Set down that single-use water bottle and listen up, because your forever-buddy Earth has some straight talk about the environmental harms of plastics. Plastic is pretty incredible, but Earth reveals that it has landed in oceans, forests, mountains, and deserts, where it negatively impacts animals. "Some of them have tried eating it. Others have gotten tangled up in it. All of them are sick of it." Earth levels with "little humans" and offers us suggestions, including using metal straws, reusable totes, and refillable water bottles in order "to use less pesky plastic." Pencil sketches on paper with digital coloring vary in layout and perspective and feature a diverse array of slightly exaggerated people, a personified Moon, and our wide-eyed and chummy protagonist. Back matter includes additional facts about plastics, although no citations or source material. This second book from the team behind a popular podcast series brings warmth and humor to STEM content and invites approachable environmental action by young readers who may share an invigorated sense of loyalty to their pleading pal Earth.

In friendly direct-address text ("Dear little humans living on me: It's your E.F.F.!* *Earth Friend Forever"), Earth explains the ways plastics are damaging the planet and suggests how children can make a difference by choosing better alternatives and recycling. "Every time I see you refill a water bottle instead of buying a plastic one, it makes me spin with joy." This is an informative and accessible book, written by the hosts of the kids' science podcast Brains On! and illustrated with approachable digital art. Back matter includes details about how plastics are made and emerging solutions to the plastic problem.

An anthropomorphic planet Earth pens an open letter to humans appealing for an end to plastic pollution.On the heels of Brains On! Presents...It's Alive: From Neurons and Narwhals to the Fungus Among Us (2020), the creators of American Public Media's science podcast for kids, Brains On! turn their attention to one of the major ecological threats of our time. Addressing the young reader directly, a winsome-looking Earth with an expressive face, arms, and hands introduces itself: "Dear little humans living on me: It's your E.F.F.!" With this endearing riff on BFF (Best Friends Forever) setting the tone, Earth describes how it has proudly followed human development from the dawn of creation and loyally provided fresh air, food, and water: "I always have your back because you live on mine." But Earth has a complaint: Plastic is everywhere. Though useful and important, it doesn't disappear, and it's making the animals and the environment "uncomfortable." Confident that this problem can be solved, Earth offers readers some practical solutions: using eco-friendly plastic alternatives, refilling water bottles, recycling, picking up trash, and perfecting chemical recycling methods that break down plastic. Orodán's exuberant illustrations, rendered in digitally colored pencil sketches, depict people of all races, ages, and sizes and include a girl wearing a hijab and a person using a wheelchair. The endpapers reinforce the message with two contrasting seascapes.A playful expression of a serious concern, hopeful enough to be suitable even for the read-aloud crowd. (letter, further facts, science solutions) (Picture book. 4-8)

PreS-Gr 3 This book, from the hosts of the popular BrainsOn! podcasts, definitely captures readers' hearts and minds in thought-provoking spreads in which the Earth, personified, narrates major human milestones like visiting the moon. Along the way, Earth tells of the beautiful friendship between it and humans, and being there as humans grow and develop, listing all the benefits this wonderful relationship provides. The clever images convey the joy and the connectivity between people and the planet. Then Earth, our friend forever, stops the happy tale by throwing bags, cartons, and other popular plastics at us because that is what we do to our best friend. Earth Friend Forever delineates all the human habits that are destroying its oceans and deserts and the large landfills of garbage further humanizing our sad planet by showing all the awful ways we are not honoring our friendship with our home. Our EFF brings all of us to a revelatory experience in hopes that we will restore our friend, our pal, our best buddythe Earth. VERDICT Earth Friend Forever will challenge children to be better friends but also offers the tools we need to change our fatal habits.Tanya Haynes