfully illustrated’ Time
‘Beautifully illustrated’ Artists & Illustrators
‘This performer had assured pace and charm. The storytelling was captivating and a beautifully realised gem, with a surprise ending. Gorgeous!’ Audio Production Awards judges
About the author
Oliver Jeffers graduated from The University of Ulster in 2001 with First Class honours. His outstanding talent has been recognised by several high-profile awards, including the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award. ‘Lost and Found’ animation was broadcast on Channel 4. Oliver lives and works in Brookyln, New York.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
When his first child was born, artist and children’s book author Oliver Jeffers wrote Here We Are, an utterly charming introduction to life on planet Earth. His is a surprisingly comprehensive survey, covering land, sea, and air, as well as the structures of the human body and a quick overview of the diversity of both the animal kingdom and humanity. The best part for parents is the tiny Easter egg jokes Jeffers sprinkles throughout his witty paintings and illustrations. (In one picture, Jeffers and his wife lie in bed asleep at night while their child is awake…and holding a hammer.) We love Jeffers’ thoughtful text, diverse and inclusive drawings and conversational tone. Here We Are has all the makings of a wonderful bedtime story.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"These are the things I think you need to know," writes Jeffers (A Child of Books), dedicating this contemplative and heartfelt book to his young son. Each spread highlights aspects of this planet or life on it: the solar system, people and animals, the way time can seem to move slowly or quickly. "Use your time well," he advises. "It will be gone before you know it." Throughout, Jeffers channels the voice of an adult who knows things but perhaps still struggles to find the right words to explain them: "Generally how it works is that when the sun is out, it is daytime, and we do stuff." After discussing land, sea, and sky, he admits that the sky "can get pretty complicated" (dotted lines separate the "air we breathe" from the "stratosthingy" and "outer space," among other labeled celestial and meteorological entities). Moments of human intimacy jostle with scenes that inspire cosmic awe, and the broad diversity of Jeffers's candy-colored humans musicians, hijabis, nuns, explorers, potentates underscores the twin messages that "You're never alone on Earth" and that we're all in this together. Ages 3-7.
Customer Reviews
Love
I love the simplicity of Oliver’s stories, yet they are so full of love & wonderment at the same time.