A year's worth of letters between elementary students and Earth highlight practical ways to care for our planet.The students of Room 5 hope to "do our part" to care for their world. In January, they send a letter to Earth asking for suggestions; the Earth happily replies. This series of monthly exchanges includes familiar recommendations, beginning with turning off the lights and ending with regifting Christmas presents with recycled wrappings, and why these actions matter. What begins as an all-class activity becomes an "Earth Heroes" club by the following September, led by Bernard, the most enthusiastic correspondent. Over the year they've adopted reusable water bottles, planted a garden, begun to bike to school, used both sides of pieces of paper, and convinced the school cafeteria to contribute compost to their garden, among other actions. In the process, Bernard, a boy with light-brown skin, even becomes more skillful at rhyming. In cheerful, bustling illustrations, Uribe depicts a wonderfully diverse group of schoolchildren indoors and out. They vary in hair, eye, and skin color and hairstyle; some wear glasses or use mobility aids. The pages with Earth's letters feature smiling globes, attractive scenery, and appealing animals, including a sea turtle, a winsome black-footed ferret, and even a nesting red knot. The final spread includes a simple explanation of climate change's causes and effects and a summary of things Earth Heroes can do. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 94.1% of actual size.)A well-thought-out presentation of an important environmental message. (Informational picture book. 6-9)

Gr 1-4 Small changes add up to big results, as Dealey's classroom full of kidswhite, Black, brown, pink, one with glasses, another with metal crutchesbecome monthly pen pals with Earth. The planet magically answers: "Room 5,/Your letter arrived on the wind./A whisper of hope in the night./I'm thankful for helpers who care for their planet./Here's one way: please turn off the lights./Using less electricity saves energy. Stargazers will thank you too!/Your friend, Earth." The next letter tells Earth of the class plan for reusable bottles. Earth replies with the tale of a sea creature that mistakes plastic for dinner. Climate change is a topic soon enough, for the children's resolve is quickening as Earth decides to call them "Earth Heroes." By December the children have learned about gardening, cleaning up the beaches, conserving water, and more. Crisp illustrations provide literal and fanciful versions of events, while back matter offers further suggestions. The upbeat tone on both sides of the correspondence will keep kids turning pages, anxious to see the next payoff in this crescendo of good will and great stewardship. The steps are small, the goals are global, and any class or story hour can launch their own year of being Earth Heroes. VERDICT With an emphasis on good will, this is a primer for a family or a club, and would also be the basis for a dramatic presentation on Earth Day. Kimberly Olson Fakih , School Library Journal