If We Were Gone
Imagining the World without People
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Water, air, sunlight, plants . . . we need these elements to live in this world. But does the world need us? And what would happen to the world if humans were gone? This is the premise of a thought-provoking picture book from John Coy. His insightful text explores how nature would reclaim the planet, accompanied by Natalie Capannelli's gorgeous watercolor illustrations. Back matter gives further context and discusses what kids (and all of us) can do to truly help our planet.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this disturbingly beautiful dystopian meditation, Coy uses direct and dreamy language, encouraging readers to imagine a world without humans "Pipes would burst/ and pavement buckle." The net effect imagined is undeniably beneficial: "The air would become cleaner/ with each rainfall.// Plants and animals would grow wild/ and forests and jungles expand." Coy's point: "People need water to live./ We need air to breathe./ We need plants to survive./ But do they need us?// Maybe not." Capannelli's watercolors show crumbling structures, rising waters, and animals merrily scavenging, beady eyes peering out from broken computers. A closing note states that "virtually 99.999 percent of all life on the planet has gone extinct" and calls readers to action: "This is the planet you are going to live on. What will you do to protect it?" Ages 5 10.
