If We Were Gone
Imagining the World without People
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.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
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978-1-5415-2357-9
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$14.99 | |
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978-1-5415-9555-2
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$24.99 | |
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978-1-7284-6661-3
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$34.99 | |
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978-1-7284-6660-6
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$6.99 |
| Interest Level | Kindergarten - Grade 4 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 1 |
| Genre | Picture Books, Social Studies |
| Category | 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Expository Literature |
| Copyright | 2020 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Millbrook Press ™ |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Publication Date | 2020-03-03 |
Author: John Coy
John Coy is the author of young adult novels, the 4 for 4 middle-grade series, and nonfiction and fiction picture books including Hoop Genius, Game Changer, Their Great Gift, Dads, If We Were Gone, and Where We Come From. He has received numerous awards for his work including a Marion Vannett Ridgway Award, a Charlotte Zolotow Honor, a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, and the Burr/Warzalla Award for Distinguished Achievement in Children’s Literature. John lives by the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.
Illustrator: Natalie Capannelli
Natalie Capannelli is an artist, illustrator, and freelance baker. She has an MFA from Pratt Institute and loves tending to plants and traveling the world. When not traveling, Natalie lives in Brooklyn, New York. If We Were Gone is her debut picture book. www.natcap.space
Awards
- Green Earth Book Award
Reviews
Publishers Weekly
“In this disturbingly beautiful dystopian meditation, Coy uses direct and dreamy language, encouraging readers to imagine a world without humans.”—Publishers Weekly
School Library Journal
“The text and Capannelli’s double-page watercolor spreads work together to paint a vivid picture of the harm unleashed on the world by humans . . .”—School Library Journal
Denis Hayes
“It’s remarkably easy to imagine the earth without people, but not vice versa. John Coy makes a simple, compelling case for protecting our home planet.”—Denis Hayes, national coordinator of the first Earth Day and environmental advocate