Dear readers,

I wanted to recommend a book by a wonderful writer in my (literary fiction) writing group which is actually a children’s book! Called My Breathing Earth, it is absolutely poetic and lyrical. It follows a girl through a day where the wind or, as it is referred to throughout the book so beautifully, “Earth’s breath,” and its presence in the world. The wind provides a line of continuity throughout the book–interesting how a natural element is used for narrative!–and the child’s eye sees what the wind can do, like making chimes tinkle but also knocking over plants. It can transport soap bubbles or raise kites, waft the smell of dinner upstairs. It is there when we go to sleep at night and will be ready for our awakening the next morning.

            Kudos to the illustrator, Tisha Lee, who has done a great job of making very appealing drawings for children. She has a unique color scheme, and her choices complement the text perfectly. What is especially noteworthy is that she has depicted a biracial family, something so necessary when the children’s book industry has, up until recent times, been extremely lacking in diversity. Children need to feel included, and children also have a natural affinity for nature. This book does a good job of addressing both issues in a fun, readable, and beautiful way that even adults will enjoy.