Julian Lennon

If Julian wasn’t the son of rockstars, I’m not sure he would have gotten this book published. The book is fine. It’s very similar to Press Here. Except in this instance, they’re in a plane going to different places on earth. Each place has an issue. It could be pollution in the water driving the fish away, a desert that needs irrigation to grow crops, etc. In this book, I like the illustrations better than I like the story. I wish Julie Lennon and co-writer Bart Davis had either show more chosen to write an environmental story or write an action story and not try to combine the two together. This book is fine, but nothing special. show less

Co-authors Julian Lennon and Bart Davis take children on a tour of the world in this interactive picture-book, highlighting the need for clean water in all parts of the globe. Inviting the child reader/listener to get involved, both with the book itself - instructions are issued, about moving the book in the four cardinal directions, and pressing buttons on the page, to effect certain changes in the story - and in the wider world, they use the idea of the 'White Feather Flier" to move the show more narrative along. The book concludes with Julian Lennon's poem, Touch the Earth, and a message from Lennon about his environmental organization, The White Feather Foundation.

The interactive aspects of Touch the Earth reminded me quite a bit of similar books, from Hervé Tullet's Press Here to Silvia Borando's The Cat Book, which also feature instructions that encourage children to take specific actions to further the story. That said, those other books do a much better job, I think, involving the reader in the storytelling. I found the narrative here somewhat disjointed, and think a more straightforward text would have worked better, to communicate the issues surrounding access to water, that are of concern to the authors. The illustrations by Croatian artist Smiljana Coh were equally unimpressive, with a somewhat bland, indistinct feeling that left me feeling mostly indifferent. I liked the idea here, and I certainly applaud the purpose of the book, and of Lennon's organization, but the book itself is eminently missable. show less

An interactive picture book for young readers, ages three through six. The White Feather turns into a magical airplane, taking children around the world to save the planet.

This delightful tale, which young readers are sure to enjoy, encourages them to “press” a printed button and, by changing the tilt of the book, “fly” to different places where they will learn about diverse environmental problems. As the story unfolds, the reader travels north, south, east, and west and, using the show more magical powers of the flyer, fixes what needs fixing. Throughout the telling of the tale, it’s clear that the author believes that helping young children learn to love Planet Earth will translate into them growing up to care for the planet.

If only it were that simple.

This enchanting tale, with its charming illustrations, is certainly entertaining for entertain young readers. But it would be a great disservice if they were to believe they’d actually helped the environment simply by “pressing” the buttons on the pages of a book. The reading of this book begs a follow-up activity that will facilitate a child’s understanding of the importance of caring for the environment and had the author included such a list, it surely would have sparked the imagination of every young reader.

Perhaps young readers could join their parents in recycling, picking up trash, planting something in the garden, taking a nature walk, or some other positive activity to support environmental sustainability. This would help the young reader develop a greater understanding of the need for involvement and action in caring for the environment and the planet itself.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book support environmental and humanitarian efforts.

Recommended. show less

I absolutely loved this book! This book takes us on a journey on a plane called the White Feather Flier that helps solve problems. The White Feather Flier reminded me of the Magic School Bus because it can turn into different things. It became a submarine to go under water at one point. It teaches young readers about maps, and you learn about north, south, east and west, by pointing the Flier in different directions. The journey takes the reader around the world to help solve environmental show more problems, like helping fish by cleaning up plastic in the ocean, and solving water problems in dry regions, etc.I thought it was really cool how this book shows children they CAN change the world and touch the lives of others. This was a very powerful book and it was written in a simplistic way for young readers to understand and follow. I would like to read the other books in this series! show less